US 12,301,712 B2
Unchangeable physical unclonable function in non-volatile memory
Chun-Hsiung Hung, Hsinchu (TW); and Chin-Hung Chang, Tainan (TW)
Assigned to MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., Hsinchu (TW)
Filed by MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., Hsinchu (TW)
Filed on Nov. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/523,346.
Application 18/523,346 is a continuation of application No. 18/097,867, filed on Jan. 17, 2023, granted, now 11,895,236.
Application 18/097,867 is a continuation of application No. 17/143,097, filed on Jan. 6, 2021, granted, now 11,601,269, issued on Mar. 7, 2023.
Application 17/143,097 is a continuation of application No. 15/864,445, filed on Jan. 8, 2018, granted, now 10,911,229, issued on Feb. 2, 2021.
Application 15/864,445 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/601,582, filed on May 22, 2017, granted, now 10,715,340, issued on Jul. 14, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/528,460, filed on Jul. 4, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/435,337, filed on Dec. 16, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/435,092, filed on Dec. 16, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/431,835, filed on Dec. 9, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/430,196, filed on Dec. 5, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/423,753, filed on Nov. 17, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/370,736, filed on Aug. 4, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2024/0171384 A1, May 23, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04L 9/08 (2006.01); G06F 12/02 (2006.01); G06F 12/14 (2006.01); G09C 1/00 (2006.01); G11C 7/24 (2006.01); G11C 16/22 (2006.01); H04L 9/32 (2006.01); G11C 7/10 (2006.01); G11C 8/20 (2006.01); G11C 16/04 (2006.01); H03K 19/003 (2006.01)
CPC H04L 9/0866 (2013.01) [G06F 12/0246 (2013.01); G06F 12/1408 (2013.01); G06F 12/1425 (2013.01); G09C 1/00 (2013.01); G11C 7/24 (2013.01); G11C 16/22 (2013.01); H04L 9/3278 (2013.01); G06F 2212/1052 (2013.01); G11C 7/1006 (2013.01); G11C 8/20 (2013.01); G11C 16/0425 (2013.01); G11C 16/0466 (2013.01); H03K 19/003 (2013.01); H04L 2209/12 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A circuit comprising:
a plurality of non-volatile memory cells;
logic configured to use a physical unclonable function to produce a key, to store the key in a set of non-volatile memory cells in the plurality of non-volatile memory cells, and to use the physical unclonable function to update the key when a key update protocol signals that the key needs to be updated;
logic configured to disable changes to data in the set of non-volatile memory cells after the key is stored in the set, wherein the logic configured to disable changes to data in the set of non-volatile memory cells after the key is stored in the set is configured to disable use of the physical unclonable function; and
authentication logic requiring a successful authentication protocol to enable the physical unclonable function to produce the key, wherein:
the physical unclonable function is configured to utilize entropy generated using non-volatile memory cells in the plurality of non-volatile memory cells to produce the key; or
the physical unclonable function is configured to use the set of non-volatile memory cells to produce the key.