Design and implementation of a true random number generator based on digital circuit artifacts

Abstract

There are many applications for true, unpredictable random numbers. For example the strength of numerous cryptographic operations is often dependent on a source of truly random numbers. Sources of random information are available in nature but are often hard to access in integrated circuits. In some specialized applications, analog noise sources are used in digital circuits at great cost in silicon area and power consumption. These analog circuits are often influenced by periodic signal sources that are in close proximity to the random number generator. We present a random number generator comprised entirely of digital circuits, which utilizes electronic noise. Unlike earlier work [11], only standard digital gates without regard to precise layout were used. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.