System and method for generation of unique digital signature using a non-volatile memory based physical unclonable function

Abstract

A system and method are provided for generating a Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) for a semiconductor memory to a host processing system. Generally, the method involves allocating a number of memory cells in a memory device; performing a bitmap readout at a median threshold voltages (V) of cells to generate a multibit Binary Entropy String (BES). Unstable bits in the BES are identified, and a mask of cell locations associated with the unstable bits generated. The BES is multiplied with the mask to generate a Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) including a Binary String of stable bits, and error-correction performed on the Binary String to generate ECC data. The mask and ECC data are stored in the memory device, and are used to regenerate the PUF to authenticate and uniquely identity the memory device to a host processing system. Various methods for generating the mask are disclosed.