PUF Device Fingerprinting for Secure Microelectronics Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Securing the microelectronics (ME) supply chain against counterfeit or modified components without increasing shipping and management costs, as conventional methods require transmission of unique device fingerprints, which add cost and risk of error.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method that uses physically unclonable functions (PUF) to generate non-bypassable, unclonable electronic device fingerprints by cryptographically hashing initialization vectors and device bitstreams, recorded to non-volatile memory for verification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional unique identifier information is transmitted for each individual part or device, then device fingerprinting can be performed, but shipping and management costs increase and error risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice fingerprinting accuracyVSAvoidshipping and management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses physically unclonable functions (PUF) to generate unique device fingerprints that are inherently tied to the physical device structure. These fingerprints are created through cryptographic hashing of challenge-response pairs from PUF, eliminating the need for manual transmission of unique identifiers while maintaining fingerprinting accuracy. The system copies the essential fingerprinting function into the device's physical structure rather than relying on transmitted data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/manual process of transmitting and managing unique identifier data with a cryptographic system based on physically unclonable functions. Instead of mechanically sending individual fingerprints for each device, the system uses cryptographic challenge-response mechanisms embedded in the device's physical structure to generate fingerprints on-demand, reducing shipping and management complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If unique device fingerprints are transmitted for each component, then authentication can be performed, but the risk of error and security vulnerability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoiderror risk and security vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device generates its own unique fingerprint using physically unclonable functions embedded in its physical structure. The PUF-based system allows the device to self-authenticate by responding to cryptographic challenges with unique responses that cannot be replicated. This eliminates dependency on externally transmitted fingerprint data, reducing both error risk and security vulnerabilities associated with data transmission and storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of fingerprint generation from transmitted identifier data to physically unclonable function-based cryptographic hashes. By using PUF challenge-response pairs and cryptographic hashing, the system creates fingerprints that are mathematically unique to each device's physical structure, making them resistant to copying, tampering, and transmission errors while maintaining authentication reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If per-component data transmission is used for fingerprinting, then individual device verification is possible, but logistical complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice verification precisionVSAvoidlogistical efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal fingerprinting system where a single PUF-based mechanism can generate unique fingerprints for any microelectronic device without requiring component-specific data transmission protocols. The cryptographic challenge-response system works across different device types and suppliers, enabling standardized verification while maintaining individual device precision. This universality eliminates the need for separate logistical handling of each component's fingerprint data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12585833B2System and method for non-bypassable and unclonable microelectronic device fingerprinting

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC

AI summary

A method for provisioning a microelectronic (ME) component or device for non-bypassable, unclonable electronic device fingerprinting includes receiving an initialization vector from a provisioning device. A physically unclonable function (PUF) incorporated into the ME device (and unique to that ME device) provides a unique device bitstream. The device bitstream and initialization vector are cryptographically hashed to generate an electronic device fingerprint recordable to non-volatile memory onboard the ME device, which can be used for subsequent verification that the ME device is not counterfeited or compromised.