Single-Cable Optical Ethernet Adapter for Long-Distance Data and Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems face challenges with high bandwidth and power transmission limitations, particularly in scenarios where devices are located more than 100 meters away from the powering device, requiring signal repeaters, power boosters, and additional cables, which increase cost and points of failure.
Innovation Solution
A single cable optical data/power transmission system that uses a single cable to transmit both data and power optically, utilizing optical conduits with different cross-sectional areas for data and power, allowing for longer distances and higher bandwidth without the need for additional cables or repeaters.
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 cable management is simplified and installation is reduced, but bandwidth and power transmission are limited to relatively short distances (maximum 100 meters)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines optical data transmission and optical power transmission into a single cable system. The optical data conduit and optical power conduit are integrated within the same cable structure, allowing both data and power to be transmitted simultaneously over long distances without requiring separate cables or additional infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical transmission system (electrical conductors for power and data) with an optical transmission system (optical conduits for light-based data and power transmission). This substitution enables transmission over significantly longer distances without signal degradation or the need for repeaters.
2Speed
If Ethernet cables are used to meet high bandwidth requirements, then data transmission speed is limited to up to 10 Gigabits per second, but signal repeaters and power boosters are required for distances exceeding 100 meters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical signal transmission with optical signal transmission. Optical signals can carry much higher bandwidth over longer distances without degradation, eliminating the need for signal repeaters and power boosters that are required with electrical Ethernet cables.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission medium from electrical conductors to optical conduits. This parameter change enables significantly higher data transmission speeds and extends the transmission distance without requiring additional active components like repeaters or boosters.
3Length of moving object
If additional Ethernet cables and power boosters are installed to extend transmission distance beyond 100 meters, then transmission distance is increased, but the number of points of failure and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data transmission and power transmission into a single integrated optical cable system. This eliminates the need for separate power cables and multiple Ethernet cables, reducing the number of connection points and potential failure locations while extending transmission distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical transmission system with an optical system that can transmit both data and power over long distances without signal degradation. This eliminates the need for repeaters and power boosters, thereby reducing points of failure.
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 transmission of data and power over longer distances, reducing the need for additional infrastructure and minimizing points of failure, while supporting high-bandwidth devices like high-definition cameras and audio streams.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical data conduit having an optical data conduit cross-sectional area
Implementation Method 2
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
Data Source
AI summary
A single cable optical data/power transmission Ethernet port adapter system includes a single cable optical data/power transmission powering device (“powering device”) coupled to a powered device using an optical data/power transmission cable (“cable”) and a single cable optical data/power transmission Ethernet port adapter device (“adapter device”). The adapter device includes an Ethernet port coupled to the powered device, and an optical data/power connector connected to the cable and including optical data conduit(s) and optical power conduit(s) with a greater cross-section area than the optical data conduit(s). A data communication system receives optical data from the powering device via the optical data conduit(s) and uses it to transmit electrical data via the Ethernet port to the powered device, and a power transmission system receives optical power from the powering device via the optical power conduit(s) and uses it to transmit electrical power via the Ethernet port to the powered device.