IC Postprocessing Stage for Random Number Generators and an Alternative Design Methodology

This paper explains post processing techniques used in random number generators. Popular post processing techniques have been reviewed and integrated by using HHNEC's 0.25 um eFlash process with a supply voltage of 2.5V. Furthermore these post processing techniques are compared with each other in point of throughput, simplicity, area occupation and power consumption. An alternative design methodology is also presented for random number generation which considers its underlying entropy source instead of blindly applying complicated post processing techniques. Then, introduced design methodology, which provides sufficient output randomness without any further post-processing necessity, is compared with other implementations. High-performance random number generators can be realized in the light of this design methodology.