Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Cazzola, Rachel, Minwalla, Cyrus, Chan, Calvin, Plusquellic, Jim
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.17795
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866912443992637440
author Cazzola, Rachel
Minwalla, Cyrus
Chan, Calvin
Plusquellic, Jim
author_facet Cazzola, Rachel
Minwalla, Cyrus
Chan, Calvin
Plusquellic, Jim
contents Hardware security primitives including True Random Number Generators (TRNG) and Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) are central components to establishing a root of trust in microelectronic systems. In this paper, we propose a unified PUF-TRNG architecture that leverages a combination of the static entropy available in a strong PUF called the shift-register, reconvergent-fanout (SiRF) PUF, and the dynamic entropy associated with random noise present in path delay measurements. The SiRF PUF uses an engineered netlist containing a large number of paths as the source of static entropy, and a time-to-digital-converter (TDC) as a high-resolution, embedded instrument for measuring path delays, where measurement noise serves as the source of dynamic entropy. A novel data postprocessing algorithm is proposed based on a modified duplex sponge construction. The sponge function operates on soft data, i.e., fixed point data values, to add entropy to the ensuing random bit sequences and to increase the bit generation rate. A postprocessing algorithm for reproducing PUF-generated encryption keys is also used in the TRNG to protect against temperature voltage attacks designed to subvert the random characteristics in the bit sequences. The unified PUF-TRNG architecture is implemented across multiple instances of a ZYBO Z7-10 FPGA board and extensively tested with NIST SP 800-22, NIST SP 800-90B, AIS-31, and DieHarder test suites. Results indicate a stable and robust TRNG design with excellent min-entropy and a moderate data rate.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_17795
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A TRNG Implemented using a Soft-Data Based Sponge Function within a Unified Strong PUF Architecture
Cazzola, Rachel
Minwalla, Cyrus
Chan, Calvin
Plusquellic, Jim
Cryptography and Security
Hardware security primitives including True Random Number Generators (TRNG) and Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) are central components to establishing a root of trust in microelectronic systems. In this paper, we propose a unified PUF-TRNG architecture that leverages a combination of the static entropy available in a strong PUF called the shift-register, reconvergent-fanout (SiRF) PUF, and the dynamic entropy associated with random noise present in path delay measurements. The SiRF PUF uses an engineered netlist containing a large number of paths as the source of static entropy, and a time-to-digital-converter (TDC) as a high-resolution, embedded instrument for measuring path delays, where measurement noise serves as the source of dynamic entropy. A novel data postprocessing algorithm is proposed based on a modified duplex sponge construction. The sponge function operates on soft data, i.e., fixed point data values, to add entropy to the ensuing random bit sequences and to increase the bit generation rate. A postprocessing algorithm for reproducing PUF-generated encryption keys is also used in the TRNG to protect against temperature voltage attacks designed to subvert the random characteristics in the bit sequences. The unified PUF-TRNG architecture is implemented across multiple instances of a ZYBO Z7-10 FPGA board and extensively tested with NIST SP 800-22, NIST SP 800-90B, AIS-31, and DieHarder test suites. Results indicate a stable and robust TRNG design with excellent min-entropy and a moderate data rate.
title A TRNG Implemented using a Soft-Data Based Sponge Function within a Unified Strong PUF Architecture
topic Cryptography and Security
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.17795