Thermal noise random pulse generator and random number generator

Abstract

A random number generator has a simple configuration using known inexpensive electronic parts and can generate the tine physical random numbers at a required generator speed. Such a random number generator can provide the true physical random numbers to any sectors of society at dramatically low cost A random pulse generator comprises a thermal noise generating element ( 2 ) having a resistor, a conductor or a semiconductor such as a diode adapted to generate thermal noises when no electric current is supplied to them, an analog-amplifier circuit for amplifying the irregular potential generated from the thermal noise generating element and a waveform shaping circuit ( 6 ) adapted to take out the output of the amplifier circuit as random rectangular pulse signals. A thermal noise random number generator comprises, in addition to the above components, an n-bit counter (n being an integer) for measuring the dine interval between a random pulse signal output from the waveform shaping circuit ( 6 ) and the immediately succeeding random pulse signal and is adapted to output the count of the n-bit counter as natural random number.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A random pulse generator comprising: 
 a thermal noise generating element having a resistor, a conductor or a semiconductor such as a diode adapted to generate thermal noises without applying any voltage thereto (or without supplying electric current thereto);    an analog-amplifier circuit for amplifying the irregular electrical potential generated from the thermal noise generating element, the analog-amplifier circuit coupled to and receiving thermal noise generating element; and    a waveform shaping circuit adapted to take out the output of the amplifier circuit as random pulse signals.    
     
     
         2 . A random pulse generator according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the resistance value R s  of resistor of the thermal noise generating element is selected less than the resistance value R f  of resistor of the said amplifier circuit.    
     
     
         3 . A thermal noise random number generator comprising: 
 a thermal noise generating element having a resistor, a conductor or a semiconductor such as a diode adapted to generate thermal noises without applying any voltage thereto (or without supplying electric current thereto);    an analog-amplifier circuit for amplifying the irregular electrical potential generated from the thermal noise generating element, the analog-amplifier circuit coupled to and receiving thermal noise generating element;    a waveform shaping circuit adapted to take out the output of the amplifier circuit as random pulse signals; and    an n-bit counter (n being an integer) for measuring the time interval between a random pulse signal output from the waveform shaping circuit and the immediately succeeding random pulse signal;    said thermal noise random number generator being adapted to output the count of the n-bit counter as natural random number.    
     
     
         4 . A thermal noise random number generator comprising: 
 a thermal noise generating element having a resistor, a conductor or a semiconductor such as a diode adapted to generate thermal noises without applying any voltage thereto (or without supplying electric current thereto);    an analog-amplifier circuit for amplifying the irregular potential generated from the thermal noise generating element the analog-amplifier circuit coupled to and receiving thermal noise generating element; and    a waveform shaping circuit adapted to take out the output of the amplifier circuit as random pulse signals;    the said thermal noise random number generator being adapted to count the number of pulses output from said waveform shaping circuit in a predetermined time period and output the one-digit number or the several-digit number as random number.    
     
     
         5 . A thermal noise random number generator according to  claim 3  or  4 , wherein 
 the resistance value R s  of resistor of the thermal noise generating element is selected less than the resistance value R f  of the resistor of the said amplifier circuit.  
 
     
     
         6 . A thermal noise physical random number generator according to any of claims  3  through  5 , wherein: 
 the thermal noise generator that is a resistor or a diode is contained integrally with other circuits in an IC card or an IC chip provided with an information processing circuit and the information processing circuit are fed with physical random numbers for the purpose of personal identification, coding and other purposes in computer telecommunications or internet sales or for using it as probability generator in a game machine.