Systems and methods for classifying PUF signature modules of integrated circuits
AssigneeTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
InventorsCheng-En Lee, Shih-Lien Linus Lu
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Abstract
Systems and method are provided for determining a reliability of a physically unclonable function (PUF) cell of a device. One or more activation signals are provided to a PUF cell under a plurality of conditions. A PUF cell output provided by the PUF cell under each of the plurality of conditions is determined. A determination is made of a number of times the PUF cell output of the PUF cell is consistent. And a device classification value is determined based on the determined number of times for a plurality of PUF cells.
Claims20
A device comprising:
- a signal generator configured to provide first and second word line signals to a cell multiple times to identify a strength of the cell based on the consistency of outputs of the cell across the multiple times, wherein:
- the first and second word line signals are respectively provided to gate terminals of first and second transistors of the cell,
- in one of the multiple times, an activation of the second word line signal occurs after an activation of the first word line signal,
- the first word line signal and the second word line signal are configured to respectively activate the first and second transistors to pull first and second bit lines toward a low level, and
- an output of the cell is generated based on a difference in signal levels of the first and second bit lines.
A method comprising:
- providing to a cell first and second word line signals multiple times, wherein:
- the first and second word line signals are respectively provided to gate terminals of first and second transistors of the cell,
- in one of the multiple times, a transition of the second word line signal from a low level to a high level occurs after a transition of the first word line signal from a low level to a high level,
- the first word line signal and the second word line signal are configured to respectively activate the first and second transistors to pull first and second bit lines toward a low level;
- generating an output of the cell based on a difference in signal levels of the first and second bit lines;
- and
- identifying a strength of the cell based on the consistency of outputs of the cell across the multiple times.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for commanding one or more data processors to execute steps comprising:
- providing to a cell first and second word line signals multiple times, wherein:
- the first and second word line signals are respectively provided to gate terminals of first and second transistors of the cell,
- in one of the multiple times, an activation of the second word line signal occurs after an activation of the first word line signal, and
- the first word line signal and the second word line signal are configured to respectively activate the first and second transistors to pull first and second bit lines toward a low level;
- generating an output of the cell based on a difference in signal levels of the first and second bit lines;
- and
- identifying a strength of the cell based on the consistency of outputs of the cell across the multiple times.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.