A true random number generator based on autonomous Boolean network with imbalanced node oscillation rings

Abstract

True random number generators have broad application prospects in the fields of hardware and information security. In order to improve the throughput of true random number generator with lower hardware overhead, an autonomous Boolean network with coupled basic logic units and imbalanced node oscillating rings is constructed as the entropy source. A first-order high-frequency oscillation loop is used to enhance the network refresh frequency, and a high entropy chaotic signal is generated through multi-level nonlinear coupling and amplification of the node output signals. Each output signal of the entropy circuit is sampled with D Flip-Flop and the result is sent to a post-processing circuit composed of XOR network, where the true random number is obtained. The proposed TRNG is implemented on Xilinx A7 FPGA development board. The sampled output data is grabbed and extracted in real time using the ChipScope IP module, and then transferred to computer for experimental testing. NIST SP800-22 and SP800-90B randomness tests are performed on the generated data, and some other important performances such as deviation, autocorrelation, and maximum Lyapunov exponent are also evaluated. The results show that at a throughput of 750Mbps, the proposed TRNG can generate true random numbers with entropy values of 0.996323bps, low deviation and low autocorrelation, being also of low hardware overhead.