A Compact and Low Power Realization of a High Frequency Chaotic Oscillator

The desirable properties exhibited in some nonlinear dynamical systems have many potential uses. These properties include sensitivity to initial conditions, wide bandwidth, and long-term aperiodicity, which lend themselves to applications such as random number generation, communication and audio ranging systems. Chaotic systems can be realized in electronics by using inexpensive and readily available parts. Many of these systems have been verified in electronics using nonpermanent prototyping at very low frequencies; however, this restricts the range of potential applications. In particular, random number generation (RNG) benefits from an increase in operation frequency, since it is proportional to the amount of bits that can be produced per second. This work looks specifically at the nonlinear element in the chaotic system and evaluates its frequency limitations in electronics. In practice, many of nonlinearities are difficult to implement in high speed electronics. In addition to this restriction, the use of complex feedback paths and large inductors prevents the miniaturization that is desirable for implementing chaotic circuits in other electronic systems. By carefully analyzing the fundamental dynamics that govern the chaotic system, these problems can be addressed. Presented in this work is the design and realization of a high frequency chaotic oscillator that exhibits complex and rich dynamics while using a compact footprint and low power consumption.