Random signal generator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic device comprising:
- at least one random signal generator circuit configured to generate a random digital number and comprisingan electronic noise source comprising a folded MOS transistor having a drain-source current with a random component, anda logic circuit configured to generate the random digital number based upon the random component;
a communications module coupled to said at least one random signal generator circuit and configured to transmit the random digital number to an external terminal; and
a processor coupled to said at least one random signal generator circuit and configured to transform the generated random digital number based upon an authentication function that uses a secret key;
said processor also configured to compare a result of the authentication function to a result of another authentication function provided by the external terminal in response to the random digital number being sent thereto, and to authorize a transaction with the external terminal if the comparison is a match.
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Abstract
A random signal generator uses a folded MOS transistor, whose drain-source current includes a random component, as an electronic noise source. The random signal generator generates a random binary signal from the random component. The invention may be applied, in particular, to smart cards.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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at least one random signal generator circuit configured to generate a random digital number and comprising an electronic noise source comprising a folded MOS transistor having a drain-source current with a random component, and a logic circuit configured to generate the random digital number based upon the random component; a communications module coupled to said at least one random signal generator circuit and configured to transmit the random digital number to an external terminal; and a processor coupled to said at least one random signal generator circuit and configured to transform the generated random digital number based upon an authentication function that uses a secret key; said processor also configured to compare a result of the authentication function to a result of another authentication function provided by the external terminal in response to the random digital number being sent thereto, and to authorize a transaction with the external terminal if the comparison is a match. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electronic device comprising:
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at least one random signal generator circuit configured to generate a random number and comprising a folded MOS transistor with a random component, and a logic circuit configured to generate the random number based upon the random component; a communications module coupled to said at least one random signal generator circuit and configured to transmit the random number to an external terminal; and a processor coupled to said at least one random signal generator circuit and configured to transform the generated random number based upon an authentication function that uses a secret key; said processor also configured to compare a result of the authentication function to a result of another authentication function provided by the external terminal in response to the random number being sent thereto. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of authorizing a transaction with an external terminal using an electronic device comprising at least one random signal generator circuit configured to generate a random number and comprising a folded MOS transistor with a random component, and a logic circuit configured to generate the random number based upon the random component, the method comprising:
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using a communications module coupled to the at least one random signal generator circuit to transmit the random number to the external terminal; using a processor coupled to the at least one random signal generator circuit to transform the generated random number based upon an authentication function that uses a secret key; and also using the processor to compare a result of the authentication function to a result of another authentication function provided by the external terminal in response to the random number being sent thereto, and to authorize the transaction with the external terminal if the comparison is a match. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification