Patent ID: 7664807

Claim:
An apparatus for providing a random bit stream, comprising: a first provider for providing a clock signal, the clock signal periodically switching between a first state and a second state; a second provider for providing a sample signal, the sample signal comprising a sampling edge; an activator for activating the first and second providers such that the sampling edge is aligned to an edge of the clock signal; a sampler for sampling the clock signal responsive to the sampling edge of the sample signal and for generating a random bit dependent on the sampled state of the clock signal; a deactivator for deactivating the first and second providers responsive to the sampling edge; and a determiner for determining a mean value of successive random bits and for providing a control signal dependent on the mean value, wherein the activator comprises a delay line for delaying a start signal for activating the first provider by a delay time, wherein the delay time is responsive to the control signal and wherein the delay time is configured for adjusting the alignment of the sampling edge to the edge of the clock signal, and wherein successive random bits form a random bit stream.