Time division multiplexed optical measuring system

A time division multiplexed optical voltage measuring system for a multi-phase high voltage power line system comprising:

• a light source for generating a primary pulsed light wave having a selected pulse width and duty cycle;
• a plurality of voltage sensing system modules, J, where a jth one is adapted to measure a jth voltage measure and related to said multi-phase system, where each of said voltage sensing modules includes,
• (i) a plurality of optical sensors, N, wherein each nth sensor includes,
• (a) a receiving input for receiving an interrogation light wave, and
• (b) at least one emitting output for emitting a first sensor output light wave having optical characteristics derived from said interrogation light wave and in response to any sensed electric field thereat, and
• where said plurality of optical sensors are spatially located at a location where a voltage is intended to be measured, and
• where said voltage intended to be measured is a function of the sensor output light waves from selected ones of the N optical sensors,
• (ii) an optical circuit arrangement having,
• an input for receiving a module specific pulsed light wave derived from said primary pulsed light wave, and occurring at a different time than that received by the other ones of said voltage sensing system modules, and
• arranged such that each of said N optical sensors receives an interrogation pulsed light wave derived from said module specific pulsed light wave at differing times, and
• (iii) at least a first optical wave combiner having at least N inputs, where an nth input is coupled to a corresponding emitting output of an nth sensor through a corresponding nth light conduit for receiving a sensor output light wave therefrom, and an output for emitting any light received at its inputs thereof;
• at least a first detector having,
• a detector input coupled to said first optical wave combiner output of each of said voltage sensing modules, and
• a detector output for producing an electrical detector output signal representative of any light at its input;
• and
• an electrical signal processor responsive to said electrical detector output signal for deriving said voltage intended to be measured at each location of said voltage sensing modules as a function of received sensor output light waves from said plurality of sensors associated with a specific one module.

A time division multiplex optical voltage measuring system for a multi-phase high voltage power line system for measuring the voltage associated with a transmission line of the multi-phase high voltage power line system comprising:

• a light source for generating a primary pulsed light wave having a selected pulse width and duty cycle;
• a plurality of voltage sensing system modules, J, each having an optical sensing system structure including,
• (i) a plurality of optical sensors, N, wherein each nth sensor includes,
• (a) a receiving input for receiving an interrogation light wave, and
• (b) at least one emitting output for emitting a first sensor output light wave having optical characteristics derived from said interrogation light wave and in response to any sensed electric field thereat, and
• where said plurality of optical sensors are spatially located at a location where a voltage is intended to be measured, and
• where said voltage intended to be measured is a function of the sensor output light waves from selected ones of the N optical sensors,
• at least a first module optical wave splitter having,
• an input adapted to be coupled to a light conduit for receiving a module specific pulsed light wave, and
• a plurality of outputs for passing a portion of said received module specific pulsed light wave,
• an input optical circuit arrangement including,
• a plurality of sensor light conduits, N, each having,
• an output end thereof coupled to a receiving input of a mutually exclusive one of the N plurality of sensors,
• an input end adapted to receive at least a portion of said module specific pulsed light wave from said first module optical wave splitter, and
• said input optical circuit arrangement arranged such that a portion of said module specific pulsed light wave is received at said receiving input of each of said N optical sensors at differing times, and
• at least a first optical wave combiner having,
• at least N inputs, where an nth input is coupled to the emitting output of a corresponding nth sensor, and
• an output for passing therefrom any received light waves from said optical sensors;
• an optical signal management router operative for routing optical signals to and from the plurality of voltage sensing system modules, the optical signal management router including,
• a source dividing optical circuit having,
• at least a first optical wave splitter having,
• an input adapted to be coupled to said light source for receiving said primary pulsed light wave, and
• a plurality of outputs, M, for passing from each of said M outputs a portion of said primary pulsed light wave, and
• an optical circuit arrangement for coupling an output to said optical wave splitter of said router to each of input of said voltage sensing modules such that each module specific pulse light waves arrives at differing times relative to each other;
• at least a first optical wave combiner having,
• a plurality of inputs, J, where a corresponding jth one is coupled to a mutually exclusive output of said first combiner of said voltage sensing system modules for receiving light waves therefrom, and
• an output for passing therefrom any received light waves at said J inputs thereof;
• at least a first detector having,
• a detector input coupled to said output of said first optical wave combiner of said router, and
• a detector output for producing an electrical detector output signal representative of any light at its detector input;
• and
• an electrical signal processor responsive to said electrical detector output signal for deriving said voltage intended to be measured and associated with each of said voltage sensing system modules.

A time division multiplexed optical voltage measuring system comprising:

• at least one light source for generating a primary pulsed light wave having a selected pulse width and duty cycle;
• an optical sensing system circuit including,
• (i) a plurality of optical sensors, N, wherein each nth sensor is configured to sense a desire electromagnetic parameter, and where each sensor configured to,
• (a) receive an interrogation light wave, and
• (b) emit at least a first sensor output light wave having optical characteristics derived from said interrogation light wave and in response to a selected electromagnetic intended to be sensed, and
• (ii) an optical wave splitting circuit arrangement having,
• at least one input for receiving a pulsed light wave derived from said primary pulsed light wave, and
• arranged such that each of said N optical sensors receives an interrogation pulsed light wave derived from said primary pulsed light wave, and
• (iii) at least a first optical wave comber having at least N inputs, where an nth input is arranged to correspondingly receive said at least a first sensor output wave associated with said nth sensor, and
• (iv) an optical wave delay circuit arrangement such that said first optical wave combiner output emits said at least a first sensor output wave associated with each of said N sensors at differing times;
• at least a first detector having,
• a detector input coupled to said first optical wave combiner output, and
• a detector output for producing an electrical detector output signal representative of any light at its input;
• and
• an electrical signal processor responsive to said electrical detector output signal for deriving said electromagnetic parameter intended to be measured as a function of received sensor output light waves from said plurality of sensors.