This paper introduces a novel information hiding technique for Flash memory. The method hides data within an analog characteristic of Flash, the program time of individual bits. Because the technique uses analog behaviors, normal Flash memory operations are not affected and hidden information is invisible in the data stored in the memory. Even if an attacker checks a Flash chip's analog characteristics, experimental results indicate that the hidden information is difficult to distinguish from inherent manufacturing variation or normal wear on the device. Moreover, the hidden data can survive erasure of the Flash memory data, and the technique can be used on current Flash chips without hardware changes.

We demonstrate that unmodified commercial Flash memory can provide two important security functions: true random number generation and digital fingerprinting. Taking advantage of random telegraph noise (a type of quantum noise source in highly scaled Flash memory cells) enables high quality true random number generation at a rate up to 10Kbits / second. A scheme based on partial programming exploits process variation in threshold voltages to allow quick generation of many unique fingerprints that can be used for identification and authentication. Both schemes require no change to Flash chips or interfaces, and do not require additional hardware.

Large register files are common in highly multi-threaded architectures such as GPUs. This paper presents a hybrid memory design that tightly integrates embedded DRAM into SRAM cells with a main application to reducing area and power consumption of multi-threaded register files. In the hybrid memory, each SRAM cell is augmented with multiple DRAM cells so that multiple bits can be stored in each cell. This configuration results in significant area and energy savings compared to the SRAM array with the same capacity due to compact DRAM cells. On other hand, the hybrid memory requires explicit data movements in order to access DRAM contexts. In order to minimize context switching impact, we introduce write-back buffers, background context switching, and context-aware thread scheduling, to the processor pipeline and the scheduler. Circuit and architecture simulations of GPU benchmarks suites show significant savings in register file area (38%) and energy (68%) over the traditional SRAM implementation, with minimal (1.4%) performance loss.

A new device for human operator control of a robotic gripper has been developed and preliminary evaluation has been performed. The JPL Force Reflecting Hand Trigger system features: an instrumented index finger trigger with load cell detection of finger force. A servo controlled, lead screw driven backdrive capability by which the trigger's position can be made to follow that of the remotely controlled gripper. And a novel feedback mechanism by which clamping force or some other signal can be fed back via a swiveling motion, also servo controlled, of the trigger surface (force reflection). This system has undergone preliminary testing in which the amount of force reflection is varied and dynamic force tracking response is observed.