| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an apparatus which is capable of easily generating cipher- theoritically safe binary random numbers and is suitable for miniaturization by using the breakdown current of a semiconductor junction as a noise generating source. SOLUTION: This apparatus has a semiconductor element including the junction, a reverse bias impressing means for impressing the reverse bias voltage to the extent of generating the breakdown current to the junction and a digitalization circuit for outputting the digital signal obtd. by sampling the noise signal generated in a current path including the junction as a random number. For example, the reverse bias voltage to the extent of generating the breakdown via a resistor 11 is impressed to the p-n junction of a Zener diode 8 of this noise generating circuit 5. As a result, the slight breakdown current flows in a reverse direction and random noise voltages are generated. The Zener diode 8 is operated in a manner described above, by which the random noise voltage outputs of several tens to about several hundreds μV are obtd. peak to peak with a Zener voltage as the center. These voltage outputs are used as the generation sources for the random numbers. |
