Patent ID: 10056905

Abstract:
Techniques are provided for a physically unclonable function (PUF) device. One example PUF device includes, a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) (such as a ROIC for a focal plane array or other imaging application), a nanomaterial-based PUF layer on the ROIC, and a common electrode on the PUF layer. The nanomaterial is randomly distributed throughout the PUF layer. A method of using a PUF device that includes a nanomaterial-based PUF layer coupled to a ROIC, where the nanomaterial is randomly distributed throughout the PUF layer, includes driving the ROIC at a plurality of locations coupled to a corresponding plurality of locations of the PUF layer, sensing the nanomaterial at the locations of the PUF layer, and generating a unique identification key from the sensed locations of the PUF layer. The method can be used, for example, for secure decryption or for identifying or authenticating the PUF device.