An Improved DCM-Based Tunable True Random Number Generator for Xilinx FPGA

True random number generators
(TRNGs) play a very important role in modern cryptographic systems.
Field-programmable gate arrays
(FPGAs) form an ideal platform for hardware implementations of many of these security algorithms. In this brief, we present a highly efficient and tunable TRNG based on the principle of
beat frequency detection
, specifically for
Xilinx
-FPGA-based applications. The main advantages of the proposed TRNG are its on-the-fly tunability through
dynamic partial reconfiguration
to improve randomness qualities. We describe the mathematical model of the TRNG operations and experimental results for the circuit implemented on a
Xilinx Virtex-V
FPGA. The proposed TRNG has low hardware footprint and built-in bias elimination capabilities. The random bitstreams generated from it pass all tests in the NIST statistical testsuite.