Random number generation using startup variances
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorMonty Aaron Forehand
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Random numbers are generated according to a variety of solutions. A particular solution relates to method for generating the random number. A common start signal is provided to each of a plurality of inverter components of a ring oscillator circuit. This causes the ring oscillator circuit to enter a metastable mode. At least a first bit and a second bit of a random number are both generated in parallel. The parallel generation of the bits involves the generation of the first bit from entropic properties of a signal of a first one of the plurality of inverter components and the generation of the second bit from entropic properties of a signal of a second one inverter components.
Claims16
A method comprising:
- providing a common start signal to each of a plurality of inverter components of a ring oscillator circuit and thereby causing the ring oscillator circuit to enter a metastable mode;
- and
- generating, in parallel, at least a first bit and a second bit of a random number by
- generating the first bit from entropic properties of a signal of a first one of the plurality of inverter components;
- and
- generating the second bit from entropic properties of a signal of a second one inverter components.
A random number generating circuit comprising:
- at least three NAND gates connected in series to form a ring oscillator circuit;
- a common startup signal line connected to an input of each of the least three NAND gates;
- at least three entropic capture circuits, each entropic capture circuit configured and arranged to quantify, in parallel with the other entropic capture circuits, entropic properties of an output signal from a corresponding NAND gate;
- and
- a memory storage circuit for concatenating and storing each of the quantified entropic properties as a respective bit of a random number.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.