Intrinsic-ID, a spinout of Royal Philips Electronics, introduces Quiddikey™ security IP on Actel’s ProASIC3E Low Power FPGAs. Intrinsic-ID’s Quiddikey™ is a key storage product that extracts the key from the unique device fingerprint originating from deep submicron manufacturing process variations. It is designed to protect a device and its content against counterfeiting and cloning. Quiddikey™ is available as FPGA netlist IP.

Functionality: Secure key storage

Advantages:

• Protects against cloning of devices and systems
• Enables a cost reduction through a lower bill of material for systems with security functionality by eliminating the need for embedded non-volatile memory for key storage
• Immediately available on Actel’s FPGA devices
  

Applications:

• Streaming Media Protection
• Protection of software, content and data against piracy through Software/Hardware Binding
• Flexible System for Secure Boot (anti-virus protection)
• Secure network infrastructure
• Automotive and navigation

Quiddikey™ Reference Implementation:

• Implemented on ProASIC3E1500 FPGA onto an ProASIC3 Starter Kit Board
• Storage of a 256 bit key (AES)
• Uses 4 kBytes of SRAM that is configured on the FPGA itself

Quiddikey™ has two main functional modes: Enrollment and Key Reconstruction.  A user-defined key is programmed in the Enrollment mode. Quiddikey™ retrieves the startup data from the memory (SRAM) and generates the corresponding Activation Code. This is a one-time procedure.  Quiddikey™ also supports device-unique keys.  In the Key Reconstruction mode the activation code is used in combination with a new SRAM startup reading to reconstruct the user-defined key.

Key Enrollment and Reconstruction

The Quiddikey™ implementation for the Actel ProASIC3E comes with an Interface Specification and User Guide Manual, synthesis example, VHDL test-bench and simulation scripts. User can add additional logic around Quiddikey™ as part of a larger design.  Quiddikey™ reference implementation characteristics:

Intrinsic-ID Inc.
2033 Gateway Place, Suite 500
San Jose, CA 95110
USA
+1 408-573-6186

Intrinsic-ID B.V. Headquarters
High Tech Campus 9
5656 AE Eindhoven
The Netherlands
+31 40 851 90 20