Checking of the skew constancy of a bit flow

• US 8,554,813 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Liardet, Pierre-Yvan, Teglia, Yannick
• Primary Examiner(s): Malzahn, David H
• Application Number:
  US12/852,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20100325183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 708/250
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/58 Random or pseudo-random number generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/588 Random number generators, i.e. based on natural stochastic processes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/84 Generating pulses having a predetermined statistical distribution of a parameter, e.g. random pulse generators

Abstract

A method and a circuit for detecting a loss in the equiprobable character of a first output bit flow originating from at least one first element of normalization of an initial bit flow, including analyzing the flow rate of the normalization element.

Claims

1. A circuit for generating a bit flow based on a noise source and on at least one first element for normalizing the initial bit flow provided by this noise source, comprising:

at least one second normalization element of the same noise source, of a different flow rate than the first element; and

an element for calculating the difference between the respective flow rates of the two normalization elements.

2. The circuit of claim 1, providing a bit for validating the equiprobable character of the output flow if said difference between the two flow rates remains within a predetermined range of values.

3. A method for detecting a loss in equiprobable character of a first output bit flow originating from at least one first element of normalization of an initial bit flow, said method comprising:

submitting the initial flow to at least one second flow rate normalization element different from the first one; and

checking constancy of a difference between respective output flow rates of the first and second normalization elements in a checking circuit and providing a signal indicative of the constancy of the difference between the respective output flow rates and thereby indicative of the equiprobable character of the first output flow.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising checking the constancy of the ratio of the rates of the output flow to the initial flow.

5. A method for generating a bit flow, comprising:

normalizing an input bit flow in a first normalization circuit to provide a first normalized bit flow at a first flow rate, the first normalized bit flow constituting an output bit flow;

normalizing the input bit flow in a second normalization circuit different from the first normalization circuit to provide a second normalized bit flow at a second flow rate;

checking constancy of a difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate; and

generating a valid signal if the constancy of the difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate is acceptable.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein generating the valid signal comprises generating a valid signal if the difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate remains within a predetermined range.

7. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein normalizing the input bit flow in first and second normalization circuits comprises generating the first normalized bit flow and the second normalized bit flow such that the ratio between the number of generated bits and the number of input bits is different from the first normalization circuit to the second normalization circuit.

8. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein checking constancy of the difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate comprises counting a first number of bits generated by the first normalization circuit over a predetermined period, counting a second number of bits generated by the second normalization circuit over the predetermined period and calculating the ratio between the first number of bits and the second number of bits.

9. A circuit for generating a bit flow, comprising:

a first normalization circuit configured to normalize an input bit flow to provide a first normalized bit flow at a first flow rate, the first normalized bit flow constituting an output bit flow;

a second normalization circuit different from the first normalization circuit, wherein the second normalization circuit is configured to provide a second normalized bit flow at a second flow rate ; and

a checking circuit configured to check a constancy of a difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate and to generate a valid signal if the constancy of the difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate is acceptable.

10. A circuit for generating a bit flow as defined in claim 9, wherein the checking circuit is configured to generate the valid signal if the difference between the first flow rate and the second flow rate remains within a predetermined range.

11. A circuit for generating a bit flow as defined in claim 9, wherein the first normalization circuit and the second normalization circuit are configured to generate the first normalized bit flow and the second normalized bit flow, respectively, such that a ratio between a number of generated bits and a number of input bits is different from the first normalization circuit to the second normalization circuit.

12. A circuit for generating a bit flow as defined in claim 9, wherein the checking circuit is configured to count a first number of bits generated by the first normalization circuit over a predetermined period, to count a second number of bits generated by the second normalization circuit over the predetermined period and to calculate a ratio between the first number of bits and the second number of bits.