초록 ▼

An optically powered fiber optic sensor system having a control end sending, with a laser diode or light-emitting diode, optical power and a clock signal exclusively through an optic fiber to a sensing end having sensors, a clock signal picking-off circuit, a return signal light-emitting diode, and

An optically powered fiber optic sensor system having a control end sending, with a laser diode or light-emitting diode, optical power and a clock signal exclusively through an optic fiber to a sensing end having sensors, a clock signal picking-off circuit, a return signal light-emitting diode, and needed analog and digital circuitry, all energy dependent upon the optical power transmitted through the optic fiber to the control end. The optically powered sensor end is feasible because of recent advances in technology resulting in micro-powered devices such as the analog-to-digital converter, operational amplifiers, logic circuits, and other low-powered items.

대표청구항 ▼

An optically micro-powered sensor apparatus comprising: timing means for generating timing signals; source means, connected to said timing means, for providing power and the timing signals in the form of light; light conducting means for conveying the power and the timing signals from said source me

An optically micro-powered sensor apparatus comprising: timing means for generating timing signals; source means, connected to said timing means, for providing power and the timing signals in the form of light; light conducting means for conveying the power and the timing signals from said source means; first conversion means for receiving the power and the timing signals from said light conducting means and for converting the power and the timing signals into electrical energy and electrical timing signals; sensor means for sensing desired parameters and for converting the parameters into electrical parameter signals; interface means, connected to said first conversion means and to said sensing means, for processing the electrical timing and parameter signals; second conversion means, connected to said interface means and to said light conducting means, for converting logic signals from said interface means into return light signals and for providing the return light signals to said light conducting means; and receiving means having high information communication efficiency, connected to said light conducting means and to said timing means, for receiving the return light signals from said light conducting means.