Starvation-voltage based random number generator
AssigneeNuvoton Technology Corporation
InventorsZiv Hershman, Tamir Golan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated circuit includes signal-source circuitry (SSC), an SSC power supply circuit (SSC-PS) and a digitization circuit. The SSC is configured to generate an output signal, which is guaranteed to meet specified electrical parameters provided that a supply voltage to the SSC is within a specified operating voltage range. The SSC-PS is configured to power the SSC with a reduced voltage that is below the specified operating voltage range, thereby causing the output signal to be noisy. The digitization circuit is configured to digitize the noisy output signal so as to generate a respective sequence of random numbers.
Claims14
An integrated circuit, comprising:
- signal-source circuitry (SSC), configured to generate an output signal, which is guaranteed to meet specified electrical parameters provided that a supply voltage to the SSC is within a specified operating voltage range;
- an SSC power supply circuit (SSC-PS), configured to power the SSC with a starvation voltage that is constantly below the specified operating voltage range, thereby causing the output signal to be noisy, the SSC-PS comprising a negative-feedback circuit that controls the starvation voltage in an inverse relation to a frequency of the output signal;
- and
- a digitation circuit, configured to digitize the noisy output signal so as to generate a sequence of random numbers.
A method, comprising:
- using signal-source circuitry (SSC), generating an output signal, which is guaranteed to meet specified electrical parameters provided that a supply voltage to the SSC is within a specified operating voltage range;
- powering the SSC with a starvation voltage that is constantly below the specified operating voltage range, thereby causing the output signal to be noisy;
- controlling the starvation voltage in an inverse relation to a frequency of the output signal;
- and
- digitizing the noisy output signal so as to generate a sequence of random numbers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.