# US 12,603,019 B2 · Sensor device and encryption method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,603,019 B2 - Document ID: US12603019B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/526,662 - Filed: 2023-12-01 - Published: 2024-04-11 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-30 - Assignees: Sony Group Corporation - Applicants: Sony Group Corporation - Inventors: Susumu Takatsuka; Kenta Kawamoto; Hiroki Tetsukawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603019B2 ## CPC - G06F 21/6209: {to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself} - G09C 1/00: Apparatus or methods whereby a given sequence of signs, e.g. an intelligible text, is transformed into an unintelligible sequence of signs by transposing the signs or groups of signs or by replacing them by others according to a predetermined system (cryptographic typewriters G09C3/00) - H04K 1/00: Secret communication - H04L 9/0825: {using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates} - H04L 9/0869: {involving random numbers or seeds} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09C: CIPHERING OR DECIPHERING APPARATUS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHIC OR OTHER PURPOSES INVOLVING THE NEED FOR SECRECY - H04K: SECRET COMMUNICATION; JAMMING OF COMMUNICATION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract To achieve an improvement in security in encryption of an image signal obtained through imaging by an array sensor. A sensor device includes: an array sensor in which a plurality of pixels including light-receiving elements for visible light or invisible light are arrayed 1-dimensionally or 2-dimensionally; and an encryption unit configured to encrypt a read signal from the pixels of the array sensor. By encrypting a read signal, it is possible to achieve an improvement in security by enabling the image signal not to be stored in plain text in a memory. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor device comprising: an array sensor in which a plurality of pixels including light-receiving elements for visible light or invisible light are arrayed 1-dimensionally or 2-dimensionally; an amplitude control circuitry; and an encryption control circuitry configured to control the amplitude control circuitry to generate an encrypted read signal by performing amplitude control on an analog read signal from the pixels of the array sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein, to control the amplitude control circuitry to generate the encrypted read signal by performing the amplitude control on the analog read signal from the pixels of the array sensor, the encryption control circuitry is further configured to perform the amplitude control of the analog read signal using coefficients in accordance with an encryption key, wherein each of the coefficients corresponds to one of the pixels of the array sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising: an A/D converter, wherein the encryption control circuitry is further configured to control the A/D converter to convert the analog read signal into a digital read signal, and control the amplitude control circuitry to generate a second encrypted read signal by performing the amplitude control on the digital read signal, wherein the amplitude control of the digital read signal uses coefficients in accordance with an encryption key, and wherein each of the coefficients corresponds to one of the pixels of the array sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the array sensor and the encryption control circuitry are disposed in one package. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the encryption control circuitry is further configured to obtain a photoelectric random number which is a random number based on photoelectric conversion by the array sensor, generate an encryption key based on the photoelectric random number, and wherein the amplitude control of the analog read signal is performed using coefficients in accordance with the encryption key. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sensor device according to claim 5, wherein the encryption control circuitry is further configured to re-acquire the photoelectric random number in response to a detection of unauthorized access from external to the sensor device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sensor device according to claim 6, wherein the encryption control circuitry is further configured to erase a previously generated encryption key from a memory in response to a re-acquisition of the photoelectric random number. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The sensor device according to claim 5, wherein the encryption control circuitry is further configured to erase an image signal which is an origin of the photoelectric random number from a memory in response to generation of the encryption key. ### Claim 9 An encryption method comprising: controlling, with an encryption control circuitry, an amplitude control circuitry to receive an analog read signal from a plurality of pixels of an array sensor, the plurality of pixels including light-receiving elements for visible light or invisible light and being arrayed 1-dimensionally or 2-dimensionally; and controlling, with the encryption control circuitry, the amplitude control circuitry to generate an encrypted read signal by performing amplitude control on the analog read signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The encryption method according to claim 9, wherein controlling the amplitude control circuitry to generate the encrypted read signal by performing the amplitude control on the analog read signal further includes performing the amplitude control of the analog read signal using coefficients in accordance with an encryption key, wherein each of the coefficients corresponds to one of the pixels of the array sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The encryption method according to claim 9, further comprising: controlling an A/D converter to convert the analog read signal into a digital read signal; and controlling the amplitude control circuitry to generate a second encrypted read signal by performing the amplitude control on the digital read signal, wherein the amplitude control of the digital read signal uses coefficients in accordance with an encryption key, and wherein each of the coefficients corresponds to one of the pixels of the array sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The encryption method according to claim 9, further comprising: obtaining a photoelectric random number which is a random number based on photoelectric conversion by the array sensor, generating an encryption key based on the photoelectric random number, wherein the amplitude control of the analog read signal is performed using coefficients in accordance with the encryption key. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The encryption method according to claim 12, further comprising: detecting unauthorized access from external to a sensor device including the array sensor; and re-acquiring the photoelectric random number in response to the detection of unauthorized access from external to the sensor device including the array sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The encryption method according to claim 13, further comprising: erasing a previously generated encryption key from a memory in response to a re-acquisition of the photoelectric random number. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The encryption method according to claim 12, further comprising: erasing an image signal which is an origin of the photoelectric random number from a memory in response to generation of the encryption key. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by an electronic processor, cause the electronic processor to perform a set of operations comprising: receiving an analog read signal from a plurality of pixels of an array sensor, the plurality of pixels including light-receiving elements for visible light or invisible light and being arrayed 1-dimensionally or 2-dimensionally; and generating an encrypted read signal by performing amplitude control on the analog read signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein generating the encrypted read signal by performing the amplitude control on the analog read signal further includes performing the amplitude control of the analog read signal using coefficients in accordance with an encryption key, wherein each of the coefficients corresponds to one of the pixels of the array sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the set of operations further includes controlling an A/D converter to convert the analog read signal into a digital read signal; and generating a second encrypted read signal by performing the amplitude control on the digital read signal, wherein the amplitude control of the digital read signal uses coefficients in accordance with an encryption key, and wherein each of the coefficients corresponds to one of the pixels of the array sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the set of operations further includes obtaining a photoelectric random number which is a random number based on photoelectric conversion by the array sensor; and generating an encryption key based on the photoelectric random number, wherein the amplitude control of the analog read signal is performed using coefficients in accordance with the encryption key. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the set of operations further includes detecting unauthorized access from external to a sensor device including the array sensor; and re-acquiring the photoelectric random number in response to the detection of unauthorized access from external to the sensor device including the array sensor.