TRUE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR

摘要

A true random number generator comprises a ring oscillator which is triggered to start oscillating in a first mode of oscillation at an oscillation start time. The first mode of oscillation will eventually collapse to a second mode of oscillation dependent on thermal noise. A collapse time from the oscillation start time to the time at which the oscillator collapses to the second mode is measured, and this can be used to determine a random number. The TRNG can be synthesized entirely using standard digital techniques and is able to provide high randomness, good throughput and energy efficiency.

主权项

1. A true random number generator comprising:
a ring oscillator; a control circuit configured to trigger the ring oscillator to start oscillating in a first mode of oscillation at an oscillation start time; and a time measuring circuit configured to measure a collapse time value indicative of a length of time from the oscillation start time to an oscillation collapse time at which the ring oscillator switches from the first mode of oscillation to a second mode of oscillation.