PUF key transfer

US11968306B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Nordic Semiconductor ASA · NO

Inventor

• Frank Aune · Trondheim, NO

Key dates

• Filing date: May 23, 2022
• Grant date: Apr 23, 2024
• Expiry date: Jul 21, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L9/0827
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An integrated-circuit device comprises a physical-unclonable-function (PUF) unit, a secure module, and an interconnect system communicatively coupled to the PUF unit and to the secure module. The device transfers a PUF key from the PUF unit to the secure module, over the interconnect system. In order to do this, the secure module generates a random value. The secure module then sends the random value to the PUF unit. The PUF unit then performs a bitwise XOR operation between the received random value and the PUF key, to generate a masked value. The PUF unit then transfers the masked value over the interconnect system to the secure module. The secure module then unmasks the PUF key by performing a bitwise XOR operation between the received masked value and the random value.