Random number generators having metastable seed signal generators therein
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsIhor Vasyltsov, Bohdan Karpinskyy
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Abstract
A random number generator includes a signal generator and a sampling unit. The signal generator is configured to generate an alternating sequence of metastable seed signals and oscillating signals during respective first and second half-periods of a clock signal. The oscillating signals having respective phases determined by corresponding ones of the metastable seed signals in the alternating sequence. The sampling unit is configured to detect a logic value of each consecutive oscillating signal during a portion of a respective half-period of the clock signal. The signal generator may be responsive to the clock signal and the sampling unit may be responsive to a delayed version of the clock signal.
Claims20
A random number generator, comprising:
- a signal generator responsive to a first clock signal, said signal generator configured to generate a metastable seed signal during a first half-period of the first clock signal and further configured to generate an oscillating signal having a peak-to-peak voltage that varies as a function of time during at least a portion of a second half-period of the first clock signal, said metastable seed signal having a voltage that designates a starting value of the oscillating signal during the second half-period of the first clock signal.
A random number generator, comprising:
- a signal generator configured to generate an alternating sequence of metastable seed signals and oscillating signals during respective first and second half-periods of a clock signal, said oscillating signals having respective phases determined by corresponding ones of the metastable seed signals in the alternating sequence;
- and
- a sampling unit configured to detect a logic value of each consecutive oscillating signal during a portion of a respective half-period of the clock signal.
A random number generator, comprising:
- an output signal providing unit including an active element which operates as an entropy source, configured to provide an output signal converging to a meta-stable state in a first logic level of a first control clock signal and configured to provide an oscillating output signal in a second logic level of the first control clock signal;
- a sampling unit configured to sample the oscillating output signal to output a random bit in synchronization with a second control clock signal;
- and
- a control clock generating unit configured to generate the first and second control clock signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.