# US 8,787,752 B2 · Systems and methods for optically powering transducers and related transducers

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- Number: US 8,787,752 B2
- Document ID: US8787752B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/860,723
- Filed: 2010-08-20
- Published: 2011-02-24
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-08-21
- Assignees: California Institute of Technology
- Applicants: Axel Scherer; Aditya Rajagopal; Seheon Kim; Andrew P. Homyk
- Inventors: Axel Scherer; Aditya Rajagopal; Seheon Kim; Andrew P. Homyk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787752B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/6867: {specially adapted to be attached or implanted in a specific body part (A61B5/6847 takes precedence)}
- G01J 3/02: Details
- G01J 3/0218: {using optical fibers}
- G01J 3/0283: {using a charging unit}
- H02J 50/30: using light, e.g. lasers
- H02J 50/80: involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
- H02S 40/38: Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
- H03F 3/082: {with FET's (H03F3/085 takes precedence)}
- H03F 3/45183: {Long tailed pairs (H03F3/4521, H03F3/45237 take precedence)}
- H04B 10/807: {Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal}
- H10F 19/20: comprising photovoltaic cells in arrays in or on a single semiconductor substrate, the photovoltaic cells having planar junctions (having multiple thin-film photovoltaic cells deposited on the same substrate H10F19/31)
- H10F 77/148: {Shapes of potential barriers}
- H10F 77/42: directly associated or integrated with photovoltaic cells, e.g. light-reflecting means or light-concentrating means
- A61B 5/0017: {transmitting optical signals}
- A61B 2560/0219: of externally powered implanted units
- G01N 21/25: Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
- H02J 2105/46: Medical devices, medical implants or life supporting devices
- H03F 2203/45702: the LC comprising two resistors
- Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators
- Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- H03F: AMPLIFIERS
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The present disclosure describes an optically powered transducer with a photovoltaic collector. An optical fiber power delivery method and system and a free space power delivery method are also provided. A fabrication process for making an optically powered transducer is further described, together with an implantable transducer system based on optical power delivery.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optically powered transducer, comprising:
a sensor circuitry adapted to convert an environmental or ambient signal of interest into a sensor electrical signal;
an electronic circuitry adapted to process the sensor electrical signal;
a multi-functional light source adapted to a) support an optical data communications link between the optically powered transducer and at least one another device, and b) provide light for performing optical spectroscopy; and
a photovoltaic collector adapted to collect optical energy, convert the optical energy to electrical energy and power the sensor circuitry and the electronic circuitry with the electrical energy.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 1, wherein the optical data communications link is adapted to transmit a signal indicative of the environmental or ambient signal of interest.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 2, wherein the photovoltaic collector is further adapted to power the multi-functional light source with the electrical energy.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 2, wherein the multi-functional light source comprises a light-emitting diode or a semiconductor laser.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 2, wherein the multi-functional light source is adapted to emit light at a wavelength selected from around 850 nm, around 980 nm, around 1300 nm or around 1500 nm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 1, further comprising at least one optical resonator adapted to increase absorption efficiency of the photovoltaic collector.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 6, wherein the at least one optical resonator comprises at least one resonant cavity.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 1, wherein the sensor circuitry is at least one of an implantable pressure sensor, a blood sugar detector, a medical implant, an autonomous sensor, a humidity sensor, a gas sensor, a pathogen sensor, a light sensor, a stress sensor, a strain sensor, or a motion sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry further comprises an energy storage apparatus adapted to store the electrical energy converted by the photovoltaic collector.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is further adapted to control operations of the optically powered transducer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry further comprises a circuit selected from a CMOS amplification circuit, a CMOS amplitude-to-pulse-width conversion circuit, or a CMOS laser driving circuit.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 1, wherein the sensor circuitry is operative as a blood sugar detector and wherein performing optical spectroscopy comprises at least one of refractive index, absorption or Raman measurements.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 1, wherein a first wavelength of the multi-functional light source is changed to a second wavelength when performing optical spectroscopy.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The optically powered transducer according to claim 1, wherein the multi-functional light source is a multi-wavelength light source for performing optical spectroscopy using multiple wavelengths.

### Claim 15

A method comprising:
powering an optically powered transducer by directing optical energy at the optically powered transducer;
using a light source located in the optically powered transducer to enable an optical data link; and
using the light source to provide light for performing optical spectroscopy.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method according to claim 15, wherein the directing optical energy comprises providing optical energy of wavelength between around 800 nm and around 1600 nm.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method according to claim 15, wherein using the light source to provide light for performing optical spectroscopy comprises changing a wavelength.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method according to claim 15, wherein using the light source to enable the optical data link comprises using a first wavelength of light, and using the light source to provide light for performing optical spectroscopy comprises using a second wavelength.