Optical interface with safety shutdown
First Claim
1. A system for transmitting optical power from a first location to a second location, comprising:
- a first light source at the first location which generates a first light beam;
a first optical-to-electrical converter at the second location which receives the first light beam;
an energy storage device electrically coupled to the first optical-to-electrical converter, which develops a level of stored energy;
a second light source at the second location;
first control means comprising a first level detector which has a first response time characteristic, an input coupled to the energy storage device and an output coupled to the second light source for operating the second light source at the second location to generate a return safety light beam after the level of stored energy reaches a first voltage level, and comprising a second level detector which has a second response time characteristic that is faster than the first response time characteristic, an input coupled to the energy storage device and an output coupled to the first level detector for inhibiting the first level detector when the level of stored energy reaches a second voltage level that is greater than the first voltage level;
a second optical-to-electrical converter which detects the return safety light beam at the first location; and
second control means coupled between the second optical-to-electrical converter and the first light source for determining the presence or absence of the return safety light beam and for operating the first light source to generate the first light beam at a first power level prior to determining the presence of the return safety light beam and at a second power level, higher than the first power level, after determining the presence of the return safety light beam.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for transmitting optical power from a first location to a second location. The system includes a first light source at the first location which generates a first light beam. A power converter detects the first light beam at the second location. A first control circuit coupled to the power converter operates a second light source at the second location to generate a return safety light beam after detection of the first light beam. A photodetector detects the return safety light beam at the first location. A second control circuit is coupled between the photodetector and the first light source. The second control circuit detects the presence of the return safety light beam and operates the first light source to generate the first light beam at a first power level prior to detecting the return safety light beam and at a second power level, higher than the first power level, after detecting the return safety light beam.
115 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for transmitting optical power from a first location to a second location, comprising:
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a first light source at the first location which generates a first light beam; a first optical-to-electrical converter at the second location which receives the first light beam; an energy storage device electrically coupled to the first optical-to-electrical converter, which develops a level of stored energy; a second light source at the second location; first control means comprising a first level detector which has a first response time characteristic, an input coupled to the energy storage device and an output coupled to the second light source for operating the second light source at the second location to generate a return safety light beam after the level of stored energy reaches a first voltage level, and comprising a second level detector which has a second response time characteristic that is faster than the first response time characteristic, an input coupled to the energy storage device and an output coupled to the first level detector for inhibiting the first level detector when the level of stored energy reaches a second voltage level that is greater than the first voltage level; a second optical-to-electrical converter which detects the return safety light beam at the first location; and second control means coupled between the second optical-to-electrical converter and the first light source for determining the presence or absence of the return safety light beam and for operating the first light source to generate the first light beam at a first power level prior to determining the presence of the return safety light beam and at a second power level, higher than the first power level, after determining the presence of the return safety light beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for safely transmitting power optically from a first location to an electrical device at a second location, comprising:
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a first light source at the first location which generates a first light beam and is operable at a first power level and a second power level, which is greater than the first power level; a first optical-to-electrical converter at the second location which receives the first light beam and converts the first light beam into electrical power; an energy storage device electrically coupled to the first optical-to-electrical converter and to the electrical device, wherein the energy storage device develops a level of stored energy in response to the electrical power; a first energy level detector electrically coupled to the energy storage device which generates a first return safety electrical signal as a function of the level of stored energy wherein the first energy level detector has an inhibit input and has a first threshold energy level; a second energy level detector electrically coupled the energy storage device and having an output electrically coupled to the inhibit input, wherein the second energy level detector has a second threshold energy level which is greater than the first threshold energy level; a second light source at the second location and electrically coupled to the first energy level detector, wherein the second light source generates a return safety light beam in response to the first return safety electrical signal; a second optical-to-electrical converter at the first location which receives the first return safety light beam and converts the return safety light bean into a second return safety electrical signal; and a control circuit having an input electrically coupled to the second optical-to electrical converter and a control output electrically coupled to the first light source, which operates the first light source through the control output at the first and second power levels as a function of the second return safety electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical interface module comprising:
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a photovoltaic power converter; a light source; an electrical storage device electrically coupled to the photovoltaic power converter; an electrical load; a switch coupled between the electrical storage device and the load and having a control input; a first energy level detector coupled between the electrical storage device and the light source, which detects a first level of energy and has an inhibit input; and a second energy level detector coupled between the electrical storage device and the inhibit input of the first energy level detector and between the energy storage device and the control input of the switch, wherein the second energy level detector detects a second energy level which is greater than the first energy level and has a faster response characteristic than the first energy level detector.
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21. An optical interface module for communicating with an electrical devise, comprising:
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a photovoltaic power converter; a zero level detector electrically coupled to the photovoltaic power converter; a pulse generator electrically coupled to the zero level detector, which has an inhibit input; an optical driver circuit electrically coupled to the pulse generator; a light source electrically coupled to the optical driver circuit; and a microprocessor having a first input coupled to the zero level detector, a second input coupled to the electrical device for receiving data, a shift register for storing the data, an inhibit output coupled to the pulse generator inhibit input and a data output coupled between the shift register and the optical driver circuit.
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22. A method of safely transmitting power to a remote electrical device, comprising:
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generating a first light beam at a first power level; transmitting the first light beam from a first location to the remote electrical device at a second location; detecting the first light beam at the second location; generating a return safety light beam at the second location after detection of the first light beam at the second location; generating a return data light beam at the second location; inhibiting the step of generating a return safety light beam when generating the return data light beam; transmitting one of the return safety light beam and the return data light beam from the second location to the first location; detecting a presence of one of the return safety light beam and the return data light beam at the first location; increasing the first light beam from the first power level to a second power level, higher than the first power level, after detecting the presence of one of the return safety light beam and the return data light beam at the first location; detecting an absence of the return safety light beam and the return data light beam at the first location when the first light beam is generated at the second power level; and reducing the first light beam from the second power level to the first power level after detecting the absence of the return safety light beam and the return data light beam. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for transmitting optical power from a first location to a second location, comprising:
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a first light source at the first location which generates a first light beam that pulses between on and off states; a first optical-to-electrical converter at the second location which receives the first light beam; a second light source at the second location; zero level detector means coupled to the first optical-to-electrical converter for generating a zero level output signal when the first light beam is in the off state; a pulse generator coupled to the zero level detector means which generates a return electrical safety pulse in response to the zero level output signal; and an optical driver electrically coupled between the pulse generator and the second light source, which applies the return electrical safety pulse to the second light source during the off state of the first light beam for operating the second light source to generate a return safety light beam; a second optical-to-electrical converter which detects the return safety light beam at the first location; and second control means coupled between the second optical-to-electrical converter and the first light source for detecting the presence or absence of the return safety light beam and for operating the first light source to generate the first light beam at a first power level after detecting the absence of the return safety light beam and at a second power level, higher than the first power level, after detecting the presence of the return safety light beam.
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Specification