Communication system providing hybrid optical/wireless communications and related methods
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- an optical fiber; and
at least one optical-wireless device coupled to a longitudinal side of said optical fiber and comprisingan optical fiber power unit coupled to said optical fiber for converting optical power therein into electrical power, anda wireless communication unit electrically powered solely by said optical fiber power unit and coupled to said optical fiber;
said at least one optical-wireless device further comprising a substrate mounting said optical fiber power unit and said wireless communication unit to the longitudinal side of said optical fiber.
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Abstract
A communication system includes at least one optical-wireless device coupled to a longitudinal side of an optical fiber. The optical-wireless device may include an optical fiber power unit for converting optical power into electrical power, and a wireless communication unit electrically powered by the optical fiber power unit. The optical-wireless device may include a substrate mounting the optical fiber power unit and the wireless communication unit to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber. The wireless communication unit may include a radio frequency transmitter, and a signal optical grating coupling the transmitter to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber. The radio frequency transmitter in some embodiments may include an ultra-wideband transmitter. A dipole antenna may also be provided including first and second portions extending in opposite directions along the longitudinal side of the optical fiber.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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an optical fiber; and at least one optical-wireless device coupled to a longitudinal side of said optical fiber and comprising an optical fiber power unit coupled to said optical fiber for converting optical power therein into electrical power, and a wireless communication unit electrically powered solely by said optical fiber power unit and coupled to said optical fiber; said at least one optical-wireless device further comprising a substrate mounting said optical fiber power unit and said wireless communication unit to the longitudinal side of said optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An optical-wireless device to be coupled to a longitudinal side of an optical fiber and comprising:
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a substrate for coupling to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber; an optical fiber power unit carried by said substrate to be coupled to said optical fiber for converting optical power therein into electrical power; and a wireless communication unit carried by said substrate, solely electrically powered by said optical fiber power unit, and to be coupled to the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An optical-wireless device to be coupled to a longitudinal side of an optical fiber and comprising:
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a substrate to be directly coupled to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber; a wireless communication unit carried by said substrate and to be coupled to the optical fiber; and a dipole antenna connected to said wireless communication unit comprising first and second portions to extend in opposite directions along the longitudinal side of the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for optical-wireless communication comprising:
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coupling at least one optical-wireless device to a longitudinal side of an optical fiber, the at least one optical-wireless device comprising an optical fiber power unit and a wireless communication unit connected thereto; supplying optical power into the optical fiber; converting the optical power in the optical fiber into electrical power using the optical fiber power unit; and electrically powering the wireless communication unit for optical-wireless communication solely using the electrical power converted from the optical power; the optical-wireless device further comprising a substrate carrying the optical fiber power unit and the wireless communication unit, and wherein coupling comprises coupling the substrate to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification