Structure with sub-lithographic random conductors as a physical unclonable function

摘要

A secure electronic structure including a plurality of sub-lithographic conductor features having non-repeating random shapes as a physical unclonable function (PUF) and an integrated circuit including the same are provided. Some of the conductor features of the plurality of conductor features form ohmic electrical contact to a fraction of regularly spaced array of conductors that are located above or beneath the plurality of conductor features having the non-repeating shapes, while other conductor features of the plurality of conductor features do not form ohmic electrical contact with any of the regularly spaced array of conductors. Thus, a unique signature of electrical continuity is provided which can be used as a PUF within an integrated circuit.

主权项

1. An electronic structure comprising:
a first level and a second level atop the first level, wherein one of the first level or the second level comprises a regularly spaced array of conductors, and the other of the first or second level not including the regularly spaced array of conductors comprises a plurality of conductor features, wherein each conductor feature of the plurality of conductor features is present as non-repeating random shapes, and wherein a fraction of some of the conductor features of the plurality of conductor features provides electrical contact between pairs of the regularly spaced array of conductors, and another fraction of other of said conductor features of the plurality of the conductor features does not provide electrical contact between any pair of the regularly spaced array of conductors.