Optical key for a security system, as well as combination of an optical key and a security system

Abstract

Optical key 512 for a security system, comprising optical input and out ports 514, 516 and a key—side scrambler 518 for scrambling an N—channel optical input signal into a scrambled N channel optical output signal. The optical input port comprises N input terminal groups with input terminals. The optical output port comprises N output terminal groups 517 with each an output terminal. The keyside scrambler comprises N optical conductors 521, each having one proximal scrambler terminal group 522 with a proximal scrambler terminal, and one distal scrambler terminal group 524 with N distal scrambler terminals. The key—side scrambler 518 further comprises a selector assembly with N selectors 530, which are arranged to switch between N different configurations. In each configuration a predetermined one of the N distal scrambler terminals of the relevant distal scrambler terminal group 524 is enabled to provide an optical throughway from the relevant proximal scrambler terminal to the output terminal of the associated output terminal group 517. [Fig. 8]