Using Nonlinear CMOS-MEMS Resonators for Self-Encrypting Analog-to-Digital Conversion
Part Of
Technical Digest - International Electron Devices Meeting, IEDM
ISSN
01631918
ISBN (of the container)
9798331567859
ISBN
9798331567859
Date Issued
2025
Author(s)
Chen, Ting-Yi
Abstract
This work demonstrates a nonlinear MEMS resonator-based analog-to-digital converter (ADC) integrated with an intrinsic hardware encryption function. In particular, the resonator exhibits internal resonance-induced asymmetric frequency combs whose profiles are digitized into binary bits. Due to the high sensitivity of combs to inherent physical variation during the microfabrication process, the MEMS-based ADC can uniquely map the input voltage level into hardware-encrypted bits. The resonator, together with a 16-bit digitization, converts 9 comb teeth into unique 144-bit encrypted digital outputs with a voltage resolution down to 0.006 V. The generated bits exhibit randomness from device to device, confirmed by the inter-Hamming distance (interHD) analysis and the NIST 800-22 statistical tests. The proposed resonant MEMS-based ADC provides an intrinsic hardware security solution that eliminates the need for mode-switching or external database management, paving the way for more compact and secure sensor networks.
Event(s)
2025 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting, IEDM 2025, 6 December 2025 - 10 December 2025, San Francisco
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Type
conference paper