Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) Based Random Number Generator

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel PUF-based true random number generator that leverages an Arbiter PUF within an NFSR, achieving high-speed output, passing NIST tests, and using minimal resources for lightweight applications.

Contribution

It presents a new PUF-based RNG architecture using an Arbiter PUF in an NFSR, with high output rate and low resource consumption.

Findings

Produces 10 million bits per second

Passes all NIST randomness tests

Uses only 193 slices, suitable for lightweight devices

Abstract

Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) are widely used to generate random Numbers. In this paper we propose a new architecture in which an Arbiter Based PUF has been employed as a nonlinear function in Nonlinear Feedback Shift Register (NFSR) to generate true random numbers. The rate of producing the output bit streams is 10 million bits per second. The proposed RNG is able to pass all NIST tests and the entropy of the output stream is 7.999837 bits per byte. The proposed circuit has very low resource usage of 193 Slices that makes it suitable for lightweight applications.