PHYSICALLY UNCLONABLE FUNCTION BASED ON RESISTIVITY OF MAGNETORESISTIVE RANDOM-ACCESS MEMORY MAGNETIC TUNNEL JUNCTIONS

摘要

One feature pertains to least one physically unclonable function based on an array of magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) cells. A challenge to the array of MRAM cells may identify some of the cells to be used for the physically unclonable function. Each MRAM cell may include a plurality of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), where the MTJs may exhibit distinct resistances due to manufacturing or fabrication variations. A response to the challenge may be obtained for each cell by using the resistance(s) of one or both of the MTJs for a cell to obtain a value that serves as the response for that cell. The responses for a plurality of cells may be at least partially mapped to provide a unique identifier for the array. The responses generated from the array of cells may serve as a physically unclonable function that may be used to uniquely identify an electronic device.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
issuing a challenge to an array of magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) cells including a plurality of magnetic tunnel junctions, the challenge including a plurality of MRAM cell addresses of at least some of the magnetic tunnel junctions; and obtaining a response to the challenge by ascertaining a resistance of the magnetic tunnel junctions to generate at least a partial map of the array.