Optical Data/Power Port Breakout for Long-Distance Single-Cable Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems face limitations in bandwidth and cable length, necessitating additional cables and signal repeaters for high-bandwidth devices, which increase costs and points of failure, and batteries require extensive maintenance for IoT devices.
Innovation Solution
A single cable optical data/power transmission system using a single cable optical data/power transmission port breakout device with separate optical conduits for data and power, enabling long-distance transmission of both through a single cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional Ethernet cables are used for Power over Ethernet, then devices can receive power and communicate data, but the cable length is limited to 100 meters and additional cables and repeaters are required for high-bandwidth devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single cable into separate functional conduits: optical data conduits and optical power conduits. This segmentation allows each conduit to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a unified cable structure, enabling long-distance transmission without requiring additional cables or repeaters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from electrical signal transmission to optical signal transmission by incorporating optical conduits. This dimensional change from electrical to optical domain enables significantly extended cable lengths beyond the traditional 100-meter Ethernet limit while maintaining power and data transmission capabilities.
2Productivity
If additional Ethernet cables and signal repeaters are added to meet high bandwidth requirements, then data transmission capability improves, but system cost and points of failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power transmission and data transmission into a single unified cable structure with separate optical conduits. This consolidation eliminates the need for additional Ethernet cables and signal repeaters, thereby reducing points of failure while maintaining high bandwidth capability through the optical transmission medium.
3Ease of operation
If separate power cable and data cable are used, then devices receive power and communicate data independently, but installation and cable management become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal cable structure that simultaneously performs multiple functions: power transmission through optical power conduits and data transmission through optical data conduits. This multi-functional design simplifies installation and cable management by replacing multiple separate cables with a single integrated cable that serves all connectivity needs.
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
Enables efficient, long-distance transmission of both data and power without additional cables or repeaters, reducing costs and maintenance, and supporting high-bandwidth devices up to 3.5 kilometers.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical power conduit having an optical power conduit cross-section area that is greater than the optical data conduit cross-sectional area
Implementation Method 2
at least one optical data conduit having an optical data conduit cross-sectional area
Data Source
AI summary
A Single Cable Optical Data/Power Transmission (SCODPT) port breakout system includes a SCODPT powering device coupled to SCODPT powered devices via respective optical data/power transmission cables (“cables”) and a SCODPT port breakout device. A plurality of single cable optical data/power ports on the SCODPT port breakout device are coupled via respective ones of the cables to respective ones of the SCODPT powering device or SCODPT powered devices, with those single cable optical data/power ports each including port optical data conduit(s) having a port optical data conduit cross-sectional area, and optical power conduit(s) having a port optical power conduit cross-section area that is greater than the port optical data conduit cross-sectional area. The SCODPT port breakout device receives optical power from the SCODPT powering device and distributes it to the SCODPT powered devices, and receives optical data and routes it to one or more of the SCODPT powered devices.