A power over fiber system includes a power sourcing equipment, a powered device, an optical fiber cable and a converter. The power sourcing equipment includes a semiconductor laser that oscillates with electric power, thereby outputting feed light. The powered device includes a photoelectric conversion element that converts the feed light into electric power. The optical fiber cable has one end connectable to the power sourcing equipment and another end connectable to the powered device to transmit the feed light. The converter converts a wavelength of the feed light.

A non-powered passive optomechanical position switch and an operational control system for controlling an apparatus using an optical fiber waveguide, the switch including an orientable structure supporting a plurality of reflective surfaces at the terminus of the optical fiber waveguide, wherein at least some of the reflective surfaces each uniquely manipulates one or more properties of light received from the optical fiber waveguide in reflecting light back through the optical fiber waveguide to an optocontrolling transceiver. Orienting the orientable structure relative to the terminus of the optical fiber determines which of the plurality of reflective surfaces is positioned at the terminus of the optical fiber waveguide, and thereby determines what properties of light are manipulated and reflected back to the optocontrolling transceiver, through the optical fiber waveguide thereby controlling an apparatus.

Systems and methods for stabilizing power levels from excessive oscillations in an optical line system of a communications network are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes the step of detecting a perturbation of an optical power level in an optical line system having a plurality of cascaded optical power controllers. The method also includes the step of determining an estimated location to which a power controller of the plurality of cascaded optical power controllers is positioned downstream of the perturbation with respect to other power controllers of the plurality of cascaded optical power controllers. Based on the estimated location to which the power controller is positioned downstream of the perturbation, the method also includes the step of providing feedback in a control loop to reduce the effects of the perturbation.

Disclosed is a method of operating an array of receiver devices as a phased array. The receiver devices are in a fixed mutual relationship within a zone and each receiver device comprises a photovoltaic element. The method involves receiving a signal from within the zone at a plurality of the receiver devices to generate a plurality of received signals and processing the received signals using at least one phase difference therebetween. The method also involves directing a beam of light from a unit located within the zone to the photovoltaic elements, thereby providing power to said receiver devices. The invention extends to an array of transmitter devices and to an array of both transmitter and receiver devices.

An optical transmission power supply cable includes an electric power input terminal, a power sourcing equipment and an optical fiber cable. The power sourcing equipment includes a semiconductor laser that oscillates with electric power input from the electric power input terminal, thereby outputting feed light. The optical fiber cable transmits the feed light from the power sourcing equipment. The optical fiber cable has an electrically insulating property of not conducting electricity in a longer direction thereof.

An optical fiber has an optical fiber core for high-power laser transmission, an optical cladding surrounding the optical fiber core, and at least one harvesting cell disposed around the optical cladding, where the harvesting cell includes an anode, a thermoelectric layer disposed adjacent to and electrically connected to the anode, and a cathode disposed adjacent to and electrically connected to the thermoelectric layer, and where the thermoelectric layer includes a polymer-based thermoelectric material.

An apparatus includes an optical power supply including: a power supply light source configured to generate power supply light; at least one optical input/output port; at least one photodetector; and a coupling module. The coupling module is configured to receive the power supply light from the power supply light source and output the power supply light through the optical input/output port, receive reflected light through the optical input/output port, and transmit the reflected light to the photodetector. The photodetector is configured to detect the reflected light and generate a signal representing a level of the reflected light. The optical power supply includes a controller that is configured to compare the level of the detected reflected light with a threshold value, and upon determining that the level of the detected reflected light is less than the threshold value, reduce or turn off the power supply light that is provided to the optical input/output port.

A powered device of a power-over-fiber system includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that convert feed light into electric power. The powered device further includes a beam splitter that receives the feed light, splits the feed light by wavelength into a plurality of feed light in a plurality of wavelength bands, and outputs the plurality of feed light in the plurality of wavelength bands to the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements in a distributed manner. Each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements has a conversion wavelength range corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of feed light input and is configured to convert the respective one of the plurality of feed light input into electric power.

An assembly for optical to electrical power conversion including a photodiode assembly having a substrate layer and an internal side, an antireflective layer, a heterojunction buffer layer adjacent the internal side; an active area positioned adjacent the heterojunction buffer layer, a plurality of n+ electrode regions and p+ electrode regions positioned adjacent the active area, and back-contacts configured to align with the n+ and p+ electrode regions. The active area converts photons from incoming light into liberated electron hole pairs. The heterojunction buffer layer prevents electrons and holes of the liberated electron hole pairs from moving toward the substrate layer. The plurality of electrode regions are configured in an alternating pattern with gaps between each n+ and p+ electrode region. The electrode regions receive and generate electrical current from migration of the electrons and the holes, provide electrical pathways for the electrical current, and provide thermal pathways to dissipate heat.

Technology for a multi-repeater system including wireless transmission of power from a first repeater to a second repeater is disclosed. A first and second repeater can be disposed opposite each other about a structural element. Wireless power can be transmitted from the first repeater through the structural element to the second repeater for use by the second repeater.