Single-Cable Optical Power and Data Link for Long-Range Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems face limitations in bandwidth and cable length, requiring additional components like signal repeaters and power boosters, which increase costs and points of failure, especially for high-bandwidth devices located far from the powering device.
Innovation Solution
A single cable optical data/power transmission system with dedicated optical conduits for data and power, using larger diameter fibers for power transmission to extend range and avoid multi-mode issues, allowing for high availability and efficient power/data delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If Power over Ethernet (PoE) techniques are used to transmit power and data over a single Ethernet cable, then the number of cables is reduced and installation is simplified, but the cable length is limited to 100 meters and bandwidth is limited to 10 Gbps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical signal transmission through copper Ethernet cables with optical signal transmission through optical fibers. The optical transceiver converts electrical signals to optical signals for transmission, eliminating the 100-meter electrical cable limitation and enabling transmission over several kilometers while maintaining single-cable power and data delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission medium from electrical conductors to optical waveguides, fundamentally altering the physical parameters of signal transmission. This enables both power and data to be transmitted optically through the same optical fiber cable, achieving both extended distance and high bandwidth simultaneously.
2Productivity
If Ethernet cables are used to meet high bandwidth requirements, then data transmission speed is limited to 10 Gbps, but using optical fibers enables much higher bandwidth transmission over extended distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes optical fiber transmission for electrical cable transmission to achieve high bandwidth. The optical transceiver enables conversion between electrical and optical domains, allowing data to be transmitted at speeds far exceeding 10 Gbps over optical fibers while simultaneously extending transmission distance beyond 100 meters.
3Length of stationary object
If signal repeaters and power boosters are added to extend PoE system range, then transmission distance is increased, but the number of components increases and points of failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power transmission and data transmission into a single optical fiber cable using the optical transceiver. This integration eliminates the need for separate power cables, data cables, signal repeaters, and power boosters, extending transmission distance to several kilometers while reducing the number of components and potential failure points.
4Reliability
If separate power cables and data cables are used, then power delivery and data communication are reliable, but extensive efforts are required to connect, route, and manage the cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate power delivery and data communication functions into a single optical fiber cable system. The optical transceiver simultaneously handles both power transmission and data transmission over the same cable, maintaining reliability while dramatically simplifying cable connection, routing, and management.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber cable becomes a universal medium that performs multiple functions: transmitting electrical power, transmitting data signals, and replacing both dedicated power cables and data cables. This multi-functionality reduces cable management complexity while maintaining system reliability.
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 reliable transmission of high-bandwidth data and power over extended distances without additional components, reducing costs and failure points, and supporting devices up to 3.5 kilometers from the powering device.
Implementation Method 1
transmit electrical power and data as optical signals over a single optical fiber cable
Implementation Method 2
The optical transceiver in the information handling system receives the optical power and data, and converts the optical signals to electrical power and data
Data Source
AI summary
A Single Cable Optical Data/Power Transmission (SCODPT) high availability system includes a plurality of SCODPT transmission powering devices coupled to a SCODPT powered device via respective optical data/power transmission cables (“cables”) and a SCODPT high availability device. A respective single cable optical data/power port on the SCODPT high availability device is coupled to each cable and includes 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. A single cable optical data/power connector is coupled to the SCODPT powered device and includes connector optical data conduit(s) having a connector optical data conduit cross-sectional area, and connector optical power conduit(s) having a connector optical power conduit cross-section area that is greater than the connector optical data conduit cross-sectional area.