Abstract: The present invention relates to a random-number generating apparatus and method for generating physical random numbers in accordance with noises randomly generated by a noise generating element, and allows for generating true random numbers at a high speed and uniformizing the generation frequency of each random number value, even in a simplified circuit configuration. The random-number generating apparatus is operable to amplify a waveform based on thermal noises generated in a thermal-noise generating element, and generate a random pulse at the time when the amplified output signal exceeds a given threshold from the state of being less than the threshold. The random-number generating apparatus is also provided with a reference-pulse generator for generating a reference pulse having a constant period, and a timer for measuring a time interval between the reference pulse and the random pulse. The measured value in the timer is output as a random number value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for deriving random numbers at a higher speed than ever before while maintaining desired randomness without spoiling uniformity of the occurrence frequency of each random number. One pulse included in one of two or more mutually-independent random pulse sequences and one pulse included in one of the remaining random pulse sequences are used, respectively, as a start pulse and a stop pulse. Then a time interval between the start pulse and the stop pulse is measured, and the measured value is output. The pulses temporally occur in a random manner, and therefore the obtained sequence of numerical values becomes random numbers. Specifically, in FIG. 1, time intervals t1 to t4 are measured, and these measured values (in FIG. 1, four values) are derived as random numbers.