Don't forget to pass your comparator output through a divide-by-two counter
to eliminate the DC bias (or do the div-by-2 in firmware)

----------
> From: Andrew G Williams <AGW01@AOL.COM>
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: REAL random noise
> Date: Thursday, September 04, 1997 2:17 PM
>
> I'll shortly need to use a 16F84 to generate a series of random pulses
(truly
> random, not generated by a pseudo-random algorithm). Does anyone know a
> straightforward way of doing this?
>
> I suppose the usual approach is to pass a low current through a diode,
> amplify the noisy output and then produce pulses from a comparator (but
> please correct me if that's wrong). I was wondering if the PIC itself
> contains any inherent noisy or random signals, or can be persuaded to. If
so,
> genuine random pulses could perhaps be generated without any extra
> components.
>
> Then again, I could use one with a built-in ADC or comparator. If I did
that,
> would the noisy signal need amplifying before being input to the PIC? I
can't
> find anything in the application notes about these things, so any advice
> would be appreciated.
>
> Andy W.