Authentication and secure communication using LED array

A method for performing authentication, the method comprising:

• receiving an optical data signal from a user device, the optical data signal including a plurality of beams propagating at different propagation angles from one another, at least one of the plurality of beams including temporal modulation that corresponds to data;
• at least partially focusing the optical data signal onto a multi-pixel sensor such that the plurality of beams are at least partially focused onto different locations on the multi-pixel sensor;
• producing, with the multi-pixel sensor, an electrical data signal in response to the optical data signal;
• obtaining the data from the electrical data signal;
• comparing the data to reference data;
• determining that the data matches the reference data;
• and
• in response to determining that the data matches the reference data, producing an authentication signal that indicates that the data matches the reference data.

An authentication system, comprising:

• a housing configured to receive an optical data signal from a camera flash of a smart phone, the optical data signal including a plurality of beams propagating at different propagation angles from one another, at least one of the plurality of beams including temporal modulation that corresponds to data;
• a multi-pixel sensor disposed in the housing;
• a lens disposed on or in the housing, the lens configured to at least partially focus the optical data signal onto the multi-pixel sensor such that the plurality of beams are at least partially focused onto different locations on the multi-pixel sensor, the multi-pixel sensor configured to produce an electrical data signal in response to the optical data signal;
• a contact sensor disposed on or in the housing and configured to, when physically contacted by the smart phone, produce a contact signal;
• and
• a controller configured to, in response to receiving the contact signal:
• obtain the data from the electrical data signal;
• compare the data to reference data;
• determine that the data matches the reference data;
• and
• in response to determining that the data matches the reference data, produce an authentication signal that indicates that the data matches the reference data.