Efficient use of detectors for random number generation
US7197523B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 5, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F7/588
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for and methods of random number generation are disclosed, wherein a detector receives a group of n light pulses having single-photon intensity levels. Each of the n light pulses has a probability of less than one to produce a successful detection event at its time of arrival at the detector, and the detector is adapted to detect only one of the n pulses in the group. This single detection per group is thus a discrete random event that occurs only during one of n fixed time slots. The random event occurring during one of n timeslots is converted into a corresponding random integer from 1 to n. A series of such random numbers is generated by using a plurality of groups of n light pulses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.