Optoelectronic device and method for generating a sequence of random numbers

A method of generating a sequence of random numbers, the method comprising:

• providing an emitter, a conversion layer, and a receiver;
• emitting, by the emitter, pulses of primary electromagnetic radiation;
• absorbing, by the conversion layer, the primary electromagnetic radiation;
• emitting, by the conversion layer, secondary electromagnetic radiation in response to the absorbing;
• receiving, by the receiver, the secondary electromagnetic radiation;
• evaluating with each pulse of primary electromagnetic radiation whether an amount of secondary electromagnetic radiation received by the receiver exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
• and
• appending a number associated with a result of the evaluating to the sequence of random numbers.

An optoelectronic device for generating a sequence of random numbers, comprising:

• an emitter configured to emit pulses of primary electromagnetic radiation during operation;
• a conversion layer configured to absorb the primary electromagnetic radiation and to emit secondary electromagnetic radiation in response to the absorption;
• a receiver configured to receive the secondary electromagnetic radiation;
• a controller coupled to the receiver, the controller being configured to evaluate with each pulse of primary electromagnetic radiation whether an amount of secondary electromagnetic radiation received by the receiver exceeds a predetermined threshold value and to append a number associated with a result of the evaluation to the sequence of random numbers;
• and
• a clock generator circuit, wherein the clock generator circuit is configured to provide a timing signal to the emitter for generation of periodic pulses of primary electromagnetic radiation.