Optical Power Line Amplification for Long-Distance Fiber Power Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical power supply methods face challenges in supplying sufficient power to devices located far from the light source due to significant optical fiber loss, which can lead to overheating and safety issues when increasing light intensity to compensate.
Innovation Solution
An optical power supply system that includes an amplifier installed in the optical power supply line to amplify light and convert it into electrical power, using an energy harvester to power the amplifier, thus replenishing energy lost due to fiber loss without increasing light intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the amount of light from the light source is increased to increase the amount of power supplied, then the amount of power supplied increases, but the optical fiber may overheat due to fiber fuse phenomenon leading to safety deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The optical power supply system is divided into multiple segments with amplifiers installed at intermediate points along the optical power supply line. This segmentation allows the total transmission distance to be broken into smaller sections, each with manageable power levels that do not cause overheating, while still achieving high total power delivery to distant devices.
Solution Approach 2:
An amplifier is introduced as an intermediary device between the light source and the optical power supply unit. This amplifier receives weak light signals from the light source, amplifies them to appropriate power levels, and transmits the amplified light to the optical power supply unit, thereby enabling sufficient power delivery without requiring excessive light intensity from the original source.
2Area of stationary object
If the distance between the light source and the optical power supply unit is increased to expand coverage area, then the coverage area increases, but the optical fiber loss increases resulting in smaller amount of power supplied
Solution Approach 1:
The long-distance optical power supply line is segmented into multiple shorter transmission sections by installing amplifiers at intermediate locations. Each section experiences manageable optical fiber loss, and the cumulative effect of multiple amplified sections enables both long transmission distance and sufficient power delivery to distant devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The amplifier continuously compensates for optical fiber loss by amplifying light signals at intermediate points along the transmission path. This continuous reinforcement of the light signal maintains adequate power levels throughout the extended transmission distance, enabling sustained useful action over long distances.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances power supply to devices without compromising safety, allowing operation in non-electrified areas with minimal system modifications and reduced installation costs.
Implementation Method 1
light transmitted via the optical power supply line is received by the photodiode (PD) of the optical power supply unit. The received light is converted into an electric signal
Implementation Method 2
a step of amplifying, by an amplifier installed in the middle of a path of the optical power supply line, the light transmitted from the light source
Data Source
AI summary
An optical power supply method includes: a step of transmitting, by a light source, light for optical power supply to an optical power supply line connected to an optical power supply unit; a step of amplifying, by an amplifier installed in the middle of a path of the optical power supply line, the light transmitted from the light source; and a step of receiving, by the optical power supply unit, the light amplified by the amplifier, and photoelectrically converting the light to obtain power.