Quantum key distribution receiver device with simplified structure

Abstract

The application discloses a quantum key distribution receiving end device, which is used for receiving signal light formed by multiplexing quantum optical signals, synchronous optical signals and negotiation optical signals, and generating quantum keys through detection of the signal light. The receiving end device is provided with a classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module, which allows receiving the signal light through the same optical interface and using the quantum optical signals, the synchronous optical signals and the negotiation optical signals in the signal light for the quantum key distribution process, and defines different protocol frame formats for different types of data, so that different types of data can be carried in one digital signal, and multiple digital signals can be transmitted and received through the same digital communication interface, thereby reducing the number of device interfaces and the size of the device. Meanwhile, high data communication rate and strong expansibility can be provided to the outside, and the receiving end device can be conveniently fused with other classical devices, thereby enhancing the applicability of the receiving end device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of quantum secure communication, and more particularly to a simplified quantum key distribution receiver device. Background Technology

[0002] To realize the quantum key distribution process, QKD devices need to communicate with various signals, including quantum optical signals, synchronization optical signals, negotiation signals, quantum keys, key management information, and device status information. Therefore, existing QKD devices typically incorporate multiple hardware interfaces as corresponding data interfaces. For example... Figure 1 As shown, a typical existing QKD device has five hardware interfaces: a key output interface for outputting quantum keys, a key management interface for transmitting and receiving key management data, a key negotiation interface for transmitting and receiving key negotiation data, a network management interface for transmitting and receiving network management data, and an optical interface for quantum optical signals / synchronous optical signals. This complex hardware interface structure not only requires a larger device size but also makes it difficult to meet the hardware interface adaptation requirements of different types of classical devices, resulting in shortcomings in portability and adaptability of current QKD devices. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems in existing technologies, this invention discloses a quantum key distribution receiver device. This device receives signal light formed by multiplexing quantum optical signals, synchronization optical signals, and negotiation optical signals, and generates a quantum key through the detection of the signal light. Specifically, by incorporating a classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module, the receiver device allows the signal light to be received via a single optical interface, and the quantum optical signals, synchronization optical signals, and negotiation optical signals within the signal light are used in the quantum key distribution process. Furthermore, by defining different protocol frame formats for different types of data, different types of data can be carried within a single digital signal. This allows for the reception and transmission of various digital signals via a single digital communication interface, thereby significantly reducing the number of device interfaces and allowing for a smaller device size. Simultaneously, it provides high data communication rates and strong scalability, allowing the receiver device to be easily integrated with other classical devices, enhancing its applicability.

[0004] Specifically, the present invention relates to a quantum key distribution receiver device for detecting signal light and generating a quantum key, wherein the signal light is formed by wavelength division multiplexing of a quantum optical signal, a synchronization optical signal and a negotiation optical signal;

[0005] The quantum key distribution receiver device includes a receiver module, a classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module, and a signal interface;

[0006] The signal interface includes only one general-purpose interface for digital signal communication with the outside and one optical interface for optical signal communication with the outside.

[0007] The classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module is located between the optical interface and the receiving module, and is used to demultiplex the signal into quantum optical signal, synchronization optical signal and negotiation optical signal;

[0008] The receiving module is used to detect and decode the quantum optical signal, synchronization optical signal, and negotiation optical signal, and generate the quantum key; and,

[0009] The receiving module is also configured to allow different types of data to be formed in the same digital signal, and the different types of data have different protocol frame formats.

[0010] Furthermore, the data may include, in terms of type, quantum keys, key management data, network management data, and / or device status information data.

[0011] Preferably, the classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module includes a wavelength division multiplexer.

[0012] Preferably, the general-purpose interface is a PCIe interface, and / or the optical interface is an LC / UPC interface.

[0013] Furthermore, the receiving module includes a random number generation unit, a quantum optical signal detection unit, a synchronous optical discrimination unit, a classical negotiation unit, and a control unit;

[0014] The random number generation unit is used to generate random numbers;

[0015] The quantum optical signal detection unit is used to detect and decode the quantum optical signal and generate decoded data;

[0016] The synchronization light discrimination unit is used to detect the synchronization light signal and generate a synchronization electrical signal;

[0017] The classical negotiation unit is used to detect the negotiation optical signal and generate a negotiation electrical signal;

[0018] The control unit is used to generate the quantum key based on the decoded data and the negotiated electrical signal, and to form different types of data in the same digital signal, wherein the different types of data have different protocol frame formats.

[0019] Preferably, the random number generation unit includes a random number chip; and / or, the classical negotiation unit includes a photoelectric converter; and / or, the synchronous light discrimination unit includes a synchronous light detector.

[0020] Preferably, the control unit includes a processor and a memory. The processor is implemented using a separate CPU and FPGA, or using a processor with integrated driver functionality.

[0021] Furthermore, the quantum optical signal detection unit may include an optical chip, a detector module, a time measurement module, a detector control module, and a decoding control module;

[0022] The decoding control module is used to control the optical chip;

[0023] The optical chip is used to decode the quantum optical signal and generate a decoded optical signal;

[0024] The detector control module is used to control the detector module;

[0025] The detector module is used to detect the decoded optical signal and generate a detection electrical signal;

[0026] The time measurement module is used to extract the decoded data from the probe electrical signal.

[0027] Preferably, the quantum key distribution receiver device can have a two-dimensional planar size of no more than 120mm*220mm. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0030] Figure 1 This illustrates a typical structure of a prior art QKD device;

[0031] Figure 2 An exemplary embodiment of the quantum key distribution receiver device according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0032] In the following description, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are provided by way of example in order to fully convey the spirit of the invention to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0033] Figure 2An exemplary embodiment of the quantum key distribution receiver device according to the present invention is shown.

[0034] According to the present invention, the quantum key distribution receiver device may include a receiver module and a classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module. Furthermore, in terms of signal interfaces, only one general-purpose interface and one optical interface are provided.

[0035] The general interface is used to allow the receiving device to communicate digital signals with the outside world, including but not limited to the communication of digital signals such as quantum keys, key management data, network management data, and device status information data (such as temperature, abnormal information, etc.).

[0036] The optical interface is used to allow the receiving device to communicate with the outside world through optical signals. The optical signals can be signal light sent by the quantum key distribution transmitting device, which is formed by wavelength division multiplexing of quantum optical signals, synchronization optical signals and negotiation optical signals.

[0037] As a preferred example, the general interface can be a PCIe interface, which allows the receiving device to quickly and flexibly adapt to various classic devices.

[0038] As a preferred example, the optical interface can be an LC / UPC interface, which allows the receiving device to quickly connect to an external fiber optic channel to receive optical signals, such as signal light transmitted by the transmitting device.

[0039] In the receiving device, the classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module is connected to the optical interface to demultiplex the signal containing quantum optical signal, synchronization optical signal and negotiation optical signal, so that the quantum optical signal, synchronization optical signal and negotiation optical signal are transmitted to the receiving module in three separate paths.

[0040] As a preferred example, a classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module may include a wavelength division multiplexer.

[0041] The receiving module receives quantum optical signals, synchronization optical signals, and negotiation optical signals, and detects and decodes the quantum optical signals, synchronization optical signals, and negotiation optical signals respectively to generate quantum keys.

[0042] See also Figure 2 In this specific embodiment, the receiving module may include a random number generation unit, a quantum optical signal detection unit, a synchronous optical discrimination unit, a classical negotiation unit, and a control unit.

[0043] A random number generator is used to generate random numbers, such as quantum random numbers. As an example, a random number generator may include a random number chip.

[0044] The synchronous optical discrimination unit is used to detect the synchronous optical signal to generate a synchronous electrical signal for time synchronization in the quantum key distribution process.

[0045] As an example, a synchronization optical discrimination unit may include a photodetector for converting synchronization optical signals into synchronization electrical signals.

[0046] The classical negotiation unit is used to detect the negotiation optical signal to generate the negotiation electrical signal, which is used to realize the classical negotiation function in the quantum key distribution process.

[0047] The quantum optical signal detection unit is used to detect and decode quantum optical signals to generate decoded data.

[0048] like Figure 2 As shown, the quantum optical signal detection unit may include an optical chip, a detector module, a time measurement module, a detector control module, and a decoding control module.

[0049] The decoding control module is used to control the optical chip, which, under the control of the decoding control module, decodes the quantum optical signal to generate a decoded optical signal.

[0050] As an example, the decoding control module can control the optical chip based on random numbers.

[0051] The detector control module controls the detector module, which in turn detects the decoded optical signal and generates a detection electrical signal related to the quantum optical signal.

[0052] The time measurement module is used to extract decoded data from the probe electrical signal.

[0053] The control unit can obtain decoded data from the time measurement module, obtain negotiation electrical signals from the classical negotiation unit, and perform post-processing such as basis vector comparison, error correction, and privacy amplification based on the decoded data and negotiation electrical signals to finally generate a quantum key.

[0054] As an example, the control unit may include a processor and memory.

[0055] In this invention, the processor can be implemented using a separate CPU and FPGA, or it can be implemented using a processor with integrated driver functionality (such as ZYNQ).

[0056] Memory can be used to cache data.

[0057] Furthermore, the control unit can also encode various types of data generated during device operation onto a single digital signal. This allows for the inclusion of a universal interface on the receiving device to meet the communication needs of various digital signals, thereby reducing the number of external communication interfaces (such as key output interfaces, key management interfaces, network management interfaces, etc.) and avoiding the need for additional device space. Simultaneously, by using a single universal interface as the unified interface for the device's digital data, it also allows for easy interfacing of this miniaturized receiving device with classical devices to create an integrated device capable of both quantum key distribution and encryption / decryption.

[0058] Specifically, in this invention, the control unit can define corresponding protocol frame formats for different types of data, enabling different types of data to be sent to the host device via the same digital signal and a common interface. Upon receiving the digital signal, the host device can deframe the data using different protocol frame formats, separating the different types of data from the same digital signal and responding accordingly.

[0059] Therefore, compared to existing technologies that typically require multiple optical and data interfaces (such as key negotiation interfaces, quantum optical signal / synchronization optical interfaces, key output interfaces, key management interfaces, network management interfaces, etc.) for the receiving device, the receiving device proposed in this invention, by setting up a classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module, enables the receiving of signal light (which is a wavelength division multiplexed signal containing quantum optical signals, synchronization optical signals, and negotiation optical signals) transmitted by the transmitting device through a single optical interface. Furthermore, by defining different protocol frame formats for different types of data, different types of data can be carried within a single digital signal. This allows for the reception and transmission of various digital signals through a single digital communication interface. Ultimately, the receiving device only needs to set up one general-purpose interface and one optical interface to configure the signal interface, meeting the device's data communication requirements and significantly reducing the number of device interfaces, thus allowing for further reduction in the size of the receiving device. For example, by setting a single optical interface as a unified interface for various optical signals and a single general-purpose interface as a unified interface for various digital signals, the space required for setting up interfaces can be avoided. Simultaneously, the internal space occupied by the optical paths required for connecting various optical signals to their respective optical interfaces, and the internal space occupied by the circuitry required for connecting various digital signals to their respective interfaces, can be effectively reduced. Ultimately, this allows for a smaller size for the receiver device, enabling miniaturization and high integration; for example, the two-dimensional planar dimensions (length / width) of the receiver device can be reduced to 120mm*220mm. Furthermore, through optimized configuration of the general-purpose and optical interfaces, high data communication rates and strong scalability can be provided, allowing the receiver device to be easily integrated with other classic devices, enhancing its applicability. In addition, since this device only requires a single fiber optic channel, it can significantly save fiber optic resources and is more convenient to use.

[0060] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the above embodiments are merely exemplary and used to illustrate the principles of the present invention. They do not limit the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make various combinations, modifications and equivalent substitutions to the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A quantum key distribution receiver device for detecting signal light and generating a quantum key, wherein the signal light is formed by wavelength division multiplexing of a quantum optical signal, a synchronization optical signal, and a negotiation optical signal; The quantum key distribution receiver device includes a receiver module, a classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module, and a signal interface; The signal interface includes only one general-purpose interface for digital signal communication with the outside and one optical interface for optical signal communication with the outside. The classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module is located between the optical interface and the receiving module, and is used to demultiplex the signal into quantum optical signal, synchronization optical signal and negotiation optical signal; The receiving module is used to detect and decode the quantum optical signal, synchronization optical signal, and negotiation optical signal, and generate the quantum key; and, The receiving module is also configured to allow different types of data to be formed in the same digital signal, and the different types of data have different protocol frame formats; The data includes quantum keys, key management data, network management data, and / or device status information data.

2. The quantum key distribution receiver device of claim 1, wherein, The classical quantum wavelength division multiplexing module includes a wavelength division multiplexer.

3. The quantum key distribution receiver device of claim 1, wherein, The general interface is a PCIe interface, and / or the optical interface is an LC / UPC interface.

4. The quantum key distribution receiver device of claim 1, wherein, The receiving module includes a random number generation unit, a quantum optical signal detection unit, a synchronous optical discrimination unit, a classical negotiation unit, and a control unit; The random number generation unit is used to generate random numbers; The quantum optical signal detection unit is used to detect and decode the quantum optical signal and generate decoded data; The synchronization light discrimination unit is used to detect the synchronization light signal and generate a synchronization electrical signal; The classical negotiation unit is used to detect the negotiation optical signal and generate a negotiation electrical signal; The control unit is used to generate the quantum key based on the decoded data and the negotiated electrical signal, and to form different types of data in the same digital signal, wherein the different types of data have different protocol frame formats.

5. The quantum key distribution receiver device of claim 4, wherein: The random number generation unit includes a random number chip; and / or, the classical negotiation unit includes a photoelectric converter; and / or, the synchronous light discrimination unit includes a synchronous light detector.

6. The quantum key distribution receiver device of claim 4, wherein, The control unit includes a processor and a memory.

7. The quantum key distribution receiver device of claim 6, wherein, The processor is implemented using a separate CPU and FPGA, or using a processor with integrated driver functionality.

8. The quantum key distribution receiver device of claim 4, wherein, The quantum optical signal detection unit includes an optical chip, a detector module, a time measurement module, a detector control module, and a decoding control module; The decoding control module is used to control the optical chip; The optical chip is used to decode the quantum optical signal and generate a decoded optical signal; The detector control module is used to control the detector module; The detector module is used to detect the decoded optical signal and generate a detection electrical signal; The time measurement module is used to extract the decoded data from the probe electrical signal.

9. The quantum key distribution receiver device as described in any one of claims 1-8, having a two-dimensional planar dimension of no more than 120mm * 220mm.

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