Electro-optic voltage sensor

An optical voltage sensor comprising:

• a light source;
• a polarizer proximate to said light source;
• an electro optic sensor proximate to said polarizer, having a first input means electrically coupled to a voltage line at a first location for receiving a first electrical signal representative of voltage on said voltage line at a first instant of time, and a second input means electrically coupled to said voltage line for receiving a second electrical signal having a delay relative to the first electrical signal;
• a polarization sensitive light splitter proximate to said electro optic sensor,
• a first detector proximate to said polarization sensitive light splitter;
• a second detector proximate to said polarization sensitive light splitter;
• and
• a processor connected to said first and second detectors.

A method for measuring a voltage of an electrical power line, comprising:

• electrically coupling a first electrode of an electro optic sensor to a first location on the electrical power line and electrically coupling a second electrode of the electro optic sensor to a second location on the electrical power line;
• radiating light to the electro optic sensor;
• converting the light from the electro optic sensor into an electrical signal;
• and
• processing the electrical signal into an indication of the voltage on the electrical power line.

A method of measuring a voltage of an electrical power line, comprising:

• electrically coupling a first electrode of an electro optic sensor to a first location on the electrical power line;
• electrically coupling an input of a signal phase delay device to the first location on the electrical power line;
• electrically coupling a second electrode of the electro optic sensor to an output of the phase delay device;
• radiating light to the electro optic sensor;
• converting the light from the electro optic sensor into an electrical signal;
• and
• processing the electrical signal into an indication of the voltage on the electrical power line.

A method for measuring the voltage of an electrical power line, comprising:

• electrically coupling a first electrode of an electro optic sensor to a first location on the electrical power line and electrically coupling a second electrode of the electro optic sensor to a second location on the electrical power line,
• radiating polarized light to the electro optic sensor;
• splitting the light exiting the electro optic sensor into a first beam having a first polarization and a second beam having a second polarization;
• converting the first beam into a first electrical signal;
• converting the second beam into a second electrical signal;
• and
• processing the first and second electrical signals into an indication of the voltage on the electrical power line.

A method of measuring a voltage of an electrical power line, comprising:

• electrically coupling a first electrode of an electro optic sensor to a first location on the electrical power line;
• electrically coupling an input of a phase delay device to the first location on the electrical power line;
• electrically coupling a second electrode of the electro optic sensor to an output of the phase delay device;
• radiating polarized light to the electro optic sensor;
• splitting the light exiting the electro optic sensor into a first beam having a first polarization and a second beam having a second polarization;
• converting the first beam into a first electrical signal;
• converting the second beam into a second electrical signal;
• and
• processing the first and second electrical signals into an indication of the voltage on the electrical power line.

A method for measuring a voltage of an electrical power line, comprising:

• sensing a first electrical signal at a first location of the power line;
• sensing a second electrical signal at a second location of the power line;
• taking a difference of the first and second electrical signals at a particular time and affecting a polarization state of a first light beam with the difference;
• splitting the first light beam into a second light beam having a first polarization and a third light beam having a second polarization;
• converting the second light beam into a third electrical signal;
• converting the third light beam into a fourth electrical signal;
• and
• processing the third and fourth electrical signals into an indication of the voltage on the electrical power line.

A method for measuring a voltage of an electrical power line, comprising:

• sensing a first electrical signal at a first location of the power line;
• sensing a second electrical signal at a second location of the power line;
• taking a difference of the first and second electrical signals at a particular time and affecting a polarization state of a first light beam in accordance with the difference;
• polarizing the first light beam into a second light beam;
• converting the second light beam into a third electrical signal;
• and
• processing the third electrical signal into an indication of the voltage on the electrical power line.

An optical sensor for measuring the voltage on an electric line, comprising:

• a light source;
• an optical sensor coupled to said light source, and having a first electrical connection to the electric line for receiving a first signal and a second electrical connection for receiving a delayed first signal, the difference of signals affecting a characteristic of light transversing through said optical sensor from said light source;
• a detector coupled to said optical sensor for providing a second electrical signal representative of a light output from said optical sensor;
• and
• a processor connected to said detector.

An optical sensor for measuring a voltage on an electric line, comprising:

• a light source;
• a Mach Zehnder interferometer, coupled to said light source, having first and second legs and having a modulator on the first leg wherein a first electrode of the modulator is connected to a first point on the electric line and a second electrode of the modulator is connected to a second point on the electric line;
• a detector coupled to an optical output of said Mach Zehnder interferometer;
• and
• a processor connected to said detector.

An optical sensor for measuring a voltage on an electric line, comprising:

• a light source;
• a Mach Zehnder interferometer, coupled to said light source, having first and second legs, and having a modulator on the first leg, wherein a first electrode of the modulator is connected to a first point on the electric line;
• a time delay device having a first terminal connected to the first point on the electric line and a second terminal connected to a second electrode of the modulator;
• a detector coupled to said Mach Zehnder interferometer;
• and
• a processor connected to said detector.

An optical sensor for measuring a voltage on an electrical line, comprising:

• a light source;
• an electrical signal delay line having first and second input/output terminating ends,
• wherein said first input/output terminating end is electrically coupled to a voltage line;
• an electro optic sensor coupled to said light source, said electro optic sensor having,
• a first input electrically coupled to said voltage line, and,
• a second input electrically coupled to said second input/output terminating end of said electrical signal delay line;
• a detector coupled to said electro optic sensor;
• and
• an integrator connected to said detector.