# US 2024/0201256 A1 · Device and method for providing physically unclonable function with high reliability > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201256 A1 - Document ID: US20240201256A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/538,692 - Filed: 2023-12-13 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-16 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Sumin Noh; Yongki Lee; Jieun Park; Yunhyeok Choi; Bohdan Karpinskyy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201256A1 ## CPC - G01R 31/3177: Testing of logic operation, e.g. by logic analysers - H04L 9/0866: {involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics} - H04L 9/3278: {using physically unclonable functions [PUF]} - H04L 2209/12: Details relating to cryptographic hardware or logic circuitry - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A device is provided. The device includes: a plurality of physically unclonable function (PUF) cells, each of the plurality of PUF cells including at least one logic gate and being configured to generate an output signal based on at least one threshold level of the at least one logic gate; a signal generator configured to generate an input signal that is provided to each of the plurality of PUF cells; and a controller configured to, in a test mode, generate a control signal to control the signal generator to vary the input signal to control the plurality of PUF cells to output a plurality of output signals according to the input signal, and identify at least one weak PUF cell from among the plurality of PUF cells based on the output signal generated by the at least one weak PUF cell being an unstable output signal. The controller is further configured to disconnect the plurality of PUF cells from the signal generator in a normal mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: a plurality of physically unclonable function (PUF) cells, each of the plurality of PUF cells comprising at least one logic gate and being configured to generate an output signal based on at least one threshold level of the at least one logic gate; a signal generator configured to generate an input signal that is provided to each of the plurality of PUF cells; and a controller configured to, in a test mode, generate a control signal to control the signal generator to vary the input signal to control the plurality of PUF cells to output a plurality of output signals according to the input signal, and identify at least one weak PUF cell from among the plurality of PUF cells based on the output signal generated by the at least one weak PUF cell being an unstable output signal, wherein the controller is further configured to disconnect the plurality of PUF cells from the signal generator in a normal mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of PUF cells is further configured to generate the output signal based on the input signal and the at least one threshold level in the test mode, and generate the output signal based on the at least one threshold level in the normal mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of PUF cells is further configured to be selectively enabled based on a selection signal, and wherein the controller is further configured to generate the selection signal, such that one of the plurality of PUF cells is enabled and remaining PUF cells of the plurality of PUF cells are disabled in the normal mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, further comprising a demultiplexer provided between the plurality of PUF cells and the signal generator, and configured to provide the input signal to the one of the plurality of PUF cells based on the selection signal, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the selection signal to control the input signal to be sequentially provided to each of the plurality of PUF cells in the test mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory, wherein the controller is further configured to write identification information regarding the at least one weak PUF cell to the non-volatile memory in the test mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to disable the signal generator in the normal mode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the signal generator comprises a resistor string connected to an input node at which the input signal is generated, and configured to receive the control signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the control signal is a multi-bit signal, and wherein the resistor string comprises: a series of first resistors connected between a positive voltage node and the input node; a first switch connected in series to the series of first resistors between the positive voltage node and the input node, and configured to operate based on a first bit of the control signal; a series of second resistors connected between a negative voltage node and the input node; and a second switch connected in series to the series of second resistors between the negative voltage node and the input node, and configured to operate based on a second bit of the control signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the resistor string comprises: a series of first resistor circuits, one of the series of first resistor circuits comprising a third resistor and a third switch connected to each other in series and connected to the series of first resistors in parallel, wherein the third switch is configured to operate based on a third bit of the control signal; and a series of second resistor circuits, one of the series of second resistor circuits comprising a fourth resistor and a fourth switch connected to each other in series and connected to the series of second resistors in parallel, wherein the fourth switch is configured to operate based on a fourth bit of the control signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein each of the series of first resistors and the third resistor comprises a p-channel field effect transistor (PFET) having a gate connected to the input node, and wherein each of the series of second resistors and the fourth resistor comprises an n-channel field effect transistor (NFET) having a gate connected to the input node. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of PUF cells and the signal generator comprises standard cells arranged between a plurality of power rails extending in parallel with one another. ### Claim 12 A device comprising: a plurality of physically unclonable function (PUF) cells; a signal generator configured to generate an input signal that is provided to each of the plurality of PUF cells; and a controller configured to, in a test mode, generate a control signal to control the signal generator to vary the input signal to control the plurality of PUF cells to output a plurality of output signals according to the input signal, and identify at least one weak PUF cell from among the plurality of PUF cells based on an output signal generated by the at least one weak PUF cell being an unstable output signal, wherein each of the plurality of PUF cells comprises at least one logic gate, is configured to generate the output signal independently of the input signal based on at least one threshold level of the at least one logic gate in a normal mode, and generate the output signal based on the input signal and the at least one threshold level in the test mode. ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of PUF cells is selectively enabled based on a selection signal, and wherein the controller is further configured to generate the selection signal to enable one of the plurality of PUF cells is enabled and remaining PUF cells of the plurality of PUF cells are disabled in the normal mode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, further comprising a demultiplexer provided between the plurality of PUF cells and the signal generator, and configured to provide the input signal to the one of the plurality of PUF cells based on the selection signal, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the selection signal to control the input signal to be sequentially provided to each of the plurality of PUF cells in the test mode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, further comprising non-volatile memory, wherein the controller is further configured to write identification information regarding the at least one weak PUF cell to the non-volatile memory in the test mode. ### Claim at position 17 17-21. (canceled) ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of PUF cells and the signal generator comprises standard cells arranged between a plurality of power rails extending in parallel with one another. ### Claim 23 A method comprising: providing an input signal to each of a plurality of physically unclonable function (PUF) cells in a test mode; in the test mode, changing the input signal; in the test mode, controlling the plurality of PUF cells to generate a plurality of output signals based on the input signal and at least one threshold level of at least one logic gate included in each of the plurality of PUF cells; in the test mode, identifying at least one weak PUF cell from among the plurality of PUF cells based on an output signal, among the plurality of output signals, generated by the at least one weak PUF cell being an unstable output signal; and generating the plurality of output signals independently of the input signal, based on the at least one threshold level, in a normal mode. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the generating the plurality of output signals comprises enabling one of the plurality of PUF cells and disabling remaining PUF cells of the plurality of PUF cells. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the providing the input signal comprises sequentially providing the input signal to each of the plurality of PUF cells. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising, in the test mode, writing identification information regarding the at least one weak PUF cell into a non-volatile memory.