A dynamically reconfigurable hardware-based cipher chip

A cipher core has been implemented, which is dedicated to a 64-bit block, 128-bit key, dynamically reconfigurable hardware-based cipher, called "Chameleon", in which two 32-cell, 8-context dynamically reconfigurable hardware units are employed to generate new subkeys for each of the 16 iterations in the encryption/decryption process. The proposed architecture has been implemented by 0.6 um CMOS3LM technology, using 65.6K transistors and attaining a maximum throughput of 317.5 Mbps. The new approach demonstrates distinctive features of enhanced complexity and flexibility dedicatedly for embedded encryption/decryption applications in the mobile computing.