US Patent 7526087 Random number generator

A random number generator. The random number generator includes a noise source, a circuit controlling random current consumption, and a circuit generating random bits. A noise voltage output from the noise source drives the circuit controlling random current consumption, which also generates a random control signal. The circuit generating random bits also includes a voltage-controlled oscillator, a plurality of frequency dividers, and a plurality of flip-flops. The voltage-controlled oscillator is controlled by both the noise voltage and the random control signal. The output of the voltage-controlled oscillator is input to the frequency dividers and the flip-flops to generate a random number.