Apparatus and method for all-optical encryption and decryption of an optical signal
US8428259B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 2005 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04K1/00
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the encryption and decryption of optically transmitted data, and more particularly to the encryption and decryption of optical data transmitted and received using only optical components. Because only optical components are used, the encryption and decryption is independent of the data rate of the optical signal. The apparatus may include an encryption device that operates by receiving and combining both an unencrypted optical signal as well as a delayed optical signal that is based on the unencrypted optical signal. An optical delay may be configured in a number of different ways and may be used for delaying the unencrypted optical signal. The apparatus may further include a decryption device that receives and combines an encrypted optical signal as well as a delayed optical signal that is based on the encrypted optical signal. An optical delay may be configured in a number of different ways and may be used for delaying the encrypted optical signal. To properly work together, the apparatus and method require that the optical delay on the encryption side perfectly match the optical delay on the decryption side in both the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.