Optical power transmission system and method having counter-propagating control signal

Abstract

A system for delivering optical power over optical conduits includes at least one optical power source delivering multiple optical power forms over an optical conduit with a counter propagating optical control signal.

1 . An optical power system, comprising:
 at least a first optical power source providing at least a first optical power having a first optical power form and a second optical power having a second optical power form;   a first optical control signal receiver configured to receive at least a first optical control signal, the first optical control signal having a first optical control form, the first optical power form and the second optical power form being different from the first optical control form, at least the first optical power form being based on the first optical control signal, the first optical control signal being provided from a first optical information signal source; and   an optical conduit coupled to the first optical power source and at least one optical receiver and the optical information signal source and transmitting at least the first optical power form and the second optical power form in one direction and the first optical control signal in the opposite direction.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in mode structure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in wavelength. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in polarization. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in optical bandwidth. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power source includes at least one electrically-powered light source. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power source includes at least one laser. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power source includes at least one semiconductor laser. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power source includes at least one fiber laser. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power source includes at least one solid-state laser. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power source includes a control element configured to control the optical output in response to the first optical control signal. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical receiver is configured to convert the first optical power form to electrical power of at least a first electrical power form. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical control signal receiver includes a control circuit configure to control the operation of at least one optical power source based on the first optical control signal. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in frequency. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in polarization. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical conduit includes an optical fiber. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical conduit includes a photonic crystal fiber. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical conduit includes a holey fiber. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one characteristic of one of the optical power sources is adjusted based on at least one characteristic of the optical conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one characteristic of one of the optical power sources is adjusted based on at least one characteristic of the optical conduit and the at least one characteristic of the optical power sources includes at least one of wavelength, power, or polarization. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one characteristic of one of the optical power sources is adjusted based on at least one characteristic of the optical conduit and the at least one characteristic of the optical conduit includes at least one of transmission efficiency or maximum power handling capability. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one characteristic of one of the optical power sources is adjusted based on at least one characteristic of a load coupled to at least the first optical power receiver. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one characteristic of one of the optical power sources is adjusted based on at least one characteristic of a load coupled to at least one the first optical power receiver and the at least one characteristic of the load is sensed by a sensor configured to sense the at least one characteristic of the load. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first optical control signal is determined by a control circuit and the control circuit uses an algorithm, the algorithm including at least one of classical control, linear control, nonlinear control, adaptive control, multivariable control, optimal control, intelligent control, fuzzy control, neural control, stochastic control, or look up table control. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first optical power receiver configured to receive at least the first optical power form and to convert the first optical power form into a first electrical power form, the characteristics of the first electrical power form being based on the first optical control signal.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first optical control signal is at least one of frequency modulated, amplitude modulated, or digitally modulated. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first optical control signal is used to control at least one of optical power, optical wavelength, or duty cycle of the optical power source. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second optical power form originating from either the first optical power source or a second optical power source, the second optical power form being different from the first optical power form and being controlled by either the first optical control signal or a second optical control signal. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical control signal is used to control an opto-electrical power conversion. 
     
     
         30 . A method of transmitting power, comprising:
 generating at least a first optical power having a first optical power form and a second optical power having a second optical power form;   generating at least a first optical control signal having a first optical control form;   transmitting at least the first optical power form and the second optical power form in one direction, and the first optical control form through an optical conduit in the opposite direction;   receiving at least the first optical power form by a first optical receiver, the second optical power form by a second optical receiver and the first optical control form by a third optical receiver; and   converting at least the first optical power form into a first power output having a first electrical power form, the electrical power form being based on the first optical control signal.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in mode structure. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in wavelength. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in polarization. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in optical bandwidth. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power source includes at least one electrically-powered light source. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power source includes at least one laser. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power source includes at least one semiconductor laser. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power source includes at least one fiber laser. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power source includes at least one solid-state laser. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power source includes a control element configured to control the optical output in response to the first optical control signal. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical receiver is configured to convert the first optical power form to electrical power of at least a first electrical power form. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical control signal receiver includes a control circuit configure to control the operation of at least one optical power source based on the first optical control signal. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in frequency. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical power form and the first optical control form differ in polarization. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the optical conduit includes an optical fiber. 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein at least one characteristic of one of the optical power sources is adjusted based on at least one characteristic of the optical conduit. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein at least one characteristic of one of the optical power sources is adjusted based on at least one characteristic of the optical conduit and the at least one characteristic of the optical power sources includes at least one of wavelength, power, or polarization. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein at least one characteristic of one of the optical power sources is adjusted based on at least one characteristic of the optical conduit and the at least one characteristic of the optical conduit includes at least one of transmission efficiency or maximum power handling capability. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein at least one characteristic of one of the optical power sources is adjusted based on at least one characteristic of a load coupled to at least the first optical power receiver. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein at least one characteristic of one of the optical power sources is adjusted based on at least one characteristic of a load coupled to at least one the first optical power receiver and the at least one characteristic of the load is sensed by a sensor configured to sense the at least one characteristic of the load. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first optical control signal is determined by a control circuit and the control circuit uses an algorithm, the algorithm including at least one of classical control, linear control, nonlinear control, adaptive control, multivariable control, optimal control, intelligent control, fuzzy control, neural control, stochastic control, or look up table control. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a first optical power receiver configured to receive at least the first optical power form and to convert the first optical power form into a first electrical power form, the characteristics of the first electrical power form being based on the first optical control signal.   
     
     
         55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising transmitting a second optical power form originating from either the first optical power source or a second optical power source, the second optical power form being different from the first optical power form and being controlled by either the first optical control signal or a second optical control signal. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the optical control signal is used to control an optical power source. 
     
     
         59 . A system of transmitting power, comprising:
 a means for generating at least a first optical power having a first optical power form and a second optical power having a second optical power form;   a means for generating at least a first optical control signal having a first optical control form;   a means for transmitting at least the first optical power form and the second optical power form in one direction, and the first optical control form through an optical conduit in the opposite direction;   a means for receiving at least the first optical power form by a first optical receiver, the second optical power form by a second optical receiver and the first optical control form by a third optical receiver; and   a means for converting at least the first optical power form into a first power output having a first electrical power form, the electrical power form being based on the first optical control signal.   
     
     
         60 - 87 . (canceled)