Yunqi He

Yunqi He

Phd. Candidate in Computer Engineering

Project Duration

2022 - Present

Collaboration

NuLogiCS Research Group, Northwestern University

Keywords

Logic Locking, Hardware Security, IP Protection, Circuit Obfuscation

Hardware Security Foundations

Published:

Project Overview

This project develops advanced logic locking techniques to protect intellectual property (IP) in integrated circuits. Our research establishes foundational security methods that serve as building blocks for broader hardware protection strategies and form the basis for securing emerging AI/ML systems.

Research Focus

Logic Locking & Circuit Protection

Core Innovation: Developing robust logic locking schemes that achieve simultaneous security, obfuscation, and efficiency - addressing the fundamental challenge that existing methods sacrifice one aspect for others.

Key Contributions:

  • ObfusLock: First framework achieving simultaneous security, obfuscation, and efficiency
  • DE2: Novel SAT-based decryption using functional specifications
  • DNN Logic Locking: Security analysis of neural network protection schemes

Technical Innovations

ObfusLock Framework

  • Innovation: Mathematical foundation ensuring security guarantees while maintaining efficiency
  • Performance: <5% overhead on average with strong resistance to existing attacks
  • Impact: First comprehensive solution to the security-efficiency trade-off problem

Attack Methodology Development

  • Systematic Analysis: Vulnerability assessment of current DNN logic locking schemes
  • I/O Attack Methods: Combining algebraic and learning-based approaches for comprehensive evaluation
  • Security Evaluation: Establishing benchmarks for measuring protection effectiveness

Formal Verification Integration

  • Security Analysis: Formal methods for proving protection guarantees
  • Attack Resilience: Comprehensive evaluation against state-of-the-art attacks
  • Mathematical Foundations: Solid theoretical basis for security claims

Research Applications

Circuit IP Protection

  • Logic Locking: Advanced key-based protection schemes for integrated circuits
  • Structural Obfuscation: Hiding circuit functionality from reverse engineering
  • Multi-layered Security: Combined protection strategies for comprehensive defense

Attack Analysis

  • Vulnerability Discovery: Systematic analysis of protection scheme weaknesses
  • Attack Development: Creating new attack methods to improve defense strategies
  • Security Benchmarking: Establishing evaluation standards for the field

Performance and Impact

  • Industry Relevance: Focus on deployable solutions with practical overhead constraints
  • Academic Recognition: 3 published papers at top-tier conferences
  • Foundational Work: Establishing security principles for emerging computing paradigms

Methodological Approach

  • Mathematical Rigor: Formal proofs and security guarantees
  • Practical Validation: Extensive experimental evaluation on real circuits
  • Comprehensive Analysis: Both protection development and attack methodology
  1. ObfusLock: An Efficient Obfuscated Locking Framework for Circuit IP Protection - DATE 2023
  2. Evaluating the Security of Logic Locking on Deep Neural Networks - DAC 2024
  3. DE2: SAT-Based Sequential Logic Decryption with a Functional Description - DATE 2025

Future Research Directions

  • Hardware-AI Security Synergy: Extending circuit protection techniques to secure AI model parameters
  • Quantum-Resistant Methods: Developing protection schemes for quantum computing era
  • Emerging Paradigms: Logic locking for neuromorphic and edge computing systems
  • Industry Integration: Creating tools for seamless EDA workflow integration