Power recapture in an optical communications system
US8855499B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 21, 2011 |
| Grant date | Oct 7, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/807
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In an n-node optical communications system, energy harvesting photodetectors at each node receive extraneous electromagnetic wavelengths that are not used for communication or other purposes by the associated node. The energy harvesting photodetectors convert the unused electromagnetic energy into reusable electrical energy. The harvested electrical energy may be used as auxiliary power at the node or elsewhere in the communication system, or stored in a battery, capacitor, or other energy storage device. The system may be used in an “all-to-all” broadcast and select communication scheme or in some other broadcast and select interconnect system that has extraneous wavelengths at node receivers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.