Secure communications system

• US 5,223,967 A
• Filed: 06/11/1986
• Issued: 06/29/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Udd, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US06/880,684
• Time in Patent Office: 2,575 Days
• Field of Search: 455/605, 455/606, 455/615, 455/616, 356/350, 367/149, 359/111, 359/118, 359/119, 359/122, 359/154, 359/156, 359/164, 359/168, 359/173, 359/183, 359/188, 359/192, 359/195
• US Class Current: 398/139
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/85 Protection from unauthorised access, e.g. eavesdrop protection

Abstract

There is provided by this invention a secure fiber optic communication system based on the Sagnac interferometer that allows multiple authorized users to communicate on the system by modulation and detection of two counterpropagating light beams. The security of the system is based on a combination of the information being modulated on the relative phase difference between the counterpropagating light beams and the low coherence length of the light source. In order for an intruder to intercept the signal, both counterpropagating beams must be accessed and the pathlength of the two beams matched to within a few coherence lengths of the light source so that an amplitude modulated output signal may be constructed. The system is further comprised of a random pathlength generator used to randomly vary the relative pathlength of the two counterpropagating beams. A light level alarm is provided that detects changes in the light level within the system. If the signal level changes sufficiently, the light level alarm shuts down the system.

Claims

1. A fiber optic communication system comprising:

a) a light source means for inputting a beam of light into a beamsplitter means for splitting the light beam into counterpropagating light beams;

b) a detector means connected to the beamsplitter means for detecting the counterpropagating light beams;

c) a single intrusion resistant optical fiber loop connected to one output of the beamsplitter means for receiving a light beam propagating in a clockwise direction and the other end of the optical fiber loop connected to a second output of the beamsplitter means for receiving a light beam propagating in a counterclockwise direction;

d) a signaling means connected to the optical fiber loop for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams; and

e) an electrical circuit means connected to the detector for demodulating the light beams detected thereon to receive the intelligence signal.

2. A fiber optic communications system as recited in claim 1 wherein the optical fiber loop the optical fiber loop is further comprised of polarization preserving fiber.

3. A fiber optic communications system as recited in claim 1 wherein a polarization preserving fiber is connected in a series relationship between the light source means and the beamsplitter means.

4. A fiber optic communications system as recited in claim 1 wherein the optical fiber loop as connected thereto a random pathlength generating means in a series relationship to the signal means for randomly changing the pathlength of the optical fiber loop.

5. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the signaling means is further comprised of light level alarm system for detecting changes in the amplitude of the counterpropagating light beams whereby a data formatter and driver means is shut down at a predetermined low light level limit.

6. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 5 wherein the light level alarm system is further comprised of color filtering means for attenuating all wavelength bands except the predetermined wavelength of the counterpropagating light beams.

7. A fiber optic communication system, comprising:

a) a light source means for inputting a beam of light into a first optical fiber;

b) a first beamsplitter means connected to the first optical fiber having one output connected to a detector and a second output connected to a polarizer and a series connected single mode spatial filter;

c) a second beamsplitter means connected to the output of the single mode spatial filter for splitting the light beam into counterpropagating beams, having one end of an intrusion resistant optical fiber loop connected to one output of the beamsplitter means for receiving a light beam propagating in a clockwise direction and the other end of the optical fiber loop for receiving a light beam propagating in a counterclockwise direction;

d) a plurality of signaling means each comprising a phase modulator, a random pathlength generator, and light level alarm connected to the optical fiber loop for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams; and

e) an electrical circuit means connected to the detector for demodulating the light beams detected thereon to receive the intelligence signal.

8. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 7 wherein the random pathlength generating means is comprised of an optical fiber wrapped around a voltage driven piezoelectric mandril for changing the fiber length as the voltage changes.

9. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 7 wherein the random pathlength generating means is comprised of an optical switching means for periodic switching between a pair of parallel connected optical fibers wrapped around voltage driven piezoelectric mandrils for changing their respective fiber length as their respective voltages changes.

10. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 7 wherein the signaling means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams are phase modulators.

11. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 7 wherein the signaling means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams are frequency shifters.

12. A fiber optic communication system, comprising:

a. a plurality of communication lines disposed to be accessible by multiple users for transmitting or receiving intelligence;

b. each of the communication lines having;

a light source means for inputting a beam of light into a first optical fiber;

a first beamsplitter means connected to the first optical fiber having one output connected to a detector and a second output connected to a polarizer;

a second beamsplitter means connected to the output of the polarizer for splitting the light beam into counterpropagating beams, having one end of the communication line connected to one output of the beamsplitter means for receiving a light beam propagating in a clockwise direction and the other output connected to the communication line for receiving a light beam propagating in a counterclockwise direction;

signaling means connected to the communication line for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams;

an electrical circuit means connected to the detector for demodulating the light beams detected thereon to receive the intelligence signal; and

c. the communication lines having common locations for signaling means or detectors whereby a user may have access to the plurality of communications lines for receiving or transmitting intelligence.

13. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 12 wherein the signaling means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams are phase modulators.

14. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 12 wherein the signaling means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams are frequency shifters.

15. A fiber optic communication system, comprising:

a) a light source means for inputting a beam of light into a first optical fiber;

b) a first beamsplitter means connected to the first optical fiber having one output connected to a detector means for receiving a portion of the light beam and a second output connected to a single mode spatial filter for receiving the remaining portion of the light beam;

c) a second beamsplitter means connected to the output of the single mode spatial filter having a second optical fiber connected to one output of the second beamsplitter means for receiving a light beam propagating in a clockwise direction and a third optical fiber connected to a second output of the second beamsplitter means for receiving a light beam propagating in a counterclockwise direction;

d) a third beamsplitter means having one input connected to the end of the second optical fiber for receiving the counterclockwise light beam and another input connected to the end of the third optical fiber for receiving the clockwise light beam forming a loop for counterpropagating light beams;

e) a fourth optical fiber connected to the output of the third beamsplitter means for receiving the counterpropagating light beams and having connected thereto a series of signal means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating beams;

f) a reflecting means connected to the end of the fourth optical fiber for reflecting the modulated counterpropagating beams back to the detector means; and

g) electrical circuit means connected to the detector means for demodulating the light beams detected to receive the intelligence signal.

16. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 15 wherein the third beamsplitter means is a star coupler for connecting a multitude of optical fibers, each having signal means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating beams.

17. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 15 wherein the signal means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating beams are phase modulators.

18. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 15 wherein the signal means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating beams are frequency shifters.

19. A fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 15 wherein the first beamsplitting means is a star coupled beamsplitter for connecting a plurality of communications lines onto the light source means.

20. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system, comprising:

a) a light source means for inputting a light beam into one input of a beamsplitter means for splitting the light beam into counterpropagating light beams;

b) a detector means connected to the beamsplitter for receiving the counterpropagating light beams;

c) optical switching means connected to the output of the beamsplitter means for bypassing the light source means and the detector means whereby the transmitting/receiving station is in the transmit mode;

d) a pair of optical fibers connected to the output of the optical switching means forming a loop for the counterpropagating light beams;

e) signaling means connected to at least one of the optical fibers for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams; and

f) an electrical circuit means connected to the detector means for demodulating the light beams detected thereon to receive the intelligence signal.

21. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 20 wherein at least one of the optical fibers has connected thereto a random pathlength generating means for randomly changing the pathlength of the counterpropagating beams.

22. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 21 wherein the signaling means is generally comprised of a data formatter and driver means for impressing data on the counterprogating light beams.

23. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 22 wherein the signaling means is further comprised of light level alarm system for detecting changes in the amplitude of the counterpropagating light beams whereby the data formatter and driver means is shut down at a predetermined low light level limit.

24. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 23 wherein the light level alarm system is further comprised of color filtering means for attenuating all wavelength bands except the predetermined wavelength of the counterpropagating light beams.

25. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 24 wherein the random pathlength generating means is comprised of an optical fiber wrapped around a voltage driven piezoelectric mandril for changing the fiber length as the voltage changes.

26. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 25 wherein the random pathlength generating means is comprised of an optical switching means for periodic switching between a pair of parallel connected optical fibers wrapped around voltage driven piezoelectric mandrils for changing their respective fiber length as their respective voltages changes.

27. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 22 wherein the signaling means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams are phase modulators.

28. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 27 wherein the signaling means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams are transducers means deposited directly on the optical fiber loop for oscillation by a driver.

29. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 27 wherein the signaling means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterprogating light beams is an optical fiber wrapped around a voltage driven piezoelectric mandril for changing the fiber length as the voltage changes.

30. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 27 wherein the signaling means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams is an integrated optical phase modulator.

31. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 22 wherein the signaling means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams are frequency shifters.

32. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 31 wherein the signaling means for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams are acousto-optic modulators.

33. A transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system as recited in claim 20 wherein a polarization preserving fiber and a second beamsplitter is connected in a series relationship between the first light source and the beamsplitting means for splitting the light beam into counterpropagating light beams.

34. A plurality of transmitting/receiving station for use with a fiber optic communication system, each comprising:

a) a light source means for inputting a light beam into one input of a beamsplitter means for splitting the light beam into counterpropagating light beams;

b) a detector means connected to the beamsplitter for receiving the counterpropagating light beams;

c) optical switching means connected to the output of the beamsplitter means for bypassing the light source means and the detector means whereby the transmitting/receiving station is in the receive mode;

d) a pair of optical fibers connected to the output of the optical switching means forming a loop for the counterpropagating light beams;

e) signaling means connected to at least one of the optical fibers for modulating an intelligence signal on the counterpropagating light beams;

f) an electrical circuit means connected to the detector means for demodulating the light beams detected thereon to receive the intelligence signal; and

g) connected whereby the pairs of optical fibers form a communications loop connecting the plurality of transmitting/receiving station in a series loop such that each station may receive intelligence or transmit intelligence.