Random number generator for generating truly random numbers

Abstract

An apparatus includes multiple oscillators, where each oscillator includes an inverter chain. The apparatus also includes combinatorial logic configured to generate a random number having one or more bits. The combinatorial logic is configured to generate each bit by combining two or more signals from at least two oscillators that have inverter chains with different prime numbers of inverters. The combinatorial logic may be configured to generate each bit using signals from a unique combination of oscillators. The combinatorial logic may also be configured to combine the signals asynchronously and sample the combined signal synchronously using a synchronous sampling clock, where at least one of the signals is not harmonically related to the sampling clock. Each of at least one of the oscillators may include multiple taps configured to provide multiple signals, and the multiple signals from one oscillator could have different asynchronous phases relative to the sampling clock.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.