Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12015723-B2
Publication Date
2024-06-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
A physically unclonable function (PUF) device comprises a plurality of conductors, at least some of which are arranged so that they interact electrically and/or magnetically with one another. A media surrounds at least a portion of each of the conductors, and circuitry is configured for applying an electrical challenge signal to at least one of the conductors and for receiving an electrical output from at least one of the other conductors to generate an identifying response to the challenge signal that is unique to the device. The media comprises a plurality of interactive regions, the interactive regions having an electrical and/or magnetic response characteristic which is permanently altered in response to a predetermined environmental event, and the identifying response is altered with the response characteristic.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a physically unclonable function (PUF) device that includes a plurality of conductors arranged such that at least a portion of the conductors interact electrically or magnetically with one another. Media surrounds at least a portion of the conductors, and circuitry applies an electrical challenge signal to at least one conductor while receiving an electrical output from at least one other conductor to generate an identifying response unique to the PUF device. The identifying response is produced by the electrical challenge-response behavior between the interacting conductors through the surrounding media.
The media comprises a plurality of interactive regions having a response characteristic that is at least one of electrical or magnetic. The response characteristic is permanently altered in response to a predetermined environmental event, and the identifying response is altered with the response characteristic. The predetermined environmental event comprises a temperature at a location in the media exceeding a threshold and/or a humidity at a location in or on the media exceeding a threshold, and the media comprises a perovskite-structured material.
The described approach further supports packaging and system implementations, including a packaged, single-chip component and a multi-chip module or system-in-package module that each associate at least one PUF device with at least one substrate. In both cases, the PUF device architecture remains based on interacting conductors surrounded by media with interactive regions whose electrical and/or magnetic response characteristic is permanently altered by a predetermined environmental event.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three device categories, each requiring a PUF device with interacting conductors and media whose response characteristic is permanently altered by a predetermined environmental event, thereby altering the identifying response. Across the independent claims, there are at least three key inventive features: interacting conductors with challenge-response circuitry, interactive-region media with a permanently altered electrical or magnetic response characteristic, and a perovskite-structured material in the media, with packaging integration differing by claim scope.
Interacting conductors with identifying challenge-response circuitry
A plurality of conductors arranged such that the portion of the plurality of conductors interact electrically or magnetically with one another, and circuitry for applying an electrical challenge signal to at least one conductor and for receiving an electrical output from at least one other conductor to generate an identifying response unique to the PUF device.
Interactive-region media with permanently altered response characteristic tied to an environmental event
Media surrounding the conductors comprises a plurality of interactive regions having a response characteristic that is at least one of electrical or magnetic, wherein the response characteristic is permanently altered in response to a predetermined environmental event and the identifying response is altered with the response characteristic.
Predetermined environmental event thresholds and perovskite-structured media
The predetermined environmental event comprises a temperature at a location in the media exceeding a threshold or a humidity at a location in or on the media exceeding a threshold, and the media comprises a perovskite-structured material.
Packaged, single-chip component integrating a PUF device with a substrate
A packaged, single-chip component comprising a substrate and at least one physically unclonable function (PUF) device associated with the substrate, where the PUF device includes the interacting conductors, media with interactive regions, circuitry for generating an identifying response, and a permanently altered response characteristic caused by the predetermined environmental event, with the media comprising a perovskite-structured material.
Multi-chip module or system-in-package module integrating a PUF device with a substrate
A multi-chip module or system-in-package module comprising at least one substrate and at least one physically unclonable function (PUF) device associated with the substrate, where the PUF device includes the interacting conductors, media with interactive regions, circuitry for generating an identifying response, and a permanently altered response characteristic caused by the predetermined environmental event, with the media comprising a perovskite-structured material.
Collectively, the independent claims emphasize that a PUF device uses interacting conductors and challenge-response circuitry, where the surrounding media contains interactive regions with an electrical or magnetic response characteristic that is permanently altered when temperature and/or humidity exceeds thresholds, with the media comprising a perovskite-structured material. Claim coverage extends these same device features to packaged single-chip components and to multi-chip or system-in-package modules by associating the PUF device with one or more substrates.
Stated Advantages
Counters adversary probing and modeling by permanently altering the device’s response characteristic in response to predetermined environmental events so the identifying response changes accordingly.
Documented Applications
Standalone PUF protecting challenge-response pairs (CRPs) and control electronics as part of a packaged single-chip component.
Protecting components by enclosing other components in tamper-proof packaging that includes a packaged single-chip component with an associated PUF device.
Tamper detection using a shielding breach leading to alteration in response characteristic when humidity at a location in or on the media exceeds a threshold, as described for perovskite-structured materials.
PUF use in multi-chip module and system-in-package module configurations by associating at least one PUF device with a substrate.
Interested in licensing this patent?