Integrated circuit that uses a dynamic characteristic of the circuit
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsSrinivas Devadas, Blaise Gassend
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated circuit has a first component that has a dynamic characteristic that varies among like integrated circuits, for example, among integrated circuits fabricated using the same lithography mask. Operating the first component produces an output that is dependent on the dynamic characteristic of the first component. A digital value associated with the integrated circuit is generated using the output of the first component, and then the generated digital value is used in operation of the integrated circuit.
Claims20
A method for operating an integrated circuit comprising:
- operating a first component of the integrated circuit having a dynamic characteristic that varies among like integrated circuits, including producing an output of the first component dependent on the dynamic characteristic of the first component;
- generating a digital value associated with the integrated circuit using the output of the first component;
- and
- using the generated digital value in operation of the integrated circuit.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a first component comprising circuitry that has a dynamic characteristic that varies among like integrated circuits, and having an output that is dependent on the dynamic characteristic of the first component;
- a second component that accepts the output of the first component and produces a digital value associated with the integrated circuit;
- and
- a functional component that operates according to the digital value produced by the second component.
A method for producing a plurality of integrated circuits comprising:
- fabricating each of the plurality of integrated circuits according to a common design, including forming
- a first component comprising circuitry that has a dynamic characteristic that varies among the plurality of integrated circuits, and having an output that is dependent on the dynamic characteristic of the first component,
- a second component that accepts the output of the first component and produces a digital value associated with the integrated circuit, and
- a functional component that operates according to the digital value produced by the second component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.