Patent · US Active

Cryptographic key creation using optical parameters

US10560264B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
23References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 29, 2018
Grant dateFeb 11, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 29, 2038

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W12/65
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A cryptographic key generator for a first optical transceiver includes a photodetector that receives a continuous wave light beam received via an optical channel from a second optical transceiver. The generator samples and quantizes signals from the photodetector during a plurality of intervals to generate respective samples representing respective numbers of photons incident on the photodetector during each of the plurality of intervals. The generator creates a first cryptographic key from the plurality of digital values. The second optical transceiver receives a continuous wave light beam from the first transceiver and performs the same functions to create a second cryptographic key. Due to the reciprocal nature of the channels, the first and second cryptographic keys match.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.