Optical step-up transformer
AssigneeLumileds Singapore Pte. Ltd.
InventorsHisashi Masui, Ronald Johannes Bonne, Oleg Borisovich Shchekin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A structure and method of operating an optical step-up transformer are described. The optical step-up transformer has at least one photodiode and at least one photoreceiver. The photoreceiver receives light emitted from the photodiode and generates a voltage proportional to the number of series-connected photoreceivers. The photodiode and photoreceiver may be electrically isolated or may share a common anode or cathode. The voltage applied to the photodiode may be a DC or PWM signal.
Claims20
An optical step-up transformer system comprising:
- a light emitter configured to be coupled to a power source configured to provide a voltage having a predetermined amplitude, the light emitter configured to emit light based on the voltage;
- a first light detector configured to detect the light from the light emitter and provide a voltage in response, the first light detector including a plurality of individual light detectors coupled in series, an output voltage of the first light detector being about the predetermined amplitude times a number of the individual light detectors;
- a secondary light emitter coupled to the first light detector, the secondary light emitter configured to emit light based on the output voltage of the first light detector;
- and
- a switch configured to couple the first light detector to a capacitor and the capacitor to the secondary light emitter, the capacitor configured to be charged by the first light detector at a first time and discharged through the secondary light emitter at a second time.
An optical step-up transformer comprising:
- a circular light emitter configured to emit light and comprising a radial notch from an edge in the light emitter to a center of the light emitter that is configured to suppress a whispering gallery mode in the optical step-up transformer;
- and
- an annular light detector configured to detect the light from the light emitter and provide a current in response, the light emitter and the light detector being monolithic and sharing a common cathode or anode, the light detector continuously surrounding the light emitter.
An optical step-up transformer system comprising:
- a light emitter configured to be coupled to a power source configured to provide a voltage having a predetermined amplitude, the light emitter configured to emit light based on the voltage;
- and
- a first light detector configured to detect the light from the light emitter and provide a voltage in response, the first light detector including a plurality of individual light detectors coupled in series, an output voltage of the first light detector being about the predetermined amplitude times a number of the individual light detectors,
- wherein:
- the first light detector includes a first set of individual light detectors coupled in series and a second set of individual light detectors coupled in series,
- the first set of individual light detectors are coupled in parallel with the second set of individual light detectors such that a terminal anode of the first set of individual light detectors is coupled to a terminal cathode of the second set of individual light detectors and a terminal cathode of the first set of individual light detectors is coupled to a terminal anode of the second set of individual light detectors, and
- the optical step-up transformer system further comprises a Cockcroft-Walton multiplier coupled to:
- a first junction between the terminal anode of the first set of individual light detectors and the terminal cathode of the second set of individual light detectors, and
- a first junction between the terminal cathode of the first set of individual light detectors and the terminal anode of the second set of individual light detectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.