RNG Click Board™

Product Code: MIKROE-4090

How Does The RNG Click Board™ Work? In computing, a hardware random number generator (HRNG) or true random number generator (TRNG) is a device that generates random numbers from a physical process, rather than by means of an algorithm. Such devices are often based on microscopic phenomena that generate low-level, statistically random "noise" signals, which is the case in this Click board™. That process is, in theory, completely unpredictable, and the theory's assertions of unpredictability are subject to experimental test. This is in contrast to the paradigm of pseudo-random number generation, which is commonly implemented by the software. The heart of the RNG Click Board™ is the avalanche noise generated from an internal diode of the transistor Q1 (BC846B). Avalanche breakdown is a phenomenon that can occur in both insulating and semiconducting materials. It is a form of electric current multiplication that can allow very large currents within materials which are otherwise good insulators.

The avalanche process occurs when carriers in the transition region are accelerated by the electric field to energies sufficient to create mobile or free electron-hole pairs via collisions with bound electrons. In order to achieve that, RNG click has also boost converter onboard, which is based on TPS61041, from Texas Instruments, and it creates the +18V power supply for the job. The noise signal, created by the transistors Q1 and Q2 is then amplified with Q3, voltage-limited using the Zener diode and digitalized using the NC7S14M5X inverter, from Fairchild Semiconductor. After that, the string of random ones and zeros is achieved, which is brought to the ADS1115 - 16BIT sigma-delta ADC, from Texas Instruments. The potentiometer P1 is used to set as near as possible distribution of ones and zeros, which is indicated by the LD2 and LD3 LED diodes. The potentiometer P1 should be set in a way that the LD2 and LD3 diodes illuminate as equally as possible. That way, when the single-shot measurement is performed using the ADS1115, over the I2C protocol, the true, 16-bit random number is obtained. The RNG Click Board™ uses both I2C communication interface. It is designed to be operated only with 3.3V logic levels. A proper logic voltage level conversion should be performed before the Click board™ is used with MCUs with logic levels of 5V. SPECIFICATIONS Type Encryption Applications Gambling, statistical sampling, computer simulation, cryptography, completely randomized design, and various other areas. On-board modules RNG Click uses the noise generator analog circuitry, NC7S14M5X inverter, from Fairchild Semiconductor and the ADS1115 - 16BIT sigma-delta ADC, from Texas Instruments Key Features Random number generator from the analogue signal input. Range of +18V power supply for the number generator range. Interface I2C Compatibility mikroBUS Click board size M (42.9 x 25.4 mm) Input Voltage 3.3V,5V PINOUT DIAGRAM This table shows how the pinout on 6DOF IMU 5 Click corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns). Notes Pin Pin Notes NC 1 AN PWM 16 NC NC 2 RST INT 15 INT Interrupt NC 3 CS RX 14 NC NC 4 SCK TX 13 NC NC 5 MISO SCL 12 SCL I2C Clock NC 6 MOSI SDA 11 SDA I2C Data Power Supply 3.3V 7 3.3V 5V 10 NC Ground GND 8 GND GND 9 GND Ground ONBOARD SETTINGS AND INDICATORS Label Name Default Description LD1 PWR - Power LED Indicator JP2-JP3