A novel complementary architecture of one-time-programmable memory and its applications as physical unclonable function (PUF) and one-time password

For the first time, we proposed a 2T complementary architecture of one-time-programmable memory (OTP) in a foundry logic CMOS chip. It was then used to realize the PUF (Physical unclonable function), and the combination with the AI technology to provide a one-time password capability. At first, an OTP was developed based on a novel 2T CMOS unit cell. The experimental results show that the macro exhibits high speed operation, excellent data retention under more than 1 month baking at 200oC, and fairly large memory window. Next, a PUF is developed and because of the gate oxide integrity in the 40nm planar transistor technology, a superb randomness, i.e., an ideal and un-biased normal distribution of hamming distance, and narrow distribution of hamming weight can be achieved. Moreover, we use AI deep learning algorithms to generate a pseudo-PUF for one-time password successfully. Overall, this OTP provides an ideal and reliable solution either for the storage purpose or the security application in 5G era.