Patent attributes
An authentication system includes a microcontroller having a unique identifier (ID) and a first key pair including a microcontroller secret key and a microcontroller public key. The microcontroller is configured to store the unique ID, the first key pair, a digital signature of the unique ID, the digital signature being generated using an external secret key of a second key pair, and a digital certificate of the microcontroller public key that is signed by the external secret key of the second key pair. The second key pair includes the external secret key and an external public key. The authentication system further includes a controller configured to perform a first authenticity validation check on the unique ID using the external public key and perform a second authenticity validation check on the microcontroller public key using the external public key.