On the Feasibility of TERO-Based True Random Number Generator on Xilinx FPGAs
Naoki Fujieda
Abstract
A True Random Number Generator (TRNG) is an essential component for security applications of FPGAs. Its requirements include small logic area, high throughput, sufficient randomness backed with a mathematical model, and feasibility — ease of implementation. This paper focuses on TRNGs based on a Transition Effect Ring Oscillator (TERO) and presents a three-path configurable TERO (TC-TERO), an improved implementation of TERO that achieves high feasibility with a minimal amount of hardware. According to the evaluation with a Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA, a TC-TERO with a 20-bit configurable parameter only required 40 LUTs. By selecting one of the promising parameters, the proposed TRNG passed AIS-31 Procedure A without post-processing and NIST SP 800-22 with a simple debiasing.