Sampling a Voltage
Sampling a Voltage
(OP)
Hi,
I'm a new poster but I read these forums often. I recently built a circuit that generates random bits from amplified resistor noise. Currently, the output is a voltage of either 5V or 0V, changing very rapidly. I need a way to sample the output to a computer so that I can use 8 bits in a row to produce a number between 0 and 255. What is the best way to do this? I do not have any bugdet concerns, and I want to be able to easily move this Random number generator to any computer. Any tips, links, or help is well appreciated.
I'm a new poster but I read these forums often. I recently built a circuit that generates random bits from amplified resistor noise. Currently, the output is a voltage of either 5V or 0V, changing very rapidly. I need a way to sample the output to a computer so that I can use 8 bits in a row to produce a number between 0 and 255. What is the best way to do this? I do not have any bugdet concerns, and I want to be able to easily move this Random number generator to any computer. Any tips, links, or help is well appreciated.





RE: Sampling a Voltage
RE: Sampling a Voltage
rs 232 , usb , 10/100 ect..
RE: Sampling a Voltage
Once the numbers are flowing in, be sure to check them using software to make sure that they're truly randomly distributed.
They probably won't be because your random bit probably isn't perfectly distributed between 0 and 1. It might be very close, but almost certainly not quite perfectly 50:50. Maybe the rise time is a shade different than fall time, or any number of reasons. Thus the 8-bit numbers will not be perfectly distributed but will show odd patterns based on what might be called 'parity'.
All great fun as long as you're not expecting perfection.
RE: Sampling a Voltage
http://www.fourmilab.ch/hotbits/how.html
http://www.fourmilab.ch/hotbits/hardware.html
http://www.fourmilab.ch/hotbits/generate.html
RE: Sampling a Voltage
Everyone else: Thanks a bunch, I'll try some of these things, and probably end up using a microprocessor with usb or rs232 if the others dont work.
RE: Sampling a Voltage