Device for generating a random signal
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorsPhilippe Galy, Thomas Bedecarrats
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated device, for generating a random signal, includes: a first terminal; a pulse signal generator configured to generate a current pulse train on the first terminal; and a first control circuit coupled to the first terminal and configured to convert the current pulse train into a voltage signal randomly including voltage pulses greater than a threshold, the random signal containing the voltage pulses greater than the threshold.
Claims24
An integrated device for generating a random signal, the integrated device comprising:
- a first terminal;
- a pulse signal generator configured to generate a current pulse train on the first terminal;
- and
- a first control circuit coupled to the first terminal and configured to convert the current pulse train into a voltage signal randomly comprising voltage pulses greater than a threshold, the random signal containing the voltage pulses greater than the threshold, wherein the integrated device is configured to receive the current pulse train at the first terminal and generate the random signal at the first terminal.
The integrated device according to claim7, wherein the electrode of the first MOS capacitor and the electrode of the second MOS capacitor are spatially juxtaposed with respective electrode semiconductor regions of the main transistor, the respective electrode semiconductor regions comprising a drain semiconductor region and a source semiconductor region, and wherein the first terminal contacts the drain semiconductor region of the main transistor.
The integrated device according to claim7, wherein the semiconductor substrate is of a silicon-on-insulator type.
The integrated device according to claim5, wherein the resistive element has a resistance greater than one megaohm.
The integrated device according to claim5, wherein the second control circuit comprises a control resistor.
The integrated device according to claim5, wherein the second control circuit comprises a control transistor comprising a control electrode configured to receive a control signal so as to modify a resistance of a drain-source connection of the control transistor.
A system comprising:
- at least one integrated device for generating a random signal, the at least one integrated device comprising:
- a first terminal;
- a pulse signal generator configured to generate a current pulse train on the first terminal;
- and
- a first control circuit coupled to the first terminal and configured to convert the current pulse train into a voltage signal randomly comprising voltage pulses greater than a threshold, the random signal containing the voltage pulses greater than the threshold, the system being a random counter comprising a plurality of flip-flops having clock inputs coupled to the first terminal of the at least one integrated device.
A system comprising:
- at least one integrated device for generating a random signal, the at least one integrated device comprising:
- a first terminal;
- a pulse signal generator configured to generate a current pulse train on the first terminal;
- a first control circuit coupled to the first terminal and configured to convert the current pulse train into a voltage signal randomly comprising voltage pulses greater than a threshold, the random signal containing the voltage pulses greater than the threshold;
- and
- a plurality of integrated devices, the system being a random number generator comprising a plurality of flip-flops, each flip-flop having a data input coupled to a respective integrated device of the plurality of integrated devices.
An integrated device for generating a random signal, the integrated device comprising:
- a first terminal;
- a supply terminal configured to receive a supply voltage
- a pulse signal generator configured to generate a current pulse train on the first terminal;
- a first control circuit coupled to the first terminal and configured to convert the current pulse train into a voltage signal randomly comprising voltage pulses greater than a threshold, the random signal containing the voltage pulses greater than the threshold, wherein the first control circuit comprises a first MOS capacitor coupled between a first auxiliary supply terminal configured to deliver a first auxiliary voltage and the first terminal;
- a main transistor coupled between the first terminal and a common node, wherein a substrate of the main transistor is coupled to a reference terminal, configured to receive a reference voltage, by way of a second control circuit, and wherein the substrate of the main transistor is directly coupled to a gate of the main transistor;
- a second MOS capacitor coupled between the common node and a second auxiliary supply terminal configured to deliver a second auxiliary voltage;
- a first secondary transistor coupled between the first terminal and the reference terminal, wherein a gate of the first secondary transistor is coupled to the common node;
- a second secondary transistor coupled between the supply terminal and the common node, wherein a gate of the second secondary transistor is coupled to the gate of the main transistor;
- and
- a resistive element coupled between the common node and the reference terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.