Randomized value generation

摘要

A data processing apparatus is provided for producing a randomized value. A cell in the data processing apparatus comprises a dielectric oxide layer and stress voltage circuitry is configured to apply a stress voltage across the dielectric oxide layer of the cell to cause an oxide breakdown process to occur. Oxide breakdown detection circuitry is configured to determine a current extent of the oxide breakdown process by measuring a response of the dielectric oxide layer to the stress voltage and randomized value determination circuitry is configured to determine a randomized value in dependence on the current extent of the oxide breakdown process.

主权项

1. The data processing apparatus comprising:
a cell comprising a dielectric oxide layer; stress voltage circuitry configured to apply a stress voltage across said dielectric oxide layer of said cell to cause an oxide breakdown process to occur; oxide breakdown detection circuitry configured to determine a current extent of said oxide breakdown process by measuring a response of said dielectric oxide layer to said stress voltage; and randomized value determination circuitry configured to determine a randomized value in dependence on said current extent of said oxide breakdown process, wherein said randomized value determination circuitry is configured to determine said randomized value in dependence on a time period measurement of a time period between application of said stress voltage and determination by said oxide breakdown detection circuitry of occurrence of an oxide breakdown event, said oxide breakdown event corresponding to a predetermined extent of said oxide breakdown process.