Abstract: A memory cell array includes a first and second memory cell, a first and second word line and a first bit line. The first memory cell is in a first row in a first direction. The second memory cell is in a second row in the first direction, and is separated from the first memory cell in a second direction. The first word line extends in the first direction and is coupled to the first memory cell. The second word line extends in the first direction and is coupled to the second memory cell. The first bit line extends in the second direction and is coupled to the first and second memory cell. The first memory cell corresponds to a five transistor memory cell. The first memory cell includes a first active region having a first length, and a second active region having a second length.

Abstract: A memory device includes a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of word lines, and a memory cell array including a plurality of bit cells coupled to the bit lines and the word lines. Each of the bit cells is configured to present an initial logic state on the bit lines. A power supply terminal is coupled to the memory cell array. A controller is coupled to the word lines and the bit lines, and is configured to, during a RNG phase, precharge the bit lines to a second voltage level lower than a first voltage level, and determine the initial logic states of the plurality of bit cells to generate a random number. The first voltage level is a voltage level for operating the memory cell array during an SRAM phase.

Abstract: A method of generating an error correction circuit for correcting an error in a codeword read from a memory includes: constructing a generation matrix; transforming the generating matrix into a systematic form, wherein the transformed generating matrix is composed of a parity matrix and a check matrix; sorting rows of the parity matrix according to row weights; determining a number of rows in the parity matrix to be truncated; generating a truncated parity matrix by keeping the sorted rows of the P matrix that have weights less than or equal to weights of the truncated rows of the P matrix so as to minimize a number of logic gate operations; and forming an error correction circuit with the number of logic gate operations minimized according to the truncated P matrix to correct the error of the codeword.

Abstract: A system for processing a data array, such as transposing a matrix, includes a two-dimensional array of memory cells, such as FeFETs, each having an input end, an output end and a control end. The system also includes an input interface is adapted to supply signals indicative of a subset of the data array, such as a row of a matrix, and output control signals to the input ends of a selected column of the memory cells. The system further includes an output interface adapted to receive the data stored in the memory array from the output ends of a selected row of the memory cells. A method of processing a data array, such as transposing a matrix, include writing subsets of the data array to the memory array column-by-column, and reading from the memory cells, row-by-row.

Abstract: Disclosed is a physical unclonable function generator circuit and method. In one embodiment, a physical unclonable function (PUF) generator comprising: a plurality of PUF cells, wherein each of the plurality of PUF cells comprises a first MOS transistor and a second MOS transistor, wherein terminal S of the first MOS transistor is connected to terminal D of the second MOS transistor at a dynamic node, terminal D of the first MOS transistor is coupled to a first bus and terminal G of the first NMOS transistor is coupled to a second bus, and terminals S and G of the second NMOS transistor are coupled to ground; a plurality of dynamic flip-flop (DFF) circuits wherein each of the plurality of DFF circuits is coupled to each of the plurality of PUF cells respectively; a population count circuit coupled to the plurality of DFF circuits; and an evaluation logic circuit having an input coupled to the population count circuit and an output coupled to the plurality of DFF circuits.

Abstract: A circuit includes a first cell in a first row of a memory array, a second cell in a second row of the memory array, and a data line perpendicular to the first row and the second row, intersecting each of the first cell and the second cell, and electrically coupled with each of the first cell and the second cell. The circuit is configured to simultaneously transfer data from the first cell and the second cell to the data line in a read operation on the first row.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to operating a memory system including memory banks and buffers. Each buffer may perform a write process to write data to a corresponding memory bank. In one aspect, the memory system includes a buffer controller including a queue register, a first pointer register, a second pointer register, and a queue controller. In one aspect, the queue register includes entries, where each entry may store an address of a corresponding memory bank. The first pointer register may indicate a first entry storing an address of a memory bank, on which the write process is predicted to be completed next. The second pointer register may indicate a second entry to be updated. The queue controller may configure the queue register according to the first pointer register and the second pointer register, and configure one or more buffers to perform the write process, according to the entries.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory block comprises a plurality of bits, wherein at least a first bit of the plurality of bits presents an initial logic state each time it is powered on; a start-up circuit configured to power on and off the memory block N times, where N is an odd integer greater than 1, and wherein the at least first bit presents an initial state after each respective power cycle of the memory block; and an authentication circuit, coupled to the memory block, and comprising an election engine that is configured to elect an initial state that occurs (N+1)/2 or more times after N power cycles that are performed by the start-up circuit, as a majority initial logic state for the first bit.

Abstract: A temperature-sensing device configured to monitor a temperature is disclosed. The temperature-sensing device includes: a first capacitor comprising a first oxide layer with a first thickness; a second capacitor comprising a second oxide layer with a second thickness, wherein the second thickness of the second oxide layer is different from the first thickness of the first oxide layer; and a control logic circuit, coupled to the first and second capacitors, and configured to determine whether the monitored temperature is equal to or greater than a threshold temperature based of whether at least one of the first and second oxide layers breaks down.

Abstract: A memory device, includes: a memory array comprising a plurality of bit cells arranged along a plurality of rows and along a plurality of columns, respectively; and a control logic circuit coupled to the memory array, and configured to determine respective locations of a first plurality of diagonal bit cells of the memory array for testing one or more peripheral circuits coupled to the memory array, wherein the control logic circuit is further configured to determine respective locations of at least a second plurality of diagonal bit cells of the memory array for testing the one or more peripheral circuits, wherein a number of the plurality of rows is different than a number of the plurality of columns and the first plurality of diagonal bit cells span a first equal number of rows and columns and the second plurality of diagonal bit cells also span a second equal number of rows and columns.

Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a cell array having a plurality of cells, each of the plurality of cells operative to store a bit value. The memory device further includes a reset circuit connected to the cell array. The reset circuit is operative to reset, in parallel, the bit value stored in each of the plurality of cells to a predetermined bit value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method to secure software update information for authorized entities. In one embodiment, a device for receiving secured software update information from a server, the device includes: a physical uncolonable function (PUF) information generator, comprising a PUF cell array, configured to generate PUF information, wherein the PUF information comprises at least one PUF response output, wherein the at least one PUF response output is used to encrypt the software update information on the server so as to generate encrypted software update information; a first encrypter, configured to encrypt the PUF information from the PUF information generator using one of at least one public key from the server so as to generate encrypted PUF information; and a second encrypter, configured to decrypt the encrypted software update information using one of the at least one PUF response output so as to obtain the software update information.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) is provided. The IC includes a cache memory divided into a plurality of groups, and an address decoder. Each of the groups includes a plurality of sets, and one of the groups is assigned as a first group and the remaining groups are assigned as a plurality of second groups. The first group and the second groups are assigned in rotation for a plurality of time periods, and each of the groups is assigned in a corresponding single one of the time periods. The address decoder is configured to provide a physical address according to an access address of the cache memory. The sets of the first group that is assigned in a first time period are not overlapping with the sets of other first groups that are assigned in the time periods other than the first time period.

Abstract: A memory circuit includes a first word line, a first and second bit line, a first and second inverter, a P-type pass gate transistor and a pre-charge circuit. The first word line extends in a first direction. The first and second bit line extend in a second direction. The first inverter has a first storage node coupled to the second inverter. The second inverter has a second storage node coupled to the first inverter, and is not coupled to the second bit line. The P-type pass gate transistor is coupled between the first storage node and the first bit line. The pre-charge circuit is coupled to the first or second bit line, and is configured to charge the first or second bit line to a pre-charge voltage responsive to a first signal. The pre-charge voltage is between a voltage of a first logical level and a second logical level.

Abstract: Disclosed is an input/output circuit for a physical unclonable function generator circuit. In one embodiment, a physical unclonable function (PUF) generator includes: a PUF cell array comprising a plurality of bit cells configured in a plurality of columns and at least one row, and at least one input/output (I/O) circuit each coupled to at least two neighboring columns of the PUF cell array, wherein the at least one I/O circuit each comprises a sense amplifier (SA) with no cross-coupled pair of transistors, wherein the SA comprises two cross-coupled inverters with no access transistor and a SA enable transistor, and wherein the at least one I/O circuit each is configured to access and determine logical states of at least two bit cells in the at least two neighboring columns; and based on the determined logical states of the plurality of bit cells, to generate a PUF signature.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating a security key for an integrated circuit device include generating a plurality of key bits with a physically unclonable function (PUF) generator. Unstable bits of the plurality of key bits are identified, and a security key is generated based on the plurality of key bits, wherein the security key excludes the identified unstable bits.

Abstract: A physically unclonable function (PUF) device and a method for maximizing existing process variation for a physically unclonable device are provided. The method of maximizing process variation of the PUF device includes: modeling a physically unclonable function (PUF) device, comprising a plurality of PUF cells, selecting the size of transistors in the PUF device to be smaller than a predetermined size defined according to a design rule check (DRC) and generate maximum variations among the plurality of PUF cells, varying the material of the PUF device, and driving the PUF device with a predetermined voltage. The physically unclonable device includes: a plurality of PUF cells, configured to generate an output. Each of the plurality of PUF cells includes a harvester circuit, configured to generate a bit line and a complementary bit line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a physical unclonable function generator circuit and method.

Abstract: A hybrid cache memory and a method for controlling the same are provided. The method for controlling a cache includes: receiving a request for data; determining whether the requested data is present in a first portion of the cache, a second portion of cache, or not in the cache, wherein the first portion of cache has a smaller access latency than the second portion of cache; loading the requested data from a memory of a next level into the first portion of the cache and the second portion of the cache if the requested data is not in the cache, and retrieving the requested data from the first portion of the cache; and retrieving the requested data from the first portion of the cache or the second portion of the cache without writing data to the second portion of the cache if the requested data is in the cache.

Abstract: Disclosed is a physical unclonable function generator circuit and testing method. In one embodiment, a physical unclonable function (PUF) generator includes: a PUF cell array comprising a plurality of bit cells configured in a plurality of columns and at least one row, wherein each of the plurality of columns is coupled to at least two pre-discharge transistors, and each of the plurality of bit cells comprises at least one enable transistor, at least two access transistors, and at least two storage nodes, and a PUF control circuit coupled to the PUF cell array, wherein the PUF control circuit is configured to access the plurality of bit cells to pre-charge the at least two storage nodes with substantially the same voltages allowing each of the plurality of bit cell having a first metastable logical state; to determine a second logical state; and based on the determined second logical states of the plurality of bit cells, to generate a PUF signature.