Adjustable Ring Oscillator RNG With Metastability Phase Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing random number generators suffer from low speed, low randomness, and incompatibility with modern digital technological lines due to slow-moving random walks in phase and limited system states, making them inefficient and difficult to implement.

Innovation Solution

A random number generator design incorporating adjustable speed ring oscillators, bistables, and control circuits to induce chaotic behavior, utilizing metastability processes and phase correction, enabling digital implementation with improved randomness and speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If traditional ring oscillators with fixed delay lines are used, then the circuit structure is simple, but the operating speed is low due to slow random walk in phase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating speedVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements adjustable speed ring oscillators where the delay line parameters can be dynamically modified. Control circuits adjust the delay values in real-time to optimize the random walk speed, transforming the static delay line into a dynamic structure that adapts to different operating conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple structure and high speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the delay parameters of the ring oscillator dynamically through control circuits. By adjusting the delay values in the delay line based on operating conditions, the system optimizes the phase evolution speed without fundamentally changing the circuit topology, achieving high speed while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If fixed delay lines are used in ring oscillators, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the randomness quality is low due to slow phase evolution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverandomness qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms static delay lines into dynamic structures with adjustable parameters. Control circuits modify the delay values during operation to accelerate phase evolution and improve randomness quality, while the underlying delay line structure remains compatible with standard manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuits serve multiple functions: they adjust delay parameters to improve randomness quality, optimize operating speed, and adapt to different manufacturing variations. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high randomness without requiring completely new manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If analog chaotic circuits are used, then continuous variables and chaotic behavior are achieved, but implementation in modern digital technological lines is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with digital technologyVSAvoidchaotic behavior quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces analog chaotic circuit mechanisms with digital implementations. Instead of using continuous analog variables, the system uses digital delay lines with adjustable parameters to generate chaotic behavior, making it compatible with modern digital technological lines while maintaining the essential chaotic properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent achieves chaotic behavior through dynamic parameter changes in digital delay lines rather than analog continuous variables. By programmatically adjusting delay values, the system reproduces chaotic dynamics in a digital context, ensuring compatibility with digital manufacturing while preserving chaotic behavior quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If digital chaotic systems with discrete feedback are used, then digital implementation is achieved, but the number of system states is finite

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem state diversityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic parameter adjustment in the delay lines, allowing the system to effectively explore a continuous parameter space despite having finite digital states. The control circuits continuously modify delay values, creating effective state diversity that exceeds the nominal finite state space, thereby increasing productivity without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The generator produces multiple independent random sequences with enhanced chaotic behavior, achieving higher randomness and speed, suitable for modern digital technologies.

Implementation Method 1

the disadvantage of such a random number generator is its low speed resulting from rare occurrences of events that are able to initiate a metastable work of the metastability circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMetastability: Metastability

Implementation Method 2

to induce a phase correction process, to induce a chaotic behavior, to obtain a random disturbance in the phase correction process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase correction:

Data Source

PatentEP3665776B1Random number generator
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 POLITECHNIKA WARSZAWSKA
  • EP3665776B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3665776B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3665776B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Random number generator (GL) comprising adjustable speed ring oscillators (GPRS, GPRS'), which have outputs (o-GPRS, o-GPRS') connected to inputs (i1-UM, i2-UM) of a metastability circuit (UM) and inputs (i1-DF, i2-DF) of a phase detector (DF), which outputs (o-UM, o-DF) are connected to inputs (r-US', i-US') of a control circuit (US'), having output (o-US') connected to control inputs (s-GPRS, s-GPRS') of the adjustable speed ring oscillators (GPRS, GPRS'). The outputs (o-UM, o-DF) of the metastability circuit (UM) and the phase detector (DF) are being outputs (o-GL, o2-GL) of the random number generator (GL).