All-optical fiber optic interface for sensors and actuators

The feasibility of an all-optical fiber optic interface for sensors and act uators is demonstrated. The interface module converts optical power to elec trical power for the use of the sensor or the actuator. in addition, the mo dule provides bidirectional optical data transmission between the sensor or actuator and a control unit by using the power-feeding fiber as a data tra nsmission media. Optical power and data is transmitted to the sensor or act uator via a single multimode fiber. The system comprises of a customized 10 -cell photovoltaic array illuminated by the use of a customized 1x10 integr ated optics coupler. A 41% optical-to-electrical power conversion efficienc y was obtained for the photovoltaic array, and a 27% total optical-to-elect rical power conversion efficiency was attained for the system. When a singl e element in the array was biased as an LED, a -33 dBm optical power was co upled to the multimode fiber. (C) 2000 Society of Photo-Optical lnstrumenta tion Engineers. [S0091-3286(00)02204-2].