D flip-flop based TRNG with zero hardware cost for IoT security applications. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khan, Sajid; Shah, Ambika Prasad; Chouhan, Shailesh Singh; Pandey, Jai Gopal; Vishvakarma, Santosh Kumar
• Is Part Of: Microelectronics and reliability. Volume 120(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: True random number generator -- Flip-flop -- Lightweight -- IoT -- Security; Electronic apparatus and appliances -- Reliability -- Periodicals; Miniature electronic equipment -- Periodicals; Appareils électroniques -- Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Équipement électronique miniaturisé -- Périodiques; Electronic apparatus and appliances -- Reliability; Miniature electronic equipment; Periodicals; 621.3815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.microrel.2021.114098
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0026-2714

Abstract

Abstract: System-on-chips (SoCs) for the Internet of things (IoT) applications require hardware-based integrated random number generators for the secure transmission of information. However, they have limited hardware and power budget, which limits the use of on-chip dedicated True Random Number Generator (TRNG). In this work, a symmetric D flip-flop with integrated TRNG is proposed. The proposed architecture is implemented using a standard 40 nm CMOS technology. The post-layout simulation results show that it offers good randomness with low energy-per-bit. In addition, the circuit has passed all the tests of NIST without any post-processing. When compared with the conventional D flip-flop, it has almost negligible area overhead that is only 0.14%. An FPGA implementation is also presented as a proof of concept that confirms the simulation results. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) key expansion algorithm is also implemented to demonstrate the dual usage of the proposed D flip-flop. Highlights: A D flip-flop as an integrated TRNG is proposed. An FGPA implementation, along with the simulation, and mathematical model is presented to validate the functional correctness.