Optically interfaced remote data concentrator
AssigneeSimmonds Precision Products, Inc.
InventorDavid H. Crowne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remote data concentrator includes a front end interface, a plurality of back end interfaces and a control circuit. The front end interface is configured to receive optical energy as input and provide optical data as output to an optical link. The plurality of back end interfaces are configured to connect to a plurality of sensors. Each of the plurality of back end interfaces are configured to provide sensor power to the plurality of sensors and receive sensor data from the plurality of sensors. The control circuit is configured to provide power from the front end interface to the plurality of back end interfaces and to provide the sensor data from the plurality of back end interfaces to the front end interface.
Claims13
A remote data concentrator comprising:
- a front end interface configured to receive optical energy as input and provide link optical data as output to an optical link;
- a plurality of back end optical interfaces configured to connect to a plurality of sensors, wherein each of the plurality of back end optical interfaces are configured to provide sensor power as optical power to the plurality of sensors and receive sensor data as optical data from the plurality of sensors;
- and
- a control circuit configured to provide power from the front end interface to the plurality of back end optical interfaces and to provide the sensor data from the plurality of back end optical interfaces to the front end interface;
- wherein the front end interface includes a power converter configured to convert the optical energy from the optical link into electrical energy and provide the electrical energy to the control circuit;
- and
- wherein the control circuit comprises a plurality of controllers configured to each connect to a respective one of the plurality of back end optical interfaces, and wherein each of the plurality of controllers includes a power unit configured to store the electrical energy from the front end interface and provide stored electrical energy to the plurality of back end optical interfaces.
A method for interfacing an optical link with one or more sensors, the method comprising:
- receiving, using a front end interface of a remote data concentrator, link optical energy from the optical link;
- converting, using the front end interface, the link optical energy into electrical energy;
- storing, by a control circuit of the remote data concentrator, the electrical energy, wherein the control circuit includes a plurality of controllers configured to each connect to a respective one of a plurality of back end interfaces;
- providing stored electrical energy from each of the plurality of controllers to each of the respective ones of the plurality of back end interfaces;
- providing, using the remote data concentrator, the power to the one or more sensors using the plurality of back end interfaces;
- receiving, using the plurality of back end interfaces, sensed data from the one or more sensors;
- and
- outputting the sensed data optically, using the remote data concentrator, to the optical link.
A remote sensing system comprising:
- an optical link;
- a plurality of remote sensors configured to obtain sensed data;
- and
- a data concentrator comprising:
- a first interface configured to receive power from the optical link;
- a plurality of controllers configured to store the power received from the optical link;
- a second interface configured to provide the power to the plurality of remote sensors and receive the sensed data from the plurality of remote sensors, wherein the second interface includes a plurality of back end interfaces that each receive the power from a respective one of the plurality of controllers;
- wherein the first interface is further configured to provide the sensed data optically to the optical link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.