Abstract
This article presents simultaneous data and power transmission systems using a double-clad fiber (DCF). In future radio-over-fiber (RoF) networks, a large number of remote antenna units (RAUs) will be required to provide various kinds of mobile communication services. Power-over-fiber (PWoF), which delivers electrical power to drive the RAUs in optical fibers, is an attractive technique that offers cost-effective installation, operation, and maintenance of RAUs, and achieves the power savings across the entire RoF networks. In particular, the use of double-clad fibers (DCFs), which consist of a single-mode (SM) core and an inner cladding that surrounds the SM core, are useful for much higher power transmission than conventional PWoF techniques. Along the DCF link, optical data signals are transmitted into the SM core, whereas high-power feed light for optical powering is transmitted into the inner cladding, which has a core area that is approximately 240 times larger core area than that of conventional SM cores. In this article, we experimentally demonstrate a PWoF feed with up to 150-W of power using a 1-km DCF. To show the feasibility of the PWoF system, we investigate the bend performance and temperature characteristics of the DCF link. We also evaluate data and power transmission performance under the 150-W PWoF feed in the DCF link.
Highlights
O PTICAL transmission systems are expected to play an important role in supporting multiple wired and wireless internet services in future communication networks [1], [2]
We focused on exploring the possibilities of the PWoF technique using a double-clad fiber (DCF) for 150-W power feed, which is much higher than those of our previous works
The silicon-based photovoltaic power converters (PPCs) that we used have their highest O/E conversion efficiencies within a wavelength range between 900 nm and 980 nm [26], [27], which was the outside the suitable wavelength of the feed light source at 808 nm
Summary
O PTICAL transmission systems are expected to play an important role in supporting multiple wired and wireless internet services in future communication networks [1], [2]. If power can be precisely modulated over the variations in traffic load, it is expected that the overall network power consumption will be efficiently reduced In this scheme, the power supply equipment except for photovoltaic power converters (PPCs), which convert optical power into electrical power, can be removed from the RAUs. it will be possible to greatly simplify the configuration and power supply equipment of the RAUs. As optical fibers are nonconductive power lines, unlike electrical cables, PWoF is useful for avoiding lightning damage to the electrical equipment connected to optical fibers, such as the COs. the power that is required to drive a conventional small-cell-type RAU spans at least several watt classes. In the DCF links, the optical data signals were propagated in the SM core without modal dispersion, whereas the high-power feed light was delivered through the inner cladding with a core effective area that was greater than that of the SM core.
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