Random number generation apparatus and method

A random number generator circuit, comprising:

• a first channel defined to provide a first random signal having a random frequency and a random phase;
• a second channel defined to provide a second random signal having a random frequency and a random phase;
• a third channel defined to provide a third random signal having a random frequency and a random phase;
• and
• digital logic defined to receive as input each of the first, second, and third random signals respectively provided by the first, second, and third channels, the digital logic being further defined to evaluate an exclusive-nor combination of the first and second random signals to generate a fourth random signal, the digital logic being further defined to register a value of the fourth random signal in accordance with the third random signal, the registered value of the fourth random signal being used to set a bit for defining a random number.

A method for generating a random number, comprising:

• generating a first voltage having a random noise component;
• generating a second voltage having a random noise component;
• generating a first noisy analog voltage through amplification of the first and second voltages, the random noise components of the first and second voltages causing the first noisy analog voltage to be random;
• stabilizing the first noisy analog voltage through use of a negative feedback loop for controlling the first voltage and a positive feedback loop for controlling the second voltage;
• providing the first noisy analog voltage as input to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), the output of the VCO being a random signal having a random phase and a random frequency;
• and
• setting a bit for defining a random number based on the random signal output from the VCO.