noise

Parameter	Description
output ports	1 output port(s) declared.

📄Description

Generates deterministic pseudo-random noise.

Module	`nflow_blocks`
Library	Source blocks
Type	`noise`
Label	Noise

Description

Generates white noise with configurable amplitude.

Ports

Input(s)

This block declares no input ports.

Output(s)

Port	Role	Side	Position
Port_1	Numeric signal produced by the block.	right	x=80, y=40

Parameters

Parameter	Default value
`amp`	1

Inspector Keys

These serialized keys are exposed by the block inspector.

amp

Block Characteristics

Block type	noise
Family	Source blocks
Rendered size	80 x 80
Phases	OUTPUT
Direct feedthrough	see Algorithms
Internal state or history	yes
Signal data type	double numeric values

Algorithms

OUTPUT block with no inputs.
Updates rngState with a linear congruential generator and maps it to approximately [-amp, amp].
The initial rngState is 1.

Equation or Rule

$$y = amp\left(\frac{2\,rng}{4294967295} - 1\right)$$

Extended Capabilities

This page describes the native runtime behavior observed in the module C++ sources. Declared phases indicate when the simulation engine calls the block.

Code generation: supported for C and Rust.

Implementation Sources

Manifestmodules/nflow_blocks/libraries/source/library.json

{
  "id": "builtin.source",
  "title": "Source",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "format": "nflow-2",
  "metadata": {
    "author": "Allan CORNET",
    "created": "2026-03-21",
    "tool": "Nelson nflow"
  },
  "comment": "Basic source blocks",
  "license": "LGPL-3.0",
  "builtin": true,
  "blocks": [
    {
      "type": "constant",
      "label": "Constant",
      "icon": "constant.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Value": 1,
        "OutDataType": "double"
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "math",
        "bodyClass": "block-body",
        "mathGroupClass": "constant-math",
        "formula": "{params.Value}"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "step",
      "label": "Step",
      "icon": "step.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Time": 0
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "step.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "ramp",
      "label": "Ramp",
      "icon": "ramp.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "slope": 1,
        "start": 0
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "ramp.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "counterFreeRunning",
      "label": "Counter Free-Running",
      "icon": "counterFreeRunning.svg",
      "phases": [
        "INIT",
        "OUTPUT",
        "UPDATE"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "NumBits": 16
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "counterFreeRunning.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "counterLimited",
      "label": "Counter Limited",
      "icon": "counterLimited.svg",
      "phases": [
        "INIT",
        "OUTPUT",
        "UPDATE"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "UpperLimit": 7
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "counterLimited.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "repeatingSequenceStair",
      "label": "Repeating Sequence Stair",
      "icon": "repeatingSequenceStair.svg",
      "phases": [
        "INIT",
        "OUTPUT",
        "UPDATE"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "OutValues": [
          0,
          1,
          2,
          3,
          2,
          1
        ]
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "repeatingSequenceStair.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "repeatingSequenceInterpolated",
      "label": "Repeating Sequence Interpolated",
      "icon": "repeatingSequenceInterpolated.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "TimeValues": [
          0,
          1,
          2
        ],
        "OutValues": [
          0,
          2,
          0
        ]
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "repeatingSequenceInterpolated.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "signalGenerator",
      "label": "Signal Generator",
      "icon": "signalGenerator.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Waveform": "sine",
        "Amplitude": 1,
        "Frequency": 1
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "signalGenerator.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "pulse",
      "label": "Pulse Generator",
      "icon": "pulse.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Amplitude": 1,
        "Period": 1,
        "Width": 50,
        "StartTime": 0,
        "Offset": 0
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "pulse.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "impulse",
      "label": "Impulse",
      "icon": "impulse.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Time": 0,
        "Amplitude": 1
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "impulse.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "sine",
      "label": "Sine",
      "icon": "sine.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Amplitude": 1,
        "Frequency": 1,
        "Phase": 0
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "sine.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "chirp",
      "label": "Chirp",
      "icon": "chirp.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Amplitude": 1,
        "f1": 1,
        "f2": 10,
        "T": 10
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "chirp.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "fileSource",
      "label": "File",
      "icon": "fileSource.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "FileName": ""
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "fileSource.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "fromWorkspace",
      "label": "From Workspace",
      "icon": "fromWorkspace.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 48,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 24,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "VariableName": "simin",
        "SampleTime": "0",
        "Interpolate": "on",
        "OutputAfterFinalValue": "Extrapolation"
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "math",
        "formula": "\\mathtt{{params.VariableName}}",
        "textSize": 14
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "labelSource",
      "label": "Label",
      "icon": "labelSource.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 40,
      "height": 40,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 40,
          "y": 20,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "GotoTag": "x"
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "labelSource.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "noise",
      "label": "Noise",
      "icon": "noise.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "Amplitude": 1
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "noise.svg"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "clock",
      "label": "Clock",
      "icon": "clock.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 80,
      "height": 80,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 80,
          "y": 40,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "DisplayTime": false,
        "Decimation": 10
      },
      "render": {
        "type": "image",
        "src": "clock.svg",
        "svgMode": "element",
        "preserveAspectRatio": "none",
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0,
        "width": 80,
        "height": 80
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "enumeratedConstant",
      "label": "Enumerated Constant",
      "icon": "enumeratedConstant.svg",
      "phases": [
        "OUTPUT"
      ],
      "width": 90,
      "height": 50,
      "inputs": [],
      "outputs": [
        {
          "x": 90,
          "y": 25,
          "side": "right"
        }
      ],
      "defaultParams": {
        "EnumClass": "",
        "Value": 0
      }
    }
  ]
}

Runtimemodules/nflow_blocks/src/cpp/source/noise.cpp

//=============================================================================
// Copyright (c) 2016-present Allan CORNET (Nelson)
//=============================================================================
// This file is part of Nelson.
//=============================================================================
// LICENCE_BLOCK_BEGIN
// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-later
// LICENCE_BLOCK_END
//=============================================================================
#include "SimEngineTypes.hpp"
#include "BlockRegistry.hpp"
#include "FieldNames.hpp"
#include "NFlowBlockDescriptor.hpp"
#include <cmath>
#include <algorithm>
#include "source_blocks.hpp"
//=============================================================================
bool
Nelson::NFlow::handleNoise(SimCtx& ctx, const Block& b, Phase phase)
{
    if (phase != Phase::OUTPUT) {
        return false;
    }
    nflow::BlockDescriptor bd(b, ctx.variables);
    double amp = bd.paramDouble(nflow::kAmp, 0.0);
    auto& state = getState(ctx, b.nid);
    state.rngState = 1664525u * state.rngState + 1013904223u;
    setOutput(ctx, b.nid, amp * ((state.rngState / 4294967295.0) * 2.0 - 1.0));
    return false;
}
//=============================================================================
Nelson::NFlow::BlockCodegenTemplate
Nelson::NFlow::getCodeGenCNoise()
{
    BlockCodegenTemplate t;
    t.sharedPriority = 6;
    t.emitState = [](const BlockCodegenStateArgs& a) {
        a.declState("unsigned int rng_state;");
        a.addInit("  s->rng_state = 1u;");
    };
    t.emitStep = [](const BlockCodegenArgs& a) {
        nflow::BlockDescriptor bd(*a.block, *a.variables);
        a.line("s->rng_state = 1664525u * s->rng_state + 1013904223u;");
        a.line("out_" + a.id + " = " + a.fmt(bd.paramDouble(nflow::kAmp, 0.0))
            + " * ((s->rng_state / 4294967295.0) * 2.0 - 1.0);");
    };
    return t;
}
//=============================================================================
Nelson::NFlow::BlockCodegenTemplate
Nelson::NFlow::getCodeGenRustNoise()
{
    BlockCodegenTemplate t;
    t.sharedPriority = 6;
    t.emitState = [](const BlockCodegenStateArgs& a) {
        a.declState("    pub rng_state: u32,");
        a.addInit("    s.rng_state = 1_u32;");
    };
    t.emitStep = [](const BlockCodegenArgs& a) {
        nflow::BlockDescriptor bd(*a.block, *a.variables);
        // Same linear congruential generator and [-1, 1] mapping as the
        // interpreter (handleNoise) and the C backend, so a generated Rust
        // program reproduces the interpreter's noise stream bit-for-bit. The
        // former xorshift32 helper produced an unrelated sequence, silently
        // diverging any diagram that feeds a noise block. u32 arithmetic wraps
        // modulo 2^32, matching C's unsigned int; wrapping_mul/wrapping_add
        // keep that behaviour (and avoid a debug-build overflow panic).
        a.line("s.rng_state = 1664525_u32.wrapping_mul(s.rng_state)"
               ".wrapping_add(1013904223_u32);");
        a.line("out_" + a.id + " = " + a.fmt(bd.paramDouble(nflow::kAmp, 0.0))
            + " * ((s.rng_state as f64 / 4294967295.0_f64) * 2.0_f64 - 1.0_f64);");
    };
    return t;
}
//=============================================================================