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CN-122003835-A - Robot with quantum random number generator

CN122003835ACN 122003835 ACN122003835 ACN 122003835ACN-122003835-A

Abstract

The invention relates to a robot of the controllable and/or self-controlling type, comprising a monolithically integrated entropy source, which comprises a photon source designed to emit photons, wherein the photon source comprises a first housing, wherein the first housing is formed by a first bottom surface, a first top surface and at least one first side surface interconnecting the first bottom surface and the first top surface, and a photon detector designed to detect photons emitted by the photon source, wherein the first bottom surface of the photon source is arranged towards the photon detector.

Inventors

  • A. Fuli
  • B. Burshad
  • T. Rotter
  • J. Kerber

Assignees

  • 艾尔默斯半导体欧洲股份公司
  • ID量子技术公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20240919
Priority Date
20230920

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A controllable and/or self-controlling robot (1), wherein the robot (1) comprises: -an action mechanism (11) for generating a specific behaviour of the robot (1); -control means (12) for controlling said action means (11) according to corresponding control information, and A detection means (13) for detecting an environmental impact acting on the robot (1), It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of, -The robot (1) comprises a quantum random number generator (400), wherein the quantum random number generator (400) comprises: -a monolithically integrated entropy source (401), wherein the entropy source (401) comprises: -a photon source (55) designed to emit photons (58), wherein the photon source (55) comprises a first housing, wherein the first housing is formed by a first bottom surface (551), a first top surface (552) and at least one first side surface (553) interconnecting the first bottom surface (551) and the first top surface (552), and A photon detector (54) designed to detect photons (58) emitted by the photon source (55), -Wherein a first bottom surface of the photon source (55) is arranged towards the photon detector (54), and -An electronic circuit designed to generate random bits in dependence of an output signal (405) of the entropy source (401), wherein a characteristic of the output signal (405) of the entropy source (401) is dependent on a time frequency of photons (58) detected by the photon detector (54), and -The control means (12) are designed to actuate the actuation means (11) in dependence of the environmental influence detected by the detection means (13) and in dependence of the random bit.
  2. 2. The robot (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the photon source (55) is a silicon light emitting diode and/or a single photon source, optionally SPAD or an avalanche zener diode, wherein the avalanche zener diode optionally has a breakdown voltage of less than 10V.
  3. 3. Robot (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the photon source (55) comprises: A third PN junction (554) formed by the third P-type layer (46) and the third N-type layer (45), -Wherein the third P-type layer (46) and the third N-type layer (45) are optionally in contact with each other.
  4. 4. The robot (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the photon detector (54) comprises a single photon detector, optionally a single photon avalanche diode, optionally SPAD.
  5. 5. The robot (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the photon detector (55) comprises: a first PN junction (50) formed by the first P-type layer (32) and the first N-type layer (22), Wherein the first P-type layer (32) and the first N-type layer (22) are optionally in contact with each other.
  6. 6. The robot (1) according to claim 7, wherein the photon detector (55) comprises: an absorption region (47) designed and arranged to absorb photons (58) emitted by the photon source (55) such that the absorption region (47) generates electron-hole pairs for each photon (58), optionally exactly one electron-hole pair, -Wherein the absorption region (47) is in contact with the first PN junction (50) and the first PN junction (50) is designed to generate an avalanche of charges due to the generated electron-hole pairs, and -The photon detector (54) is designed to detect respective photons (58) emitted by the photon source (55) based on the generated charge avalanche.
  7. 7. Robot (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said absorption zone (47) has or consists of a P-doped substrate (10), said P-doped substrate (10) completely covering the surface of the first PN junction (50) facing the direction of said photon source (55).
  8. 8. Robot (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the absorption zone (47) has a P-doped substrate (10), which P-doped substrate (10) only partially covers the surface of the first PN junction (50) facing the direction of the photon source (55) and forms a channel extending from the surface of the first PN junction (50) towards the direction of the photon source (55), which channel is laterally delimited by an N-doped substrate (29).
  9. 9. Robot (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the absorption zone (47) has or consists of an N-doped substrate (29), which N-doped substrate (29) completely covers the surface of the first PN junction (50) facing the direction of the photon source (55).
  10. 10. Robot (1) according to any of the claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the absorption zone (47) is in contact with the photon source (55), optionally with a P-doped substrate (46) of the photon source (55).
  11. 11. The robot (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the photon detector (54) comprises: A second PN junction (52) formed by the second P-type layer (32) and the other N-type layer or the first N-type layer (22), -Wherein the second P-type layer (32) and the further N-type layer or the first N-type layer (22) are optionally in contact with each other.
  12. 12. Robot (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entropy source (401) has a metal layer (53), optionally together with an internal silicide layer, which shields the entropy source (401) from the outside.
  13. 13. Robot (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the entropy source (401) has at least two anodes (124, 134) for the photon source (55) and the photon detector (54), which are electrically conductive connected to each other via the metal layer (53).
  14. 14. Robot (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the photon source (55) and/or the photon detector (54), optionally the entropy source (401), are configured rotationally symmetrically as a whole along an axis, which is perpendicular to the first bottom surface (551) and/or the second bottom surface (541).
  15. 15. Robot (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said entropy source (401) is made by means of BCD technology.
  16. 16. Robot (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said entropy source (401) comprises: A substrate (110) having a carrier substrate (49) and an epitaxial layer (48), -Wherein the epitaxial layer (48) has the first PN junction (50) when dependent on any of claims 7 to 13, and the carrier substrate (49) has the second PN junction (52) when dependent on claim 13.
  17. 17. Robot (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper side and/or the lower side of the entropy source (401) is mirrored and/or comprises a light blocking layer at least in the area of the photon source (55) and/or the photon detector (54).
  18. 18. A method for operating a robot (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method comprises: -emitting photons (58) by means of the photon source (55) such that the photons (58) leave the photon source (55) via a first bottom surface (551) of the photon source in the direction of the photon detector (54), and -Receiving photons (58) emitted by the photon source (55) on a second bottom surface of the photon detector.
  19. 19. Robot (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the quantum random number generator (400) comprises a pseudo random number generator (404.3) designed to generate a digital output signal (410) based on the output signal (405) of the entropy source (401) and optionally a predetermined or adjustable generator polynomial.
  20. 20. The robot (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the quantum random number generator (400) comprises an entropy extractor (404.4) designed to generate the random bits (411) based on a digital output signal (410) of the pseudo random number generator (404.3).

Description

Robot with quantum random number generator Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a robot having a quantum random number generator and an entropy source. Background In many fields of science, the determination of random events and probabilities plays a very prominent role. For example, monte Carlo simulation, transmitter and/or component personalization, bus addressing, and secure encryption are all highly dependent on providing random numbers. In this regard, pseudorandom numbers are typically distinguished from true random numbers. The pseudo-random number is generated by a pseudo-random number generator (Pseudo Random Number Generator, PRNG) by a deterministic formula, i.e., not absolutely random, while a non-deterministic random number generator (True Random Number Generator, TRNG) for providing truly random numbers is typically based on a truly unpredictable process, such as thermal noise or atmospheric noise, rather than on a deterministic algorithm pattern generated manually. However, such external parameter-based non-deterministic random number generators exhibit weak correlation due to the underlying random elements relied upon, the result of which may still, for example, always tend slightly toward larger or even numbers, making the random numbers so generated somewhat predictable. Furthermore, such True Random Number Generators (TRNGs) may be externally manipulated if insufficiently constructed, for example, in the case of using a thermal entropy source for random numbers. In contrast, the so-called quantum random number generator (Quantum Random Number Generator, QRNG) is a special subclass of True Random Number Generator (TRNG), based on the basic quantum random number generation process, at least theoretically independent of any other external factors and effects affecting statistics, and the absence of so-called side channels affects the random number generation process. The quantum random number generator may be realized by means of the random nature of photons (as a photon quantum random number generator). One conventional random number generation concept is based on utilizing random times for photons to reach a photon detector. This distribution effect is based on the inherent statistical properties of photons of the relevant photon source (which in principle cannot be calculated deterministically) and can be used to provide true random numbers. The time for a photon to reach a single photon detector is typically exponentially distributed. Patent document EP3529694 relates to a (quantum) random number generator comprising a photon source, one or more photon detectors configured to cause them to detect at least one photon belonging to a stream of detected photons generated by the photon source, and an electronic sampling mechanism (configured to cause them to perform a logic method of extracting a binary sequence based on the arrival time of each detected photon) functionally connected to the photon detectors. In the random number generator, a photon source and a photon detector are juxtaposed and integrated into a single semiconductor substrate. The patent document WO2016/016741A1 relates to a (quantum) random number generator comprising a photon source and one or more SPAD-type photon detectors (configured to detect a photon flux equal to λ), wherein photons are generated by the photon source. The random number generator also includes an electronic sampling mechanism. These electronic sampling mechanisms are configured such that they record, for each observation window Tw, the arrival time t of a photon incident on each SPAD-type photon detector, and are further configured such that they convert the arrival time t into a binary sequence. The photon source and the electronic sampling mechanism are configured such that the product λ×tw is less than or equal to 0.01. Disclosure of Invention An alternative technical aim of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus and/or method suitable for perfecting the prior art. A possible specific object is to propose an entropy source or quantum random number generator with high security. Additionally or alternatively, a possible specific aim is to propose an entropy source or quantum random number generator that occupies a small area. The above object of the present disclosure is solved by the features of the independent claims. Optional improvements of the present disclosure refer to the dependent claims. Accordingly, in order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure proposes a controllable and/or autonomous robot, wherein the robot comprises an action mechanism for generating a specific behavior of the robot, a control mechanism for controlling the action mechanism according to corresponding control information, and a detection mechanism for detecting an environmental impact acting on the robot. The robot includes a quantum random number generator. The quantum random number generator includes a monolithically integrated