Patent ID: 9279856
Filing Date: 2016-03-08
CPC Classification: G01R,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A die, comprising: a physical unclonable function circuit providing output signals, wherein the output signals are dependent on at least one physical characteristic specific to the die; a self-test circuit integrated with the physical unclonable function circuit on the die, wherein the self-test circuit provides a plurality of test input signals to the physical unclonable function circuit, evaluates the output signals respectively provided in response to the plurality of test input signals, and determines as to whether the output signals provided in response to the plurality of test input signals fulfill a predefined criterion, wherein the predefined criterion is that different test input signals lead to different output signals when using the same physical unclonable function circuit and/or that the same test input signals lead to different output signals when varying a function of the physical unclonable function circuit; and an error handling circuit coupled to the self-test circuit, wherein the error handling circuit outputs an alarm signal indicating that an error has been detected in the physical unclonable function circuit and/or a reset signal to set the die into a predefined reset state in case the self-test circuit determines that the output signals provided in response to the plurality of test input signals do not fulfill the predefined criterion.