Unchangeable physical unclonable function in non-volatile memory
AssigneeMacronix International Co., Ltd.
InventorsChun-Hsiung Hung, Chin-Hung Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device which can be implemented on a single packaged integrated circuit or a multichip module comprises a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, and logic to use a physical unclonable function to produce a key and to store the key in a set of non-volatile memory cells in the plurality of non-volatile memory cells. The physical unclonable function can use entropy derived from non-volatile memory cells in the plurality of non-volatile memory cells to produce a key. Logic is described to disable changes to data in the set of non-volatile memory cells, and thereby freeze the key after it is stored in the set.
Claims18
A circuit, comprising:
- a plurality of non-volatile memory cells;
- first logic to use a physical unclonable function to produce a key, and to store the key in a set of non-volatile memory cells in the plurality of non-volatile memory cells;
- authentication logic requiring a successful authentication protocol to enable the physical unclonable function to produce the key;
- and
- second logic to disable changes to data in the set of non-volatile memory cells after the key is stored in the set, wherein the physical unclonable function utilizes entropy generated using non-volatile memory cells in the plurality of non-volatile memory cells to produce the key, and wherein at least one of the first logic, the second logic and the authentication logic is implemented on at least one hardware processor.
A method for operating a circuit including a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, comprising:
- executing an authentication protocol;
- after the authentication protocol is successful, executing a physical unclonable function to generate a key;
- storing the key in a set of non-volatile memory cells;
- and after storing the key, disabling changes to data stored in the set of non-volatile memory cells, wherein the physical unclonable function utilizes entropy generated using non-volatile memory cells in the plurality of non-volatile memory cells to produce the key.
A circuit, comprising:
- a plurality of non-volatile memory cells characterized by;
- first logic configured to use a physical unclonable function to produce a key, and to store the key in a set of non-volatile memory cells in the plurality of non-volatile memory cells, wherein the physical unclonable function is configured to utilize entropy generated using non-volatile memory cells in the plurality of non-volatile memory cells to produce the key;
- second logic configured to disable changes to data in the set of non-volatile memory cells and to disable use of the physical unclonable function after the key is stored in the set;
- and authentication logic requiring a successful authentication protocol to enable the physical unclonable function to produce the key, wherein at least one of the first logic, the second logic and the authentication logic is implemented on at least one hardware processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.