Parallel pseudorandom number generation in GaAs cellular automata for high speed circuit testing

Abstract

To facilitate test vector generation for high-speed circuits, we present the design and circuit simulation of parallel pseudorandom number generators in GaAs technology. These PRNGs are based on hybrid cellular automata (CA) in which mixtures of local rules are employed in one dimensional arrays, with minimal delay due to having only local wiring between neighboring cells. HSPICE simulations of these circuits demonstrate that they operate at a clock frequency above 1 GHz. Delay simulations indicate that GaAs PRNGs based upon linear feedback shift registers, in contrast with hybrid CAs, exhibit a degradation in clock frequency due to the effects of global interconnects, and that this degradation increases with the register length.