Harness the power of our captivating random number generator with ADS1115 and PIC32MZ2048EFM100

Random wonders: Numbers beyond predictions!

Published Jul 22, 2025

Click board™

RNG Click

Dev. board

Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC32MZ2048EFM100

Enhance your decision-making processes by integrating our innovative random number generator into your applications, ensuring selection fairness and eliminating biases

Hardware Overview

How does it work?

RNG Click is a random number generator (RNG) based on the ADS1115, 16-bit, I2C-compatible, analog-to-digital converter from Texas Instruments that generates a sequence of numbers or symbols that cannot be reasonably predicted better than by a random chance. In computing, a hardware random number generator (HRNG) or true random number generator (TRNG) is a device that generates random numbers from a physical process rather than using an algorithm. Such devices are often based on microscopic phenomena that generate low-level, statistically random "noise" signals, as in this Click board™. That process is, in theory, completely unpredictable, and the theory's assertions of unpredictability are subject to experimental tests. This is in contrast to the paradigm of pseudo-random number generation, which is commonly implemented by the

software. The heart of the RNG click is the avalanche noise generated from an internal diode of the transistor Q1 (BC846B). Avalanche breakdown is a phenomenon that can occur in both insulating and semiconducting materials. It is a form of electric current multiplication that can allow large currents within materials that are otherwise good insulators. The avalanche occurs when the electric field accelerates carriers in the transition region to energies sufficient to create mobile or free electron-hole pairs via collisions with bound electrons. To achieve that, RNG Click also has a boost converter onboard, based on TPS61041 from Texas Instruments, and creates the +18V power supply for the job. The noise signal, created by the transistors Q1 and Q2, is then amplified with Q3, voltage-limited using the Zener diode, and digitalized using the NC7S14M5X inverter. After that, the string of random ones and

zeros is achieved, which is brought to the ADS1115 - 16BIT sigma-delta ADC from Texas Instruments. The potentiometer P1 is used to set the distribution of ones and zeros as near as possible, which is indicated by the LD2 and LD3 LED diodes. The potentiometer P1 should be set to illuminate the LD2 and LD3 diodes equally. That way, when the single-shot measurement is performed using the ADS1115 over the I2C protocol, the true, 16-bit random number is obtained. This Click board™ can be operated only with a 3.3V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. Also, it comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used, as a reference, for further development.

Features overview

Development board

Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF development board is a fully integrated 32-bit development platform featuring the high-performance PIC32MZ EF Series (PIC32MZ2048EFM) that has a 2MB Flash, 512KB RAM, integrated FPU, Crypto accelerator, and excellent connectivity options. It includes an integrated programmer and debugger, requiring no additional hardware. Users can expand

functionality through MIKROE mikroBUS™ Click™ adapter boards, add Ethernet connectivity with the Microchip PHY daughter board, add WiFi connectivity capability using the Microchip expansions boards, and add audio input and output capability with Microchip audio daughter boards. These boards are fully integrated into PIC32’s powerful software framework, MPLAB Harmony,

which provides a flexible and modular interface to application development a rich set of inter-operable software stacks (TCP-IP, USB), and easy-to-use features. The Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF development board offers expansion capabilities making it an excellent choice for a rapid prototyping board in Connectivity, IOT, and general-purpose applications.

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

Architecture

PIC32

MCU Memory (KB)

2048

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

100

RAM (Bytes)

524288

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

RST

SCK

MISO

MOSI

Power Supply

3.3V

Ground

GND

PWM

Interrupt

RF13

INT

I2C Clock

RPA14

SCL

I2C Data

RPA15

SDA

Ground

GND

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Curiosity PIC32MZ EF front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF as your development board.

GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly

Board mapper by product7 hardware assembly

Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF MCU Step hardware assembly

Necto No Display image step 8 hardware assembly

Debug Image Necto Step hardware assembly

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for RNG Click driver.

Key functions:

rng_get_voltage - This function gets voltage in millivolts
rng_set_config - This function sets configuration
rng_set_vref - This function sets desired vref.

Open Source

Code example

The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.

/*!
 * \file 
 * \brief Rng Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This Click is a random number generator. The device contain potentiometer which control voltage
 * so it generates a sequence of numbers or symbols that cannot be reasonably predicted better 
 * by a random chance. Random number generators have applications in gambling, statistical sampling,
 * computer simulation, cryptography, completely randomized design, and various other areas. 
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initializes driver, then sets configuration and voltage reference.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * It reads ADC value from AIN0 channel then converts it to voltage and 
 * displays the result on USB UART each second.
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "rng.h"

// ------------------------------------------------------------------ VARIABLES

static rng_t rng;
static log_t logger;

// ------------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FUNCTIONS

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    rng_cfg_t cfg;

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, "---- Application Init ----" );

    //  Click initialization.

    rng_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    RNG_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    rng_init( &rng, &cfg );

    rng_default_cfg( &rng );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    float voltage;

    voltage = rng_get_voltage( &rng );

    log_printf( &logger, "Voltage from AIN0: %.2f mV\r\n", voltage );
    log_printf( &logger, "-----------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
}

int main ( void ) 
{
    /* Do not remove this line or clock might not be set correctly. */
    #ifdef PREINIT_SUPPORTED
    preinit();
    #endif
    
    application_init( );
    
    for ( ; ; ) 
    {
        application_task( );
    }

    return 0;
}


// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END