Optically powered optically controlled optical switch
View Patent ↗Systems and methods are described for optically powered optically controlled optical switches. A method includes powering an optical switch with a communications data signal; and controlling the optical switch with the communications data signal. An apparatus includes a primary optical input port; a secondary optical input port; an optical tap coupled to the primary optical input port; an optical switch coupled to the optical tap and to the secondary optical input port; an optical-to-electrical signal converter coupled to the optical tap; a control circuit coupled to the optical-to-electrical signal converter and to the optical switch; an electrical energy storage circuit coupled to the control circuit; an optical-to-electrical power converter coupled to the electrical energy storage circuit and to the optical switch; and an optical output port coupled to the optical switch, wherein the optical-to-electrical signal converter can transform, to electrical energy, optical energy from a communications data signal that arrives at the optical tap.
1. A method, comprising:
powering an optical switch with a communications data signal including a primary communication data signal and a secondary communications signal; and
controlling the optical switch with the communications data signal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the optical switch includes controlling the optical switch with the primary communications data signal.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein powering the optical switch includes powering the optical switch with the secondary communications data signal.
4. An optically powered and optically controlled optical switch module, comprising:
a primary optical input port;
a secondary optical input port;
an optical tap coupled to the primary optical input port;
an optical switch coupled to the optical tap and to the secondary optical input port;
an optical-to-electrical signal converter coupled to the optical tap;
a control circuit coupled to the optical-to-electrical signal converter and to the optical switch;
an electrical energy storage circuit coupled to the control circuit;
an optical-to-electrical power converter coupled to the electrical energy storage circuit and to the optical switch; and
an optical output port coupled to the optical switch,
wherein the optical-to-electrical signal converter can transform, to electrical energy, optical energy from a communications data signal that arrives at the optical tap.
5. A fiber optic network, comprising the an optically powered and optically controlled optical switch module including:
a primary optical input port;
a secondary optical input port;
an optical tap coupled to the primary optical input port;
an optical switch coupled to the optical tap and to the secondary optical input port;
an optical-to-electrical signal converter coupled to the optical tap;
a control circuit coupled to the optical-to-electrical signal converter and to the optical switch;
an electrical energy storage circuit coupled to the control circuit;
an optical-to-electrical power converter coupled to the electrical energy storage circuit and to the optical switch; and
an optical output port coupled to the optical switch,
wherein the optical-to-electrical signal converter can transform, to electrical energy, optical energy from a communications data signal that arrives at the optical tap.