# US 10,042,609 B2 · Method for generating random numbers and associated random number generator

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- Number: US 10,042,609 B2
- Document ID: US10042609B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/309,857
- Filed: 2015-05-08
- Published: 2017-09-14
- Granted: 2018-08-07
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-09
- Assignees: Quantum Numbers Corp.
- Applicants: Quantum Numbers Corp.
- Inventors: Bertrand Reulet
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10042609B2

## CPC

- G06F 7/588: {Random number generators, i.e. based on natural stochastic processes}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A random signal can be obtained from a random tunnelling of charges from one conductor to another conductor across a quantum tunnelling barrier. The random signal can be amplified and associated to a random number. The association can be performed repetitively to generate a sequence of random numbers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A random number generator comprising:
a quantum tunnelling barrier having an insulator having two exterior opposite faces each in contact with a corresponding one of two conductors and allowing charges to randomly tunnel from one of the conductors to the other conductor across the insulator to form a current of tunneled charges passing through the insulator, the current of tunneled charges having an instantaneous level varying randomly due to quantum tunneling and forming a random signal, wherein each one of the conductors is configured to be connectable to a corresponding terminal of a voltage source;
an amplifier connected to one of the two conductors for amplifying the random signal; and
a sampling device connected to the amplifier for associating, in real time, the instantaneous level of the amplified random signal to at least one random number.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The random number generator of claim 1 wherein the the two conductors are in the form of conductive layers sandwiching the insulator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The random number generator of claim 2, wherein at least one of the two conductive layers is made of a metallic material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The random number generator of claim 2, wherein at least one of the two conductive layers is made of a semiconductor material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The random number generator of claim 1 further comprising a voltage source connected to the two conductors and operable to generate a difference of potential causing the charges to randomly tunnel from one of the conductors to the other conductor across the insulator to form the current of tunneled charges.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The random number generator of claim 5, wherein the quantum tunnelling barrier prevents charges of the voltage source to pass thereacross by way of classical reflection.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The random number generator of claim 5 further comprising a biasing device between the quantum tunnelling barrier and the amplifier, the biasing device for biasing the voltage source and fixing the difference of potential applied on the quantum tunnelling barrier; and a filter mounted on the board, between the quantum tunnelling barrier and the amplifier.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The random number generator of claim 1, further comprising a board provided in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB) that mechanically supports the quantum tunnelling barrier, the conductors, the amplifier and the sampling device, having conductive tracks etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate and electrically connecting the components to one another.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The random number generator of claim 1, wherein the sampling device is a data acquisition board having a sampling frequency of 3 billion samplings per second.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The random number generator of claim 1, wherein the amplifier amplifies the random signal with more than 50 dB.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The random number generator of claim 1, wherein the amplifier has an amplifying band pass of 0.1 MHz to 1000 MHz.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The random number generator of claim 1 connected in parallel with at least one other random number generator.