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Embedded ID by MOSFET Threshold Voltages
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SiidTech Inc and Portland State University have jointly developed a technology to batch-embed inherent identification numbers (ID) into integrated circuits (IC). Applications are expected in managing intellectual property (IP) licenses and copyrighted materials. SiidTech has already begun licensing the technology, with a minimum fee for technology usage rights of US$10,000.
The newly-developed technology makes use of metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) threshold voltages to generate ID in each chip. The same dedicated circuit is integrated into all the chips at once for batch ID embedding. According to the firm, "MOSFET threshold voltages have minute variations due to differences in the transistors used, and the number of atoms. A circuit with multiple MOSFETs is created on the chip, and the differences in threshold voltage are read as analog signals. Since each signal has a different value, the digitized data can be used as a randomized chip ID."
The dedicated circuit includes a data generator and a comparator to digitize the threshold voltages. About 3,000 transistors are needed to generate 128-bit ID. Testing to determine the effects of clock rate and ambient temperature indicated that the ID error rate was low enough for practical use.
(April 2000 Issue, Nikkei Electronics Asia)
The newly-developed technology makes use of metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) threshold voltages to generate ID in each chip. The same dedicated circuit is integrated into all the chips at once for batch ID embedding. According to the firm, "MOSFET threshold voltages have minute variations due to differences in the transistors used, and the number of atoms. A circuit with multiple MOSFETs is created on the chip, and the differences in threshold voltage are read as analog signals. Since each signal has a different value, the digitized data can be used as a randomized chip ID."
The dedicated circuit includes a data generator and a comparator to digitize the threshold voltages. About 3,000 transistors are needed to generate 128-bit ID. Testing to determine the effects of clock rate and ambient temperature indicated that the ID error rate was low enough for practical use.
(April 2000 Issue, Nikkei Electronics Asia)
