Redefining Randomness

Quantis QRNG Chip

The source of full entropy for automotive, computing, critical infrastructure, IoT,mobile & security applications
ID Quantique introduces its true Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) Chip, which offers thehighest attainable security and robustness for the generation of random bits. It is ideal for use in theautomotive, computing, critical infrastructure, IoT, mobile and security applications where compact size
and resistance to external environmental perturbations are critical.
Based on a technology concept and patent from IDQ, the Quantis QRNG Chip harnesses true quantum
randomness from the shot noise of a light source captured by a CMOS image sensor.
Intrinsically and provably random
Robust and controlled entropy source
Instant full entropy from the first bit

Only Quantum RNGs are intrinsically random, provably secure and future proof. Quantum physics isprobabilistic on a fundamental level, which means that they can produce unpredictable outcomes ina robust, transparent and well controlled way. Since the entropy source is described with fundamental
models, all properties of the entropy source are understood and the security can be proven. Additionally,the Quantis QRNG Chip provides full entropy instantaneously from the very first bit.

Applications
Automotive(V2X, CAN, Infotainment, etc)

Financial transactions / Blockchain / Pointof Sale (POS) terminals

Any cryptographic algorithms and protocols(IPSEC, TLS, SSH, etc.)

Artificial Intelligence(Machine and Deep Learning)

Smart Networks(IoT, SmartGrid, SmartCity, SmartHome, etc)

Scientific Modeling & Simulations

Computing Device(mobile phones, laptops, tablets, servers, etc)

Gaming applications

Quantis QRNG Chip - Product BrochureQuantis QRNG Chip
True, unbreakable and unpredictable randomness
Unlike other sources of entropy that are deterministic or not provably secure, QRNGs areintrinsically random and rely on well-known processes. The Quantis QRNG Chip is a robust
source of full entropy, provably unbiased and unpredictable.

WHY QUANTUM RANDOM 		NUMBER GENERATION?
The foundation of modern digital security systems lies in
the quality of the crypto algorithms and encryption keys.
In accordance with the Kerckhoff principle, a crypto system
must be secure if everything about it is known, except theencryption key itself. Indeed, most commonly used cryptoalgorithms today are standardised and open for public
review. But the entire foundation of security crumbles if thenumbers that have been generated to create a key are notunique, sufficiently random or easy to predict. In other words,
using a predictable or defective source of entropy introduces
a vulnerability.
Unfortunately, many keys today are created by pseudo
random number generators (PRNGs) meaning a computer
program supplies the randomness for generating keys using aseed and deterministic algorithm. In most cases, the computeruses a random seed from external sources of entropy, suchas the movements of the mouse, disc interrupts, or othereffects. However, the entropy produced is limited especiallyin isolated data centers or networks. The numbers generatedby PRNGs are not truly unpredictable and random.
True randomness can only be based on physical phenomena.
However, hardware-based true random generators based onclassical physics (TRNGs), such as self-oscillating digital circuits,
are black boxes where classical physical processes run in an
uncontrolled and chaotic manner. It is therefore impossible
to guarantee that an attacker could not manipulate and force
a classical TRNG behavior. The only way to produce true andunbreakable randomness is by understanding and validating
the physical process by which that randomness was produced.
By contrast, Quantum RNGs rely on Quantum physics that isprobabilistic on a fundamental level, which means that they
can produce unpredictable outcomes in a robust and wellcontrolled way, and from the first bit.
Since the entropy source is described with well-known
fundamental models, all properties of the entropy source
may be understood and the security can be proven. Thistransparency has far-reaching implications: the designof QRNGs can be optimized to maximize the generated
randomness by the entropy source. Well-designed quantum
entropy sources have a high quality randomness, while
Quantis QRNG Chip - Product Brochureclassical entropy sources mainly rely on mathematical postprocessing to generate random bits.

QUANTIS QRNG CORE TECHNOLOGY
At its core, the QRNG chip contains a light-emitting diode(LED) and an image sensor. Due to quantum noise, the LEDemits a random number of photons, which are captured andcounted by the image sensor’s pixels, giving a series of raw
random numbers that can be accessed directly by the user
applications. These numbers are also fed to a deterministic
random bit generator algorithm (DRBG) which distills further
the entropy of quantum origin to produce random bits incompliancy to NIST 800-90A/B/C standard.
The Quantis QRNG Chip allows live status verification: if afailure is detected in the physical process, the random bit
stream is immediately disabled, the user is notified, andan automatic recovery procedure is performed to produce
QRNG data again.

SECURING OUR CONNECTED 		WORLD
Nowadays, in various areas such as IoT, smart devices, V2X
and so on, computing devices have been getting smaller andsmaller and connected to each other. On the other hand,the security threats have never been stronger. A network
is as strong as its weakest link, meaning that only one flaw
in a small device can disrupt the entire network, putting alldevices at risk. Protecting these kinds of devices is a challenge
and is of critical importance, as security means public safety.
However, there are specific challenges in small devices, wherehigh entropy is hard to achieve due to hardware limitations.
With the Quantis QRNG chip, IDQ solves four specificrequirements that are critical to manufacturers: size, power
consumption, cost and reliability. Thanks to its standard
interfaces, the Quantis QRNG chip can be easily embedded ina wide variety of IoT products, autonomous vehicles, drones
and smart devices.

Quantis QRNG Chip
Trusted for Information Theoretic Security
The Quantis QRNG Chip is a trusted source of full entropy that supports information
theoretical security, now and in the future.

INFORMATION THEORETIC 		SECURITY
Only cryptographic systems using a robust, unpredictablesource of full entropy that produce true random numbers
can be information theoretically secure.
Both PRNGs based on algorithms and TRNGs based onclassical physics are vulnerable. Since they are deterministic
and thus predictable at their core, PRNGs cannot offer fullcryptographic security. With classical TRNGs, one can neverbe sure how much true randomness is produced. Typically,
health monitoring and sanity checks are used at the postprocessing level to detect any issues. This might be goodenough for known issues, but the ultimate lack of control
and the complexity of the underlying physical process makeit difficult to cover all potential scenarios. The resilience of aclassical RNG is thus highly dependent on the post-processing
and it has to be evaluated using various practical tools suchas statistical tests.
On the other hand, the fundamental principles on which
QRNGs rely to generate randomness are fundamentally
understood, and they may be easily modelled, controlled
and optimized to provide full entropy. Besides providing
random sequences with high-quality statistical properties,
QRNGs thus have the potential to offer true randomness in
its most formal and secure meaning to support Information
Theoretic Security levels. Even with unlimited computationalpower, an adversary could not predict the outcome of aQRNG.

CERTIFICATIONSID Quantique’s Quantis QRNG product range is and has
always been a trusted and certified source of entropy.
Simplicity is the ally of security and this is the strength of theQuantis QRNG Chip. As the quantum mechanical processes
underlying the QRNG are well understood and characterized,
and since the quantum optics process itself is transparent, it isrelatively simple to achieve otherwise stringent certificationsof the Quantis QRNG products.
The Quantis product family has been certified by leading
commercial entities, well-known international institutes
and governments worldwide, from the Swiss Federal Officeof Metrology (METAS certificate) to the Compliance Testing
Laboratory UK (CTL certificate). It is also compliant with theGerman BSI’s AIS31 validation criterias.
Quantis chips are compliant with NIST SP800-90A/B/C
recommendations and passes IID, non-IID tests, DieHarderand NIST SP800-22 testsuites.
Quantis IDQ6MC1 have also obtained AEC-Q100 certification,
demonstrating they can reliably be embedded in any security
system of a connected car to ensure trusted and secured invehicle and V2X communications.

Why the Quantis QRNG Chip?
Quantum source of full entropy, intrinsically random

Robust to external conditions (AEC-Q100 certified)

Full entropy from the first bit

Future proof – Quantum-Safe

Provably secure and controlled

Simple & easy to integrate (standard I2C & SPI interfaces)

Live status verification & health check output

Integrated NIST 800-90A/B/C compliant DRBG post-processing

Quantis QRNG Chip - Product BrochureQuantis QRNG Chip at a glance
Model

IDQ250C2

IDQ6MC1

IDQ20MC1

ü (B)

üü

QRNG CORE
Compliant to the Standard NIST 800-90A/B/C
Certified AEC-Q100

ü

Size

2.5 x 2.5 x 0.84 mm 4.2 x 5 x 1.1 mm

4.2 x 5 x 1.1 mm

RNG Data Output

N/A

1.47 Mbps(@ SPI Interface)

4.90 Mbps

Quantum Entropy Source

250 Kbps(typical)

5.88 Mbps(@ SPI Interface)

19.64 Mbps

Single Input Voltage (Embedded LDO)

2.8 V

2.8 V

2.8 V

I/O Interface Voltage

1.8 V

1.8 V

1.8 V

RNG Output Mode

N/A

59.94 mW

83.44 mW

Entropy Output (sample mode)

15 mW (typical)

58.24 mW

75.88 mW

Soft-Sleep Mode

N/A

13.66 mW

20.72 mW

Deep-Sleep Mode

N/A

6.96 mW

10.69 mW

Power Down Mode

100 uW

N/A

N/A

3 ms

171 ms

184 msEmbedded ROSC

11 MHz ~ 14 MHz(Typ. 12 MHz)

41 MHz ~ 58 MHz(Typ. 48 MHz)

41 MHz ~ 58 MHz(Typ. 48 MHz)

Stable state temperature-20 °C ~ +85 °C-20 °C ~ +85 °C-20 °C ~ +85 °C

Operation temperature-40 °C ~ +105 °C-40 °C ~ +105 °C-40 °C ~ +105 °C

24 MHz24 MHz x 4 CH

POWER SUPPLY INFORMATIONPOWER CONSUMPTIONSET-UP TIME
Initial set-up time

OPERATION FREQUENCY CLOCK & TEMPERATURE

INTERFACE PROTOCOLSPII2CID Quantique
Chemin de la Marbrerie 3,1227 Carouge/Geneva Switzerland
T +41 22 301 83 71
F +41 22 301 83 79
E info@idquantique.com
www.idquantique.com

400 KHz

100 KHzID Quantique (IDQ) is the world leader in quantum-safe security solutions, designed toprotect data for the long-term future. The company provides quantum-safe network
encryption, secure quantum key generation and quantum key distribution solutions
and services to the financial industry, enterprises and government organisations
globally.
IDQ also commercialises a quantum random number generator, which is the referencein the gaming and security industries.
Additionally, IDQ is a leading provider of optical instrumentation products; mostnotably photon counters and related electronics. The company’s innovative photonic
solutions are used in both commercial and research applications.

Disclaimer: The information and specification set forth in this document are subject to change at any time by ID Quantique without prior notice.
Copyright©2020 ID Quantique SA - All rights reserved - Quantis QRNG Chip - Specifications as of March 2020.