All-optical fiber optic interface for sensors and actuators

The feasibility of an all-optical fiber optic interface for sensors and actuators is demonstrated. The interface module converts optical power to electrical power for the use of the sensor or the actuator. in addition, the module provides bidirectional optical data transmission between the sensor or actuator and a control unit by using the power-feeding fiber as a data transmission media. Optical power and data is transmitted to the sensor or actuator via a single multimode fiber. The system comprises of a customized 10-cell photovoltaic array illuminated by the use of a customized 1x10 integrated optics coupler. A 41% optical-to-electrical power conversion efficiency was obtained for the photovoltaic array, and a 27% total optical-to-electrical power conversion efficiency was attained for the system. When a single element in the array was biased as an LED, a -33 dBm optical power was coupled to the multimode fiber. (C) 2000 Society of Photo-Optical lnstrumentation Engineers. [S0091-3286(00)02204-2].