Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Andrew Shields · Zhiliang Yuan ·
Assignee(s)	Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba ·  View assignee updates
Correspondent	OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C. ·
Application Number	US10786550
Filing date	02/26/2004
Publication date	11/25/2004
Predicted expiration date	02/26/2024
U.S. Classifications	370/474  · 398/FOR.108  ·
International Classifications	H04J003/24  ·
Kind Code	A1
Foreign Priority	GB0305157 - 03/06/2003 ·

Patent Family

Abstract

A photon emitter comprising: a photon generator configured to generate photons having a first polarisation state or a second polarisation state, the first polarisation state being orthogonal to the second polarisation state; and time delay means for delaying photons having the second polarisation state with respect to those having the first polarisation state.

Independent Claims | See all claims (31)

1. 1. A photon emitter comprising: a photon generator configured to generate photons having a first polarisation state or a second polarisation state, the first polarisation state being orthogonal to the second polarisation state; and time delay means for delaying photons having the second polarisation state with respect to those having the first polarisation state.
2. 14. A quantum communication system comprising: a photon emitter comprising: a photon generator configured to generate photons having a first polarisation state or a second polarisation state, the first polarisation state being orthogonal to the second polarisation state; time delay means for delaying photons having the second polarisation state with respect to those having the first polarisation state; and encoding means, wherein photons which have passed through the time delay means are passed into an encoding means, the communication system further comprising a receiver having means to decode the photons and a detector.
3. 27. A method of outputting photons, the method comprising: providing a photon generator configured to generate photons having a first polarisation state or a second polarisation state, the first polarisation state being orthogonal to the second polarisation state; and delaying photons having the second polarisation state with respect to those having the first polarisation state.
4. 31. A polarisation distinguisher for a photon generator configured to generate photons having a first polarisation state or a second polarisation state, the first polarisation state being orthogonal to the second polarisation state; said distinguisher comprising: time delay means for delaying photons having the second polarisation state with respect to those having the first polarisation state.