Multi-Domain Chip Authentication Using Intrinsic Identifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Counterfeit electronic components pose a significant threat due to their ability to jeopardize the performance and reliability of products, and existing methods for chip authentication, such as physical unclonable functions (PUFs), face challenges like intrinsic identifiers changing over time due to stress and aging.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-domain approach within integrated circuit chips, where multiple domains are established during manufacturing, and identification strings from these domains are recorded and verified during authentication, ensuring that even if some domains change, at least one remains authentic, using retention bitmaps as intrinsic identifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single intrinsic identifier is used for chip authentication, then the authentication process is simple, but the identifier may change over time due to stress and aging, compromising reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The chip is divided into multiple domains, each containing its own intrinsic identifier. Instead of relying on a single identifier that may change over time, the system segments the authentication function across multiple independent domains. This segmentation ensures that if one domain's identifier changes, other domains can still provide valid authentication, thereby resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple intrinsic identifiers from multiple domains are recorded and verified, then the authentication reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system records identification strings from multiple domains during manufacturing, but during authentication, it only requires a subset of these domains to match. This partial action approach provides redundancy without requiring all domains to be verified, thus improving reliability while controlling the increase in system complexity. The authentication succeeds if at least one domain's identifier matches, rather than requiring all domains to match.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If all identification strings from all domains must match for authentication, then the security is maximized, but the probability of successful authentication decreases due to potential changes over time
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system does not require all identification strings to match, but rather a subset of them. This partial verification approach maintains security by requiring multiple matches while increasing the probability of successful authentication by allowing some domains to change without preventing authentication. The system strikes a balance between security and reliability by requiring a threshold number of matches rather than all matches.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a chip authentication system using multi-domain intrinsic identifiers. Multiple intrinsic identifiers taken from multiple domains (areas or sections of the chip) are compared against the intrinsic identifiers collected during the manufacture of the chip. If at least one intrinsic identifier matches those collected during manufacture, the chip may be designated as authentic.