PUF Cell Group Mapping for Reliable Authentication Key Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security systems for wired and wireless communication technologies lack effective methods to generate secure authentication keys that are resistant to cloning and bit error, particularly in the context of physically unclonable functions (PUFs) used in semiconductor processors.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit incorporating a controller and a PUF block that utilizes a mapping relationship between PUF cell groups with predetermined mismatch distances to generate authentication keys by comparing PUF cell data pairs with reference data pairs, reducing bit error rates and enhancing reliability without requiring additional analog-digital converters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional analog-digital converters are added to improve authentication key generation accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the analog-digital converter component from the authentication key generation system. Instead of using ADCs to convert PUF cell characteristics, the system directly uses digital comparison of PUF cell data pairs, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining authentication accuracy through the mapping relationship between PUF cell groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the analog-to-digital conversion mechanism with a direct digital comparison mechanism. By establishing mapping relationships between PUF cell groups and comparing their digital output states, the system achieves authentication key generation without requiring analog signal conversion hardware, thus simplifying the overall system architecture.
2Reliability
If PUF cell groups with larger mismatch distances are used to reduce bit error rates, then reliability is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes mapping relationships between PUF cell groups in advance, before authentication operations are performed. The controller pre-configures which PUF cell groups should be paired for comparison, based on their spatial or functional relationships in the PUF array. This preliminary mapping simplifies the measurement process during authentication, as the controller only needs to retrieve and compare predetermined cell pairs rather than searching for optimal pairs in real-time.
3Strength
If more PUF cells are used to generate authentication keys, then security strength is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the PUF cell array into multiple distinct PUF cell groups, where each group contains a subset of PUF cells that can be independently accessed and compared. By segmenting the overall PUF structure into manageable groups with established mapping relationships, the system can scale to use more PUF cells for enhanced security while maintaining consistent manufacturing tolerances within each segment, rather than requiring uniform precision across the entire large-scale PUF array.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit for a physically unclonable function (PUF) includes a controller configured to generate a control signal with reference to an address table, the address table representing a first mapping relationship between a first PUF cell group and a second PUF cell group having a first predetermined mismatch distance in relation to a PUF cell characteristic, and representing a second mapping relationship between a third PUF cell group and a fourth PUF cell group having a second predetermined mismatch distance in relation to the PUF cell characteristic; and a PUF block configured to provide PUF cell data groups in accordance with the first and second mapping relationships to the controller, in response to the control signal. The controller may be configured to generate an authentication key by respectively comparing the PUF cell data groups with reference data groups.