US 12,450,033 B2
Photonic integrated circuit and method
Steven Everard Filippus Kleijn, Eindhoven (NL); and Antonio Bonardi, Eindhoven (NL)
Assigned to SMART Photonics Holding B.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Filed by SMART Photonics Holding B.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/876,601.
Application 17/876,601 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2021/052192, filed on Jan. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2001402 (GB), filed on Jan. 31, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0391174 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 7/58 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 7/588 (2013.01) [G02B 6/4206 (2013.01); G02B 6/4298 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A photonic integrated circuit, PIC, for use in generating a random number, comprising:
a light source on a substrate;
a light splitter configured to split light from the light source into a first portion of light and a second portion of light;
a first light detector on the substrate configured to, in response to receipt of the first portion of light, output first electrical signal for use in generating the random number;
a light guidance system on the substrate configured to direct the first portion of light to the first light detector;
a second light detector on the substrate, configured to receive the second portion of light, for monitoring the intensity of light output by the light source to detect deviation from a target intensity; and
circuitry configured to:
i) receive an electrical signal output by the second light detector;
ii) determine a magnitude of the electrical signal output by the second light detector, the magnitude indicative of the intensity of light output by the light source;
iii) determine that the intensity of light output by the light source is different from the target intensity; and
in response to iii), at least one of:
iv) adjust a current applied to the light source to adjust the intensity of light output by the light source, to reduce a difference between the intensity of light output by the light source and the target intensity; or
v) calibrate, on the basis of a difference between the intensity of light output by the light source and the target intensity, a process for generating the random number.