Application specific low-power secure key

A key generator comprising:

• a low-power key adjust circuit comprising a storage location to store an original key, a shifter to shift the original key by a number of steps to shift to create a first key, and an output to provide the first key;
• and
• a high-power key adjust circuit comprising an input coupled to the output of the low-power key adjust circuit to receive the first key, a first scrambler to scramble the first key to create a scrambled key, and select circuitry to select either the first key or the scrambled key to output from the high-power key adjust circuit based on a bit in a configuration register;
• and
• to encrypt data using either the first key or the scrambled key that is outputted at the high-power key adjust circuitry.

A method comprising:

• shifting, by a shifter of a low-power key adjust circuit, an original key by a number of steps to shift to create a shifted key;
• providing, from the low-power key adjust circuit, a first key based on the shifted key to a first scrambler of a high-power key adjust circuit;
• scrambling, at the first scrambler of the high-power key adjust circuit, the first key to create a second key that is scrambled;
• determining whether the second key is valid;
• and
• outputting the second key from the high-power key adjust circuit in response to the second key being valid, otherwise outputting the first key from the high-power key adjust circuit;
• and
• encrypting data using either the first key or the second key that s outputted at the high-power key adjust circuitry.