Multilevel States of Nano-Electromechanical Switch for a PUF-Based Security Device.

A nano-electromechanical (NEM) switch using multilevel states based on the high security physical unclonable function (PUF) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Using the asymmetric random stiction of a silicon nanowire (SiNW), the conventional binary state is simply expanded to a quaternary-state encryption key without increasing chip area. The multiple states are determined by the asymmetrically bent direction and stiction of the SiNW.

Nano-electromechanical Switch Based on a Physical Unclonable Function for Highly Robust and Stable Performance in Harsh Environments.

A physical unclonable function (PUF) device using a nano-electromechanical (NEM) switch was demonstrated. The most important feature of the NEM-switch-based PUF is its use of stiction. Stiction is one of the chronic problems associated with micro- and nano-electromechanical system (MEMS/NEMS) devices; however, here, it was utilized to intentionally implement a PUF for hardware-based security.