Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B10/00—Transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio-waves, e.g. infrared, visible or ultraviolet light, or employing corpuscular radiation, e.g. quantum communication
  • H04B10/80—Optical aspects relating to the use of optical transmission for specific applications, not provided for in groups H04B10/03 - H04B10/70, e.g. optical power feeding or optical transmission through water
  • H04B10/806—Arrangements for feeding power
  • H04B10/808—Electrical power feeding of an optical transmission system
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B10/00—Transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio-waves, e.g. infrared, visible or ultraviolet light, or employing corpuscular radiation, e.g. quantum communication
  • H04B10/80—Optical aspects relating to the use of optical transmission for specific applications, not provided for in groups H04B10/03 - H04B10/70, e.g. optical power feeding or optical transmission through water
  • H04B10/806—Arrangements for feeding power
  • H04B10/807—Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04Q—SELECTING
  • H04Q11/00—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
  • H04Q11/0001—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems using optical switching
  • H04Q11/0062—Network aspects
  • H04Q11/0067—Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04Q—SELECTING
  • H04Q11/00—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
  • H04Q11/0001—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems using optical switching
  • H04Q11/0062—Network aspects
  • H04Q2011/0069—Network aspects using dedicated optical channels
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04Q—SELECTING
  • H04Q11/00—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
  • H04Q11/0001—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems using optical switching
  • H04Q11/0062—Network aspects
  • H04Q2011/0079—Operation or maintenance aspects

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to a device for converting light energy into electrical energy and its application to the remote power supply and / or the remote control of remote active optical components in an optical telecommunication network.
• telecommunication networks are divided into three parts: the core network, the metropolitan network and the access network.
• optical fiber will become a preferred transmission medium for the access network just as it already is for core and metropolitan networks. Since the optical fiber is a predominant transport medium for telecommunication networks, many optical functions such as distribution or switching, for example, punctuate said networks and the question of the power supply of the optical components performing these functions is at the center of many reflections. .
• Such optical components, called active optical components comprise at least one optical input and at least one optical output that are distinct from one another and provide, between this optical input and this optical output, an optical function. The extension of the optical fiber to the access network will only reinforce this state of affairs.
• the local power supply consists of placing a source of electrical energy near the active optical component (s) to be powered.
• the energy source consists of a connection to a distribution network electricity.
• the various equipment, such as the transformer, the rectifier or the DC-DC converter and the battery backup are stored in a cabinet arranged on the sidewalks.
• an autonomous source of the photovoltaic type In places where operating conditions are favorable, energy is provided by an autonomous source of the photovoltaic type.
• This energy source consists of a plurality of photovoltaic cells associated with a regulator and a storage battery. The proper functioning of such an energy source is a function of the climatic conditions which limits its geographical scope of use.
• the local power supply of the active optical components of the network has a number of drawbacks in particular in terms of cost and complexity of wiring. This complexity of wiring leads to a lack of reliability while the dependence on the electrical distribution network generates a lack of flexibility in the choice of the location of the optical components within the telecommunications network.
• This solution consists of passing the electrical energy required for the operation of the active optical components via a copper pair from a remote energy source.
• the energy source may be located in a central office, optical distribution zone input, or from the subscriber. Depending on the location of the energy source, it can be doubled by a generator serving as a backup source.
• this feeding technique has several disadvantages.
• a first drawback is the influence of parameters such as the electromagnetic environment or the humidity of the medium in which the cables circulate. For this, it is necessary to protect them against electromagnetic waves, rising and falling of voltage and against short circuits between pairs. However, this protection has a significant cost.
• a second disadvantage lies in the necessary presence of voltage converters and electronic control cards near the active optical components to power, these equipment being energy consumers. Indeed, the electrical voltage delivered by an electricity distribution network being 48 V, it must be reduced in order to power an active optical component without damaging it due to an unsuitable voltage.
• the present invention therefore aims to provide a solution for the power supply of active optical components punctuating an optical network that does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.
• the invention proposes a remote power supply device for at least one active optical component characterized in that it comprises at least one passive energy conversion module, said energy conversion module ensuring the conversion of a light energy energy for supplying said active optical component.
• the power supply device of the various active optical components of the network uses the optical fibers already present in the network, or a dedicated fiber as a transport medium, to draw the necessary energy to the operation of the active optical components marking said network of the conversion of the light energy thus conveyed into electrical energy.
• the network is simplified by removing the copper pair used to transport electrical energy.
• the energy conversion module comprises at least one photovoltaic component.
• said device comprises a passive amplifier circuit of at least one electrical quantity for amplifying the electrical power delivered at the output of the energy conversion module.
• the invention also relates to a device for remote control of at least one active optical component characterized in that it comprises local power supply means connected to said active optical component, a passive energy conversion module and at least one switch device for to be controlled by said energy conversion module.
• the energy conversion module comprises at least one photovoltaic component.
• a telecommunication network equipped with such remote control devices whose purchase price is low, sees its consumption of electrical energy decrease significantly. Indeed, the remote control technique using an electrical distribution network operates by means of active elements that consume a lot of energy.
• the switch device advantageously consists of a phototransistor.
• This embodiment makes it possible to simplify the optical telecommunication network, to reduce its cost and to reduce the optical power necessary for the operation of said network.
• the invention also relates to an optical telecommunication network comprising at least one optical source, at least one active optical component to be powered, and at least one optical fiber for transporting the light energy from the optical source to said active optical component. , characterized in that it comprises at least one energy conversion module comprising at least one photovoltaic component, said energy conversion module ensuring the conversion of a light energy into electrical energy, said electrical energy being used to power said active optical component.
• the energy is conveyed in a dielectric support, the optical fiber, insensitive to electromagnetic environments.
• the invention therefore applies particularly advantageously in areas where the constraints related to strong magnetic fields pose power supply problems of some active optical components.
• the light energy can be conveyed via an optical fiber carrying data or a fiber dedicated to remote power supply.
• the embodiment using an optical fiber data is advantageous because it allows to use an existing support which allows a significant saving.
• the invention also relates to an optical network comprising at least one optical telecommunication source, at least one active optical component to be remotely controlled, and at least one optical fiber for transporting the light energy from the optical source to said active optical component. , characterized in that it comprises at least one energy conversion module comprising at least one photovoltaic component, said module of energy conversion ensuring the conversion of light energy into electrical energy, said electrical energy being used to control said active optical component.
• FIG. 1 represents a telecommunications network according to the invention operating on the principle of a dedicated optical fiber illuminating an energy conversion module intended to supply electrical energy to an active optical component;
• FIG. telecommunications according to the invention operating on the principle of a dedicated optical fiber illuminating an energy conversion module composed of N photovoltaic components,
• FIG. 3A represents a telecommunications network according to the invention in which the energy conversion module consists of a photovoltaic component connected to a passive electric power amplifier circuit,
• FIG. 3B represents a telecommunications network according to the invention in which the energy conversion module consists of two photovoltaic components connected to an active electrical power amplifier circuit,
• FIG. 4 represents a telecommunications network according to the invention using as support an optical fiber of data in which at least one optical channel is allocated to the lighting of an energy conversion module,
• FIG. 5 represents a telecommunications network according to the invention using as support a data optical fiber in which the energy conversion module consists of a plurality of photovoltaic components
• FIG. 6A represents a telecommunications network according to the invention using as support an optical fiber of data in which the energy conversion module consists of a photovoltaic component connected to a passive electric power amplifier circuit
• FIG. 6B represents a telecommunications network according to the invention using as support a data optical fiber in which the energy conversion module consists of two photovoltaic components connected to an active electrical power amplifier circuit
• FIG. 7 represents a telecommunications network according to the invention using as support an optical fiber of data in which at least one optical channel is allocated to the lighting of an energy conversion module intended to control an active optical component .
• dashed lines represent electrical circuits and solid lines, optical circuits.
• Optical networks are equipped with optical functions to ensure their operation. These optical functions are performed by active optical components with very low power consumption, of the order of a few tens of milliwatts. This is one of the reasons why optical networks lend themselves to remote power. Such active optical components are, for example, variable optical couplers.
• the light energy carried by optical fibers present in the telecommunication network is converted into electrical energy.
• This conversion is performed by means of an energy conversion module having the particularity of being passive, that is to say not requiring power supply to operate.
• Figure 1 generally illustrates a telecommunications network in which the invention is implemented.
• a luminous flux for the power supply of an active optical component FO1 is transported in at least one dedicated optical fiber FTai.
• the FTai optical fiber only conveys the optical flux intended for the power supply of the active optical component FO1 and no data flow.
• the dedicated fiber FTai is connected to a passive optical component OP "an input to N outputs" where N corresponds to the number of inputs of a module MC1 energy conversion to be illuminated.
• the number of inputs of the conversion module MC1 to be illuminated depends on the energy requirements of the active optical component FO1 to be powered.
• the number N of inputs of the conversion module MC1 varies.
• the device "an input to N outputs” OP is, for example, a passive optical coupler " I to N" or a demultiplexer in wavelengths
• each input of the conversion module MC1 is connected to its own optical fiber and is illuminated by the same wavelength
• each input of the conversion module MC1 is illuminated by a wavelength of its own.
• the energy conversion module MC1 is electrically connected with the active optical component FO1 to be powered.
• the active optical component FO1 is connected to at least one optical fiber FDi ⁇ ensuring the routing of the incoming data streams to said optical component FO1, and to at least one outgoing optical fiber FD 1s ensuring the distribution of the outgoing data flows according to of their destination in the network.
• the number of incoming optical fibers FDi ⁇ and the number of outgoing optical fibers FDi 3 connected to the active optical component FO1 depend on the type of function performed by it. For example, if the active optical component FO1 is a variable optical coupler "I to 2", it is connected to an incoming optical fiber and two outgoing optical fibers.
• the energy conversion device MC1 is illuminated by an optical source OS1 by means of the dedicated optical fiber FTai.
• the optical source OS1 consists for example of a laser, an amplifier, or a laser and an amplifier. This optical source OS1 is located for example at the central office but could also be in an intermediate energy station.
• the optical power necessary for the routing of data streams is low.
• Such optical power is not sufficient to remote power an active optical component, that is why when the invention is applied to the remote power supply of active optical components located in an access network, as is the case with the various modes.
• the luminous flux intended to illuminate the conversion module MC1 is conveyed by a dedicated optical fiber in which a suitable optical power is sent.
• the optical source OS1 is, most often solely dedicated to remote power supply. It is then necessary to provide a second optical source
• a single optical source serves both remote power supply and sending data streams in the network.
• FIG. 2 shows a first particular embodiment of the invention.
• the energy conversion module MC1 consists of a plurality of photovoltaic components PH 2 , passive connected in series or in parallel in order to respectively amplify the value of the voltage or the value of the current delivered.
• the number of photovoltaic modules PH2 to be illuminated depends on the energy requirements of the active optical component FO2 to supply to which they are electrically connected.
• a photovoltaic component is for example a photodiode.
• the device for feeding an optical component active FO3 consists of a single photovoltaic component PH31 connected to a dedicated optical fiber FTa 3 .
• the optical power transported by the dedicated fiber FTa 3 is injected into the photovoltaic component PH 3 I which is connected to an amplifier circuit CA3 for amplifying the electrical power delivered by said photovoltaic component PH 31 , the amplifier circuit CA3 being, preferably, a passive circuit.
• the amplification circuit CA3 is connected to the active optical component FO3 to feed in order to deliver the amplified electric power, said passive optical component is also connected to at least one incoming optical fiber FD 3e , and at least one outgoing optical fiber FD 3s .
• the embodiment shown in Figure 3B is a variant of the embodiment shown in Figure 3A. It differs from this in that the amplifier circuit CA3 is an active circuit, that is to say that it requires a contribution, even very low, in electrical energy to operate. It is then necessary to introduce a second photovoltaic component PH 32 into the electric power supply device. The role of this second photovoltaic component PH 32 is to provide the energy necessary for the operation of the amplifier circuit CA3. For this, an optical coupler OC3 "one to two" for distributing the flux from the optical source OS3 on the two photovoltaic components PH 3 I and PH 32 is arranged at the end of fiber FTa 3 .
• FIGS. 4, 5, 6A and 6B illustrate four other networks in which the luminous flux intended for the power supply of the active optical components is transported in the same optical fiber as that carrying the data streams.
• These systems are preferably intended for remote power supply in long-distance networks, such as the core network, where the data is transported through a high optical power.
• the networks represented generally in FIG. 4 and more particularly in FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B use as device “1 to N "a demultiplexer in wavelengths D ,. Indeed, such a device “1 to N” is capable of separating the data flows from the streams intended for remote power supply according to their wavelengths.
• a data fiber FD4, FD5, FD6 arrives at the input of a demultiplexer D, which extracts the wavelength (s) intended for remote power supply of an active optical component FO4, FO5 , FO6 located nearby.
• an energy conversion module MC4 is electrically connected to the active optical component FO4 to be powered, itself connected to at least one FD optical fiber 4e ensuring the routing of incoming data streams to said active optical component FO4, and at least an outgoing optical fiber FD 4s distributing the outgoing data flows according to their destination in the network.
• the energy conversion module MC4 consists of a plurality of photovoltaic components PH5, connected in series or in parallel in order to respectively amplify the value of the voltage or the value of the delivered current.
• FIG. 6A represents a second particular embodiment in which the energy conversion device MC4 consists of a single active optical component PH 61 connected to a passive amplifier circuit CA6 whose operating principle has been described above.
• FIG. 6B illustrates the case of the active amplifier circuit CA6.
• the wavelengths intended for Remote power supply is provided by an optical source separate from that for sending the data.
• the light fluxes from these two distinct optical sources pass through the same data optical fibers.
• the energy used to electrically power an optical component also makes it possible to control it.
• This embodiment applies for example to the remote control / remote power supply of an optical coupler with variable optical power distribution.
• a variable optical coupler is an active optical component that makes it possible to vary the percentage of light transmitted by each of its outputs respectively from 0 to 100% and from 100 to 0%.
• Such a component makes it possible, among other things, to distribute the optical power according to the distance of the users with respect to the optical source, to favor, if necessary, one of its outputs rather than another, or else recovering the optical power of a user with low optical losses to supply another user with larger optical losses.
• the value of the output current of the feed device used must be variable.
• the power supply device uses an energy conversion module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic components
• the optical power sent by an optical source to illuminate said photovoltaic components
• the value of the electric current delivered to supply the variable coupler varies. and therefore the optical coupler is controlled at the same time and by the same way as that used to feed it.
• the active optical component is controlled by varying the optical power of the transmitting optical source located in a remote central office.
• the invention also applies to the remote control of active optical components independently of the power supply of said passive optical components.
• the active optical component remote control does not require the sending of high optical power in the network, therefore the luminous flux for remote control of active optical components is advantageously transported in optical fibers for the transport of optical components. data flow.
• the wavelength or wavelengths dedicated to the remote control transit via a data fiber FD 7 and then are separated from the wavelengths of data by a demultiplexer D 7 arranged near an optical component.
• FO7 active to control said active optical component FO7 being connected to at least one optical fiber FD 7e data routing incoming data streams to said active optical component FO7, and at least one outgoing optical fiber FD 7s ensuring the distribution outgoing data flows according to their destination in the network.
• the remote control wavelength (s) are injected into an energy conversion module MC7.
• the energy conversion module MC7 consists, for example, of at least one photovoltaic component PH 71 .
• a power supply is provided by a local energy source L when it is necessary for the operation of the active optical component FO7 to be remotely controlled.
• the local energy source L consists for example of lithium batteries or a panel of photovoltaic cells exposed in the open air and associated with a charge accumulator.
• the power supply circuit is closed or opened using a switch T operated by the energy conversion module MC7.
• the illumination state of the energy conversion module MC7 makes it possible to control the active optical component FO7.
• the switch T is constituted by a transistor.
• the transistor and the energy conversion module MC7 are replaced by a phototransistor which will fulfill both the energy converter function and the switch function.
• the device presented here has the advantage of not using an electricity distribution network and has no energy consuming element between the local power source and the optical function to be controlled.
• An example of using a remote control device is the protection or restoration of an optical path.
• the protection of a network consists of doubling the main optical route connecting the central office with the distribution point (example). Indeed, a failure intervening at this level deprives all users of the data.
• This type of protection uses "one-to-two" and "two-to-one" switches to switch instantly to the protection bracket.
• an optical switch does not need to be permanently powered, it is a component that requires enough power to activate. However, since it requires very little electrical energy, it can be powered by means of a battery Lithium whose lifespan can be up to ten years taking into account the frequency of use of optical switches in an optical link.
• the optical source OS7 arranged at the optical center and whose function is to emit the remote control wavelength is an optical time domain reflectometer or OTDR ⁇ Optical Time Domain Reflectometer.
• the use of an optical reflectometer as a source of emission of the remote control wavelength has many advantages, especially from an economic point of view. Indeed, the reflectometers are light sources already present in the network where they make it possible to determine, by a so-called reflectometry technique, whether an optical fiber constitutive of the network presents a defect or a break which could lead to a bad transmission of the data. Such a study of the integrity of the optical fibers constituting the network is performed regularly, for example every three hours and lasts a few minutes. Thus, such a reflectometer can be used for other purposes the rest of the time.
• bistable optical components can also be remotely controlled by means of a device according to the invention.
• Such components may be, among others, variable optical attenuators or VOA ⁇ Variable Optical Attenuato ⁇ whose function is to equalize the optical power associated with each optical signal of data transmitted by terminal equipment of the network, such as user equipment to the central optical. Indeed, depending on the distance to the optical center of the different user equipment, the optical power associated with each of the optical data signals varies which causes a disturbance of the reception of these signals by the optical center.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Optical Communication System (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-09-06 FR FR0552694A patent/FR2890508A1/fr active Pending
• 2006
  • 2006-09-06 EP EP08155069A patent/EP1947785A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-09-06 US US11/991,582 patent/US20100014867A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-09-06 WO PCT/FR2006/050848 patent/WO2007028927A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2006-09-06 EP EP06808287A patent/EP1932258A2/de not_active Withdrawn

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