A Stable Physically Unclonable Function Based on a Standard CMOS NVR

A Unified NVRAM and TRNG in Standard CMOS Technology

“…In another case, the NVRAM mode presents an unstable state in the bit cell when the I a and I b are similar. The unstable bit can be solved in the memory controller or by using a stabilization scheme [41]. However, the unstable bit can be exploited to extract random numbers when the I a and I b are similar (U nstable mode).…”

“…The differential NVRAM bit cell presents an initial value generated for the changes introduced in the fabrication process. The initial charges are used for Physical Unclonable Functions (PUF) [41]. However, the process variations also generate unstable bits, solving with calibration methodologies for the PUF application.…”

“…An NVRAM with the control gate methodology can be used for TRNG applications, reading the noise while sensing their threshold voltage [10]. In addition, the NVRAM is used in a PUF application, reading the initial values stored in the SFP in standard CMOS technology [41].…”

A Unified PUF and Crypto Core Exploiting the Metastability in Latches

“…In addition, a TRNG and a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) can be unified, exploiting the metastability in the sense amplifier [7] or reading the bit cell noise [8]. On the other hand, a PUF-NVRAM is unified using the initial charges into the floating gates' bit cells [9]. Another method consists of the unification of a TRNG-crypto core based on the metastability response using hold violations [10].…”