ELECTRIC POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM USING OPTICAL POWER TRANSFER

摘要

An apparatus and method for optical-power-transfer (OPT). A light source converts electrical energy into light, and the light is transmitted from the active layer of the light source directly to the active layers of a series of photovoltaic (PV) devices without first passing through a conduction layer of the PV device. Thus, absorption in the conduction layer is avoided, and the efficiency of the OPT system is improved. The PV devices are configured to each generate equal current, and the PV devices are electrically connected in series. PV devices are arranged in series with light first propagating through PV devices closer to the light source, and farther PV devices having a longer propagation length, such that the light absorbed and current generated by each PV device is equal to the other PV devices. In one implementation, the PV devices are configured in a laser cavity with the light source.

主权项

1. An optical-power-transfer (OPT) apparatus, comprising:
a light source configured to convert electrical energy into light; and a plurality of photovoltaic device, each having an active region interposed between a respective first conduction region and a respective second conduction region, the active region arranged to receive the light from the light source without the light first propagating through either the respective first conduction region or the respective second conduction region, and converting the light received in the active region into electrical energy, wherein the plurality of photovoltaic devices are electrically connected in series.