Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an electronic cryptographic device (100) arranged to determine a cryptographic key. The cryptographic device is arranged for an enrollment phase and a later reconstruction phase. The cryptographic device comprising a physically unclonable function (PUF) (110) and a processor circuit. The circuit being configured to determine during the enrollment phase debiasing data (142), first noise reduction data (131) and first noise reduction data. The circuit being configured to during the reconstruction phase compute at least one cryptographic key from first corrected bits and second corrected bits.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to an electronic cryptographic device arranged to determine a cryptographic key. The cryptographic device can include a physically unclonable function (PUF) arranged to produce a first noisy bit string during the enrollment phase and a second noisy bit string during the reconstruction phase, and a statistical unit arranged to execute a statistical test for verifying correct functioning of the physical unclonable function. The statistical test computes a statistical parameter for the physical unclonable function using helper data. The statistical test determines correct functioning if the statistical parameter satisfies a criterion of the statistical test.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an electronic cryptographic device (100) arranged to determine a cryptographic key. The cryptographic device is arranged for an enrollment phase and a later reconstruction phase. The cryptographic device comprising a physically unclonable function (PUF) (110) and a processor circuit. The circuit being configured to determine during the enrollment phase debiasing data (142), first noise reduction data (131) and first noise reduction data. The circuit being configured to during the reconstruction phase compute at least one cryptographic key from first corrected bits and second corrected bits.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to an electronic cryptographic device including a physically unclonable function and an enrollment unit configured to generate a first PUF data during the enrollment phase, the first PUF data derived from a first noisy bit string of the PUF, the first PUF data uniquely identifying the physically unclonable function, the first PUF data including a first helper data. The first PUF data is transmitted to an electronic server during an enrollment phase. The device includes a use-phase unit configured to generate a second PUF data derived from a second noisy bit string during a use phase. The first helper data is received from the server in response to transmitting the second PUF data. An error corrector is configured to apply the first helper data to the second noisy bit string.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to an electronic cryptographic device configured to determine a cryptographic key. The cryptographic device has a physically unclonable function, a debiasing unit, and a key reconstruction unit. The PUF is configured to produce a first noisy bit string during an enrollment phase and a second noisy bit string during a reconstruction phase. The debiasing unit (120) is configured to determine debiasing data from the first noisy bit string during the enrollment phase. The debiasing data marks bits in the first noisy bit string as retained or discarded. The key reconstruction unit is configured to determine the cryptographic key from bits in the second noisy bit string marked as retained by the debiasing data, the cryptographic key being independent from bits in the second noisy bit string marked as discarded by the debiasing data.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to an electronic cryptographic device arranged to determine a cryptographic key. The cryptographic device can include a physically unclonable function (PUF) arranged to produce a first noisy bit string during the enrollment phase and a second noisy bit string during the reconstruction phase, and a statistical unit arranged to execute a statistical test for verifying correct functioning of the physical unclonable function. The statistical test computes a statistical parameter for the physical unclonable function using helper data. The statistical test determines correct functioning if the statistical parameter satisfies a criterion of the statistical test.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to an electronic cryptographic device configured to determine a cryptographic key. The cryptographic device has a physically unclonable function, a debiasing unit, and a key reconstruction unit. The PUF is configured to produce a first noisy bit string during an enrollment phase and a second noisy bit string during a reconstruction phase. The debiasing unit (120) is configured to determine debiasing data from the first noisy bit string during the enrollment phase. The debiasing data marks bits in the first noisy bit string as retained or discarded. The key reconstruction unit is configured to determine the cryptographic key from bits in the second noisy bit string marked as retained by the debiasing data, the cryptographic key being independent from bits in the second noisy bit string marked as discarded by the debiasing data.

Abstract: An electronic cryptographic device (100) comprising a physically unclonable function (PUF) (110) and an enrollment unit (142) arranged to generate a first PUF data during the enrollment phase, the first PUF data being derived from a first noisy bit string of the PUF, the first PUF data uniquely identifying the physically unclonable function, the first PUF data comprising a first helper data. The first PUF data is transmitted to an electronic server during an enrollment phase. The device comprises a use-phase unit (144) arranged to generate a second PUF data derived from a second noisy bit string during a use phase. The first helper data is received from the server in response to transmitting the second PUF data. An error corrector (160) is arranged to apply the first helper data to the second noisy bit string.

Abstract: An electronic system 100 for generating a cryptographic key, the system comprising a memory 110 used as a physically unclonable function, the memory being writable, volatile and configured such that upon each powering-up of the memory the memory settles into a memory content which depends upon at least partially random physical characteristics of the memory, the memory being accessible through a memory interface, and a key derivation unit 150 configured to derive the cryptographic key from the memory content into which the memory settled, wherein the electronic system for generating a cryptographic key further comprises, a memory read-out unit connected to the memory through the memory interface and to the key derivation unit, the memory read-out unit comprising an address scrambler 140 for retrieving the memory content over the memory interface in a scrambled order.

Abstract: A cryptographic system for reproducibly establishing a reliable data string, such as a cryptographic key, from a noisy physically unclonable function (PUF, 110) is provided. The system comprises a hard decision decoder (150) to decode a first multiple of error correctable data words to obtain a second multiple of corrected and decoded data words and a reliability information extractor (180) to determine reliability information, e.g. soft decision information, that is indicative of a reliability of corrected and decoded data words. The system further comprises a soft decision decoder (160) configured to use the reliability information to decode at least one further correctable data word. Error correcting a PUF using reliability information decreases the false rejection rate.

Abstract: A random number generating system for generating a sequence of random numbers comprising a memory, the memory being writable, volatile and configured such that the memory contains an at least partially random memory content upon each powering-up of the memory, an instantiating unit configured for seeding the random number generating system with a seed dependent upon the at least partially random memory content, the sequence of random numbers being generated in dependence upon the seed, and an over-writing unit configured for over-writing at least part of the memory with random numbers generated by the random number generating system in dependence upon the seed.

Abstract: A physical unclonable function is provided 100, comprising a plurality of bus-keepers 110, each bus-keeper of the plurality of bus-keepers 110 being configured to settle into one of at least two different stable states upon power-up, the particular stable state into which a particular bus-keeper of the plurality of bus-keepers settles being dependent at least in part upon the at least partially random physical characteristics of the particular bus-keeper, and a reading circuit 120 for reading the plurality of stable states into which the plurality of bus-keepers settled after a power-up, the plurality of bus-keepers being read-only.

Abstract: An electronic system 100 for generating a cryptographic key, the system comprising a memory 110 used as a physically unclonable function, the memory being writable, volatile and configured such that upon each powering-up of the memory the memory settles into a memory content which depends upon at least partially random physical characteristics of the memory, the memory being accessible through a memory interface, and a key derivation unit 150 configured to derive the cryptographic key from the memory content into which the memory settled, wherein the electronic system for generating a cryptographic key further comprises, a memory read-out unit connected to the memory through the memory interface and to the key derivation unit, the memory read-out unit comprising an address scrambler 140 for retrieving the memory content over the memory interface in a scrambled order.

Abstract: A cryptographic system for reproducibly establishing a reliable data string, such as a cryptographic key, from a noisy physically unclonable function (PUF, 110) is provided. The system comprises a hard decision decoder (150) to decode a first multiple of error correctable data words to obtain a second multiple of corrected and decoded data words and a reliability information extractor (180) to determine reliability information, e.g. soft decision information, that is indicative of a reliability of corrected and decoded data words. The system further comprises a soft decision decoder (160) configured to use the reliability information to decode at least one further correctable data word. Error correcting a PUF using reliability information decreases the false rejection rate.

Abstract: An electric physical unclonable function (PUF) (100) is provided comprising a semiconductor memory element (110) connectable to a PUF control means for reading content from the memory element and for deriving at least in part from said content a digital identifier, such as a secret key. Upon powering the memory element it settles into one of at least two different stable states. The particular stable state into which the memory element settles is dependent at least in part upon random physical characteristics of the memory element introduced during manufacture of the memory element. Settling of the memory element is further dependent upon a control input (112) of the memory element.

Abstract: A random number generating system for generating a sequence of random numbers comprising a memory, the memory being writable, volatile and configured such that the memory contains an at least partially random memory content upon each powering-up of the memory, an instantiating unit configured for seeding the random number generating system with a seed dependent upon the at least partially random memory content, the sequence of random numbers being generated in dependence upon the seed, and an over-writing unit configured for over-writing at least part of the memory with random numbers generated by the random number generating system in dependence upon the seed.

Abstract: A physical unclonable function is provided 100, comprising a plurality of bus-keepers 110, each bus-keeper of the plurality of bus-keepers 110 being configured to settle into one of at least two different stable states upon power-up, the particular stable state into which a particular bus-keeper of the plurality of bus-keepers settles being dependent at least in part upon the at least partially random physical characteristics of the particular bus-keeper, and a reading circuit 120 for reading the plurality of stable states into which the plurality of bus-keepers settled after a power-up, the plurality of bus-keepers being read-only.

Abstract: An electric physical unclonable function (PUF) (100) is provided comprising a semiconductor memory element (110) connectable to a PUF control means for reading content from the memory element and for deriving at least in part from said content a digital identifier, such as a secret key. Upon powering the memory element it settles into one of at least two different stable states. The particular stable state into which the memory element settles is dependent at least in part upon random physical characteristics of the memory element introduced during manufacture of the memory element. Settling of the memory element is further dependent upon a control input (112) of the memory element.