Bidirectional optically powered signal transmission apparatus
First Claim
1. A bidirectional optically powered signal transmission apparatus, comprising:
- first and second optical transmission stations;
first means, in said first optical transmission station, for sending a first light beam on an optical transmission path to said second optical transmission station;
second means, in said first optical transmission station, for receiving a second light beam sent from said second optical transmission station;
said first light beam having a first predetermined wavelength;
said second light beam having a second predetermined wavelength, said first and second predetermined wavelengths being different;
third means, in said second optical transmission station, for sending said second light beam to said first optical transmission station over said optical transmission path;
fourth means, in said second optical transmission station, for receiving said first light beam sent from said first optical transmission station;
said first light beam including an AC signal component superimposed on a DC power component; and
means, in said second optical transmission station, for converting said DC power component of said first light beam to electric power for powering said second optical transmission station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bidirectional optically powered signal transmission apparatus includes a control station and a field station which are optically linked by an optical fiber. The control station sends a first light beam to a light receiver in the field station. The field station sends a second light beam to the control station. The first and second light beams are at different wavelengths so that simultaneous bidirectional transmission is enabled. The field station further converts a portion of the first light beam to electric power for powering the field station. The field station demodulates an AC component superimposed on the light it receives to produce an AC electric signal for control of the field station. Optical transmitting and receiving functions in the field station are preferably combined into an integrated opto-electric and electro-optic converter (O-E and E-O converter). The O-E and E-O converter is preferably an integrated circuit.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A bidirectional optically powered signal transmission apparatus, comprising:
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first and second optical transmission stations; first means, in said first optical transmission station, for sending a first light beam on an optical transmission path to said second optical transmission station; second means, in said first optical transmission station, for receiving a second light beam sent from said second optical transmission station; said first light beam having a first predetermined wavelength; said second light beam having a second predetermined wavelength, said first and second predetermined wavelengths being different; third means, in said second optical transmission station, for sending said second light beam to said first optical transmission station over said optical transmission path; fourth means, in said second optical transmission station, for receiving said first light beam sent from said first optical transmission station; said first light beam including an AC signal component superimposed on a DC power component; and means, in said second optical transmission station, for converting said DC power component of said first light beam to electric power for powering said second optical transmission station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A bidirectional optically powered signal transmission apparatus, comprising:
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first and second optical transmission stations; first means, in said first optical transmission station, for sending a first light beam on an optical transmission path to said second optical transmission station; said first light beam having a first predetermined wavelength and including an AC signal component superimposed on a DC power component; said first means including first light source means for radiating said first light beam of said first predetermined wavelength and driving means for regulating said AC signal component; second means, in said first optical transmission station, for receiving a second light beam sent from said second optical transmission station; said second light beam having a second predetermined wavelength, said first and second predetermined wavelengths being different; third means, in said second optical transmission station, for sending said second light beam to said first optical transmission station over said optical transmission path; fourth means, in said second optical transmission station, for receiving said first light beam sent from said first optical transmission station; means, in said second optical transmission station, for converting said DC power component of said first light beam to electric power for powering said second optical transmission station; said third means including a second light source means for radiating said second light beam of said second predetermined wavelength; and said first light beam and said second light beam being transmittable simultaneously in opposite directions on said optical transmission path.
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9. A bidirectional optically powered signal transmission apparatus, comprising:
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first and second optical transmission stations; first light source means, in said-first optical transmission station, for radiating a first light beam having a first predetermined wavelength over an optical transmission path; said first light beam including an AC signal component and a DC power component; driving means for regulating said AC signal component; a first light splitter-coupler for receiving a second light beam sent from said second optical transmission station; a first light receiver for converting said second light beam received from said first light splitter-coupler to a first electric signal; second light source means, in said second optical transmission station, for radiating said second light beam having a second predetermined frequency; a second light splitter-coupler for receiving said first light beam sent from said first optical transmission station; a second light receiver for converting said AC signal component of said first light beam to a second electric signal; means, in said second optical transmission station, for converting said DC component of said first light beam to substantially DC electric power for powering said second optical transmission station; and said second light source means, said second light receiver, and said means for converting being integrally formed as an O-E and E-O converter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A bidirectional optically powered signal transmission apparatus, comprising:
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a control station; means in said control station for superimposing an AC optical signal on a DC optical signal; a field station; means in said field station for converting a received optical signal to electrical power for powering said field station; means in said field station for demodulating said AC optical signal to produce an AC electrical signal; optical signal means in said field station for generating a further optical signal; and said electrical power being sufficient to satisfy all electrical power needs of said field station including said optical signal means.
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Specification