Optical key system

Title: Optical key system

Full Record
Other Related Research

Abstract

An optical key system comprises a battery-operated optical key and an isolated lock that derives both its operating power and unlock signals from the correct optical key. A light emitting diode or laser diode is included within the optical key and is connected to transmit a bit-serial password. The key user physically enters either the code-to-transmit directly, or an index to a pseudorandom number code, in the key. Such person identification numbers can be retained permanently, or ephemeral. When a send button is pressed, the key transmits a beam of light modulated with the password information. The modulated beam of light is received by a corresponding optical lock with a photovoltaic cell that produces enough power from the beam of light to operate a password-screen digital logic. In one application, an acceptable password allows a two watt power laser diode to pump ignition and timing information over a fiberoptic cable into a sealed engine compartment. The receipt of a good password allows the fuel pump, spark, and starter systems to each operate. Therefore, bypassing the lock mechanism as is now routine with automobile thieves is pointless because the engine is so thoroughly disabled.

Inventors:

Hagans, Karla G. ^[1]; Clough, Robert E. ^[2]

(Livermore, CA)
(Danville, CA)

Issue Date:: 2000-01-01

Research Org.:: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

OSTI Identifier:: 872969

Patent Number(s):: 6055079

Assignee:: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA) LLNL

DOE Contract Number:: W-7405-ENG-48

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: optical; key; comprises; battery-operated; isolated; lock; derives; operating; power; unlock; signals; correct; light; emitting; diode; laser; included; connected; transmit; bit-serial; password; user; physically; enters; code-to-transmit; directly; index; pseudorandom; code; person; identification; retained; permanently; ephemeral; send; button; pressed; transmits; beam; modulated; information; received; corresponding; photovoltaic; cell; produces; operate; password-screen; digital; logic; application; acceptable; allows; watt; pump; ignition; timing; fiberoptic; cable; sealed; engine; compartment; receipt; fuel; spark; starter; systems; bypassing; mechanism; routine; automobile; thieves; pointless; thoroughly; disabled; emitting diode; operating power; laser diode; optic cable; power laser; photovoltaic cell; light emitting; digital logic; optical key; modulated beam; responding optical; fiberoptic cable; light modulated; timing information; fuel pump; correct optical; /359/307/340/

Citation Formats


                    Hagans, Karla G., and Clough, Robert E. Optical key system.  United States: N. p., 2000. 
        Web.

Copy to clipboard


                    Hagans, Karla G., & Clough, Robert E. Optical key system.  United States.

Copy to clipboard


                    Hagans, Karla G., and Clough, Robert E. Sat .  
        "Optical key system".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872969.

Copy to clipboard


                    
@article{osti_872969,

  title        = {Optical key system},

  author       = {Hagans, Karla G. and Clough, Robert E.},

  abstractNote = {An optical key system comprises a battery-operated optical key and an isolated lock that derives both its operating power and unlock signals from the correct optical key. A light emitting diode or laser diode is included within the optical key and is connected to transmit a bit-serial password. The key user physically enters either the code-to-transmit directly, or an index to a pseudorandom number code, in the key. Such person identification numbers can be retained permanently, or ephemeral. When a send button is pressed, the key transmits a beam of light modulated with the password information. The modulated beam of light is received by a corresponding optical lock with a photovoltaic cell that produces enough power from the beam of light to operate a password-screen digital logic. In one application, an acceptable password allows a two watt power laser diode to pump ignition and timing information over a fiberoptic cable into a sealed engine compartment. The receipt of a good password allows the fuel pump, spark, and starter systems to each operate. Therefore, bypassing the lock mechanism as is now routine with automobile thieves is pointless because the engine is so thoroughly disabled.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2000},

  month        = {1}

}

Copy to clipboard

Patent:

View Patent

Save / Share:

Export Metadata

Save to My Library

Similar records in DOE Patents and OSTI.GOV collections:

Captured key electrical safety lockout system

Patent Darimont, Daniel E.

A safety lockout apparatus for an electrical circuit includes an electrical switch, a key, a lock and a blocking mechanism. The electrical switch is movable between an ON position at which the electrical circuit is energized and an OFF position at which the electrical circuit is deactivated. The lock is adapted to receive the key and is rotatable among a plurality of positions by the key. The key is only insertable and removable when the lock is at a preselected position. The lock is maintained in the preselected position when the key is removed from the lock. The blocking mechanismmore »« less
Full Text Available
Apparatus, system, and method for synchronizing a timer key

Patent Condit, Reston A ; Daniels, Michael A ; Clemens, Gregory P ; ...

A timer key relating to monitoring a countdown time of a countdown routine of an electronic device is disclosed. The timer key comprises a processor configured to respond to a countdown time associated with operation of the electronic device, a display operably coupled with the processor, and a housing configured to house at least the processor. The housing has an associated structure configured to engage with the electronic device to share the countdown time between the electronic device and the timer key. The processor is configured to begin a countdown routine based at least in part on the countdown time,more »« less
Full Text Available
Method for adding nodes to a quantum key distribution system

Patent Grice, Warren P

An improved quantum key distribution (QKD) system and method are provided. The system and method introduce new clients at intermediate points along a quantum channel, where any two clients can establish a secret key without the need for a secret meeting between the clients. The new clients perform operations on photons as they pass through nodes in the quantum channel, and participate in a non-secret protocol that is amended to include the new clients. The system and method significantly increase the number of clients that can be supported by a conventional QKD system, with only a modest increase in cost.more »« less
Full Text Available
System and method for key generation in security tokens

Patent Evans, Philip G. ; Humble, Travis S. ; Paul, Nathanael R. ; ...

Functional randomness in security tokens (FRIST) may achieve improved security in two-factor authentication hardware tokens by improving on the algorithms used to securely generate random data. A system and method in one embodiment according to the present invention may allow for security of a token based on storage cost and computational security. This approach may enable communication where security is no longer based solely on onetime pads (OTPs) generated from a single cryptographic function (e.g., SHA-256).
Full Text Available
Apparatus, system and method for providing cryptographic key information with physically unclonable function circuitry

Patent Areno, Matthew

Techniques and mechanisms for providing a value from physically unclonable function (PUF) circuitry for a cryptographic operation of a security module. In an embodiment, a cryptographic engine receives a value from PUF circuitry and based on the value, outputs a result of a cryptographic operation to a bus of the security module. The bus couples the cryptographic engine to control logic or interface logic of the security module. In another embodiment, the value is provided to the cryptographic engine from the PUF circuitry via a signal line which is distinct from the bus, where any exchange of the value bymore »« less
Full Text Available

Similar Records