Random number generation device, e.g. for a smart card, incorporates a threshold adjustment arrangement with which a noise threshold can be dynamically set to compensate for drift in a noise offset, based on sampled noise values

摘要

Device for generating a random number has: an arrangement (10) for sampling a noise signal; an arrangement (16) for provision of a noise signal threshold, with the signal threshold chosen to set a probability that a noise signal will be above or below the threshold; and an arrangement (14) for output of a random number based on a noise signal sample value. The arrangement for provision of the noise signal threshold is designed to enable adaptive setting of the threshold dependent on one or more previously sampled noise signal values. An Independent claim is made for a method for generating a random number.