US Patent 9304741 Apparatus, method and system for random number generation

Techniques and mechanisms for generating a random number. In an embodiment, a first signal is received from a first cell including a first source follower transistor. Circuit logic detects for a pulse of the first signal and, in response to the pulse, generates a signal indicating detection of a first random telegraph noise event in the first source follower transistor. In another embodiment, a first count update is performed in response to the indicated detection of the first random telegraph noise event. The first count update is one basis for generation of a number corresponding to a plurality of random telegraph noise events.