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US 5,706,218 AGranted
Random number generator
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorEric J. Hoffman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A random number generator using a single, slow, voltage controlled oscillator which receives a noise input and a plurality of high frequency ring oscillators. The ring oscillators are sampled under control of the slow oscillator. A circuit is used between the output of each of the ring oscillators and its respective D-type latch to assure that the sampling is unbiased, that is, that there will be near even distribution of 1s and 0s in the random numbers.
Claims17
A random number generator comprising:
- a source of noise;
- a first oscillator coupled to the source of noise having a nominal first frequency which is varied by the source of noise;
- a second oscillator having a second frequency, the second frequency being higher than the first frequency;
- and,
- a sampling device for sampling an output of the second oscillator under the control of an output of the first oscillator, the sampling device being coupled to the first and second oscillators.
2 more elements
A method for generating a random number comprising the steps of:
- generating a noise signal;
- using the noise signal to cause frequency variations in a first signal having a nominal frequency of .function.1;
- and,
- sampling a second signal having a nominal frequency of .function.2 where .function.2 is a much higher frequency than .function.1 at a rate controlled by the first signal.
1 more element
A random number generator comprising:
- a source of noise;
- a voltage controlled oscillator coupled to the source of noise, the voltage controlled oscillator operating at a first frequency;
- a first ring oscillator operating at a second frequency, the second frequency being higher than the first frequency;
- and
- a first sampling device coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator and the first ring oscillator, the first sampling device, under control by an output of the voltage controlled oscillator, sampling an output of the first ring oscillator.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.