Method and apparatus for power delivery to waveguide systems

A waveguide system, comprising:

• an optical power converter;
• a coupler;
• a processing system including a processor;
• and
• a memory that stores executable instructions, wherein the processing system on executing the instructions is configured to perform operations comprising:
• receiving, via an optical fiber, optical power signals, wherein the optical fiber is connected with a light source, wherein the waveguide system and the light source are separate devices;
• converting, by the optical power converter, the optical power signals to electrical energy, wherein the electrical energy is utilized as power by the waveguide system;
• and
• transmitting or receiving, via the coupler, electromagnetic waves that convey data, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path,
• wherein a power device comprises the light source, and the power device obtains energy from a power line of a power grid,
• wherein the power device comprises an inductive coupler, and the inductive coupler obtains the energy via an inductive coupling with the power line, and
• wherein the transmission medium includes the power line.

A first waveguide system, comprising:

• a light source;
• a coupler;
• a processing system including a processor;
• and
• a memory that stores executable instructions, wherein the processing system on executing the instructions is configured to perform operations comprising:
• generating, by the light source, optical power signals;
• transmitting, via an optical fiber, the optical power signals to a second waveguide system, wherein the first and second waveguide systems are separate devices, wherein the second waveguide system converts, by an optical power converter of the second waveguide system, the optical power signals to electrical energy, wherein the electrical energy is utilized as power by the second waveguide system;
• and
• transmitting or receiving, via the coupler, electromagnetic waves that convey data, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path,
• wherein a power device comprises the light source, and the power device obtains energy from a power line of a power grid,
• wherein the power device comprises an inductive coupler, and the inductive coupler obtains the energy via an inductive coupling with the power line, and
• wherein the transmission medium includes the power line.