Random number generation

[electronspeed]

Is it possible to generate a random number using 8051.

 

[dougy83]

Yes. A simple random function is:

#define M ((1<<14)-1)
#define C ((1<<12)-1)
uint16_t rnd()
{
    static uint16_t seed = 0;
    seed = ((uint32_t)M * seed + C) % (uint16_t)0xFFFE;
    return seed;
}

 

[electronspeed]

thanks,could you explain it in brief.

 

[dougy83]

See Random number generation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The actual algorithm is shown in the Computational Methods section.

i.e. this one:

 

[Sceadwian]

If you want a much simpler method and don't need true random numbers just an equal distribution of possibilities you can look into this method.
Linear feedback shift register - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
As it's just as shift register it can be implemented with VERY low code overhead which means it's very fast.