A Security-Enhanced, Charge-Pump-Free, ISO14443-A-/ISO10373-6-Compliant RFID Tag With 16.2-μW Embedded RRAM and Reconfigurable Strong PUF

Abstract

Radio frequency identification technology (RFID) has empowered a wide variety of automation industries, such as logistics and freight transportation. To further promote RFID tags adoption, security, power consumption, and cost have always been issues of general concern. This article presents the first synergy of the RFID tag with embedded resistive RAM (RRAM) array and RRAM-based reconfigurable strong physical unclonable function (R-SPUF). The RRAM not only meets the mass storage and technology downscaling but also renders the ultralow-cost “1-cent RFID tag” more feasible. Moreover, the R-SPUF facilitates multiple initializations until a satisfactory distribution and has strong secure keys benefiting from its reconfigurability that improves both safety and reliability. The complete system operates at 13.56 MHz and is compliant with the ISO14443-A and ISO10373-6 (test) protocols. The RFID tag was fabricated on a 1.1-mm2 die based on the 0.18- <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> CMOS process. Without resorting to the charge pumps for RRAM read–write operations, the total power consumption is as low as 52.3 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{W}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> , of which the RRAM dissipates <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$16.2~\mu \text{W}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> under a wireless power supply.