Methods for optically powering transducers and related transducers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9525312-B2
Application number	US-201514840819-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2015
Priority date	Aug 21, 2009
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a method for optically powering transducers and related transducers with a photovoltaic collector. An optical fiber power delivery method 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.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for optically powering a transducer, comprising:
directing optical energy at a transducer through an optical fiber;
providing a monitoring system having a multi-functional light source connected to the optical fiber to direct optical energy to the transducer and to support an optical data link between the transducer and the monitoring system; and
using the multi-functional light source to provide light for a non-communication function,
wherein the monitoring system detects a spectrum of light returning through the optical fiber from the transducer.

2. The method according to claim 1 , the directing optical energy further comprising providing optical energy of wavelength between around 800 nm and around 1600 nm.

3. A method for powering an optically powered transducer, comprising:
directing optical energy at an optically powered transducer in absence of an optical fiber arrangement;
providing a monitoring system having a multi-functional light source to direct optical energy to the transducer;
using the multi-functional light source to provide light for a non-communication function; and
transmitting information to the monitoring system through outgoing light from the optically powered transducer.

4. The method according to claim 3 , the directing optical energy further comprising providing optical energy of wavelength between around 800 nm and around 1600 nm.

5. The method for optically powering a transducer of claim 1 , wherein using the multi-functional light source to provide light for the non-communication function includes performing optical spectroscopy.

Assignees

• California Inst Of Techn

Inventors

• Scherer Axel
• Rajagopal Aditya
• Kim Seheon
• Homyk Andrew P

Classifications

• H02J2105/46

  Medical devices, medical implants or life supporting devices · CPC title

• H03F2203/45702

  the LC comprising two resistors · CPC title

• H02S40/38

  Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules · CPC title

• Y02E10/52

  PV systems with concentrators · CPC title

• H03F3/082

  with FET's (H03F3/085 takes precedence) · CPC title