An apparatus for determining a state parameter of an object to be monitored comprises a means for providing a plurality of measurement values, wherein the measurement values comprise information relating to the state parameter of the object to be monitored, a comparison means for comparing the measurement value to a predeterminable comparison parameter, wherein the comparison means is formed to output a first comparison signal when a predeterminable number of measurement values falls below the comparison parameter within a measurement interval, or to output a second comparison signal when the predeterminable number of measurement values exceeds or reaches the comparison parameter, wherein the first comparison signal or the second comparison signal indicate the state parameter.
A method of minimizing phase noise is provided. In operation, a first phase noise in a first circuit located on an integrated circuit is determined. Additionally, a second phase noise in a second circuit coupled to the first circuit but which is not located in the integrated circuit is determined, the second circuit being programmable. Further, the first phase noise is compared with the second phase noise. If the phase noises are about the same, it is determined that the noise source is from an algorithm of a random number generator, the second circuit is modified to optimize the performances of the integrated circuit, and the modified second circuit is copied to the first circuit. If the phase noises are different, it is determined that a source of the phase noise is at least one of a power supply coupling and a substrate coupling in the integrated circuit.
