Recent Advancement in Power-over-Fiber Technologies

Motoharu Matsuura

doi:10.3390/photonics8080335

Abstract

Power-over-fiber is a power transmission technology using optical fibers that offers various features not available in conventional power lines, such as copper wires. The basic configuration of power-over-fiber comprises three key components: light sources, optical fibers, and photovoltaic power converters. This review article presents the features of power-over-fiber and its key components. Moreover, recent advancement in power-over-fiber technologies based on their latest results is introduced, focusing primarily on papers presented at the Optical Wireless and Fiber Transmission Conferences (OWPT) from 2019 to 2021.

Highlights

Power-over-fiber (PWoF) has a considerable mature technology, and its research and development have been conducted since the late 1970s [1,2]
This article reviews the latest advancement in PWoF technologies, especially focusing primarily on papers presented at the Optical Wireless and Fiber Transmission Conferences (OWPT) [4] from 2019 to 2021, which included topics pertaining to high-power lasers, photovoltaic power converters (PPCs), optical wireless and fiber power transmission systems, and wireless power transmission systems
The delivered electric power and power transmission efficiency are the two important factors. The former is an indicator of the amount of transmittable electric power, whereas the latter is an indicator of the efficiency of electric power transmission

Summary

Introduction

Power-over-fiber (PWoF) has a considerable mature technology, and its research and development have been conducted since the late 1970s [1,2]. This article reviews the latest advancement in PWoF technologies, especially focusing primarily on papers presented at the Optical Wireless and Fiber Transmission Conferences (OWPT) [4] from 2019 to 2021, which included topics pertaining to high-power lasers, PPCs, optical wireless and fiber power transmission systems, and wireless power transmission systems. This international conference was held for the first time in 2019 in Yokohama, Japan.

Features of PWoF

Light Sources

Optical Fibers and Connectors

Optical-to-Radio Converter Module