Optically powered sensing system and method for hazardous environments

A sensing system including:

• a sensor located in an external environment, the sensor including:
• an electrically powered sensor element sensing an environment variable and converting the sensing to a corresponding analog electrical value measure;
• an electrically powered sensor value conversion system connected to the electrically powered sensor and converting the analog electrical value measure to a corresponding digital measure, in addition to encoding the digital measure with sensor identification information, to produce sensed data information;
• a transducer element for sending the sensed data information over an optical input/output conduit;
• said optical input/output conduit for inputting an optical power signal and outputting optical sensed data information;
• a coupler splitting a first portion of the optical power signal to an energy storage system;
• and
• an energy storage system converting the first portion of the optical power signal into corresponding electrical energy and storing the electrical energy for on demand usage;
• with said electrically powered sensor element, said electrically powered sensor value conversion system being supplied with electrical power from said energy storage system, and
• wherein said corresponding electrical data is encoded and sent utilising a one-directional asynchronous communication protocol, and
• wherein said sensor periodically enters a low power sleep state followed by a higher power active state where information is transmitted by the sensor.