Patent ID: 8219602

Claim:
An apparatus for generating random data, comprising a raw random sequence source adapted to generate a raw random sequence and a digital post-processor adapted to process said raw random sequence to generate said random data, wherein said digital post-processor comprises: a synchronous finite-state machine having at least one input adapted to repeatedly receive a current value of said raw random sequence from the raw random sequence source and having at least one output to provide a current output value depending on previous values of said raw random sequence; a logic circuit suitable to receive said current output value from said synchronous finite-state machine and said current value of said raw random sequence from the raw random sequence source and to provide current output data as a function of said current output value from said synchronous finite-state machine and said current value of said raw random sequence; and a decimation circuit suitable to receive said current output data from said logic circuit and to generate said random data, said finite state machine being suitable to be clocked by a first clock signal, said decimation circuit operating according to a second clock signal that has a period that is k times the period of the first clock signal, k having a value variable in time, said value being calculated each time random data is generated, the random data being related to the sequence of said current output data and being obtained by taking at least some values of the sequence of said current output data.