BIVBlog #27: From analog noise to hardware random number generator

While there are still ways to optimize the noise generator module, the next step towards a proper hardware random number generator is to process its output in a microcontroller and hook that up to a computer. Here’s the hardware side, including a number of alternatives I’ve taken a look at but decided not to pursue at least for now.


Table of Contents

00:00:30 Upcoming minor changes to the noise generator
00:03:50 Kasper Pedersen’s modified second stage amplifier suggestion
00:06:20 Considered but abandoned changes
00:08:13 Ways to connect to a computer
00:08:48 Connecting to a computer’s GPIO pins
00:10:20 Using an Arduino—or not
00:12:05 Experimenting with an Atmel ATmega 1284
00:12:47 My preliminary choice: Atmel ATtiny 2313
00:13:09 Possible future alternatives: ATtiny 24 and 25
00:14:50 What about Microchip PIC and TI MSP430?
00:17:32 Microcontroller to USB interfaces
00:17:37 The Maxim MAX 232 USART to RS-232 converter
00:19:16 The VUSB software USB library
00:20:31 SMD/SMT devices
00:21:00 The Microchip MCP 2210
00:22:13 My preliminary choice: FTDI FT232RL
00:22:24 The real problem with SMD/SMT components
00:25:13 Hardware flow control with the FT232RL
00:27:50 Next steps

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Long term IPv6 evangelist/book author/trainer/consultant and generic Unix guy (*BSD, Linux, Solaris, and about a dozen more).

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