Using dark bits to reduce physical unclonable function (PUF) error rate without storing dark bits location

摘要

Dark-bit masking technologies for physically unclonable function (PUF) components are described. A computing system includes a processor core and a secure key manager component coupled to the processor core. The secure key manager includes the PUF component, and a dark-bit masking circuit coupled to the PUF component. The dark-bit masking circuit is to measure a PUF value of the PUF component multiple times during a dark-bit window to detect whether the PUF value of the PUF component is a dark bit. The dark bit indicates that the PUF value of the PUF component is unstable during the dark-bit window. The dark-bit masking circuit is to output the PUF value as an output PUF bit of the PUF component when the PUF value is not the dark bit and set the output PUF bit to be a specified value when the PUF value of the PUF component is the dark bit.

主权项

1. A processor comprising:
a processor core; and a secure key manager component coupled to the processor core, wherein the secure key manager comprises:
a physically unclonable function (PUF) component; anda dark-bit masking circuit, coupled to the PUF component, wherein the dark-bit masking circuit is to:measure a PUF value of the PUF component multiple times during a dark-bit window to detect whether the PUF value of the PUF component is a dark bit, wherein the dark bit indicates that the PUF value of the PUF component is unstable during the dark-bit window;output the PUF value as an output PUF bit of the PUF component when the PUF value is not the dark bit; andset the output PUF bit to be a specified value when the PUF value of the PUF component is the dark bit.