Sandia National Laboratories’ engineers develop power-over-fiber (PoF) communications cables based on total electrical isolation.
Titus Appel, left, and Steve Sanderson of Sandia National Laboratories’ mobility analysis and technical assessment division display a first-generation power-over-fiber cable that converts a signal from electrical-to-optical-to-electrical, thus emulating an electrical cable in total isolation.
The hybrid cable design was formulated by Sanderson, Titus Appel and Walter Wrye. Patent approval is expected for this design.
The cable is expected to replace the existing copper cables, promoting safety and security for aviation, explosives, medical devices and explosion-proof devices.
The PoF cable is provided with pin and socket connectors and its end resembles a typical copper electrical cable. The fiber optic transmission of optical power and data communications is facilitated through optical interface circuits integrated into a backshell. The circular stacked circuit boards with LEDs are enclosed within the backshell. Integration with plastic optical fibers enables communications, whereas optical power is generated through the coupling of a miniaturized photovoltaic-type cell and a laser diode with the ends of a single glass fiber.
Glass fibers will serve as a key resource for the next version. Observations were carried out with fireset powered- PoF low-energy detonator firing cable incorporated into the backshell. The fireset is optically controlled, with an in-built microcontroller for maintaining charging voltages, detonator resistance, and temperature. It also serves as a communicator to fire the detonator. Its efficiency is further improved with several automated mechanisms.
Research is being carried out with new packaging layouts, advanced microcontrollers, and new optical devices, in order to make the cable more compact and portable. In addition, a rugged, modified PoF cable is being designed to reduce the weight and length of the backshell, thereby making it cost-effective.