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TUNABLE TUNNEL DIODE-BASED DIGITIZED NOISE SOURCE

  • US 20180067723A1
  • Filed: 03/24/2017
  • Published: 03/08/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A random number generator for generating random numbers, comprising:

  • a digitized noise source for producing a sequence of random digital signals, comprising;

    a tunnel diode for providing a current signal that includes quantum shot noise properties;

    a bias voltage for biasing the tunnel diode and generating a current signal;

    a current-to-voltage converter coupled to the tunnel diode for converting the current signal to a voltage signal;

    a filtering and amplification circuit coupled to the current-to-voltage converter for producing an amplified voltage signal; and

    a digitization circuit for converting the amplified voltage signal into the sequence of digital signals that represents random bits;

    an entropy estimator coupled to the output of the digitization circuit for estimating an entropy of the sequence of digital signals;

    a health checker coupled to the entropy estimator for determining if the digitized noise source meets performance specification;

    a controller logic coupled to the entropy estimator and health checker for storing lookup tables that contain the tunnel diodes bias voltage versus estimated entropy and tunnel diodes bias voltage versus health test results of the sequence of digital signals; and

    a feedback path for providing a feedback bias voltage to adjust the current signal from the tunnel diode based on the estimated entropy and the health tests.

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