JP2001037105A - Light power-feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve safety when a light power transmission means fails by controlling the break of the generation of a light power in the light power generation means based on a detected voltage value. SOLUTION: It becomes possible to discriminate if a photoelectric conversion means 21 is operating normally according to the change in a control signal 7, or is not operating normally according to the generation of failure in a light power transmission means 3. The control signal 7 is transmitted to a light power break means 13 of a light power supply means 1 by a control signal transmission means 6. The light power break means 13 breaks a power-feeding circuit from a power supply means 11 to a light power generation means 12 if the received control signal 7 corresponds to a value for preventing the preset photoelectric conversion means 21 from being regarded as in a normal operation state when a light power 4 is being transmitted from the light power supply means 1, and stops the generation of the light power 4 by the light power generation means 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical power supply device for converting optical power into electric power and supplying the electric power to a load device.
In particular, the present invention relates to a technique that is effective when applied to an optical power feeding device installed in a place where the risk of an accident due to leakage of transmitted optical power to the outside is high.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an optical power feeder that converts optical power into electric power and supplies the electric power to a device (load device) that consumes the electric power is caused by the fact that a line in an electric power feeding method is conductive. It is used as a power supply method capable of preventing adverse effects such as electric leakage and electromagnetic induction noise, and capable of electrically insulating equipment installed in a place where power cannot be taken, such as a remote place or underwater, or a chemical plant.

[0003] A conventional optical power feeder is, for example, shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, an optical power supply means 1 for generating an optical power 4, an optical power conversion means 2 for converting the optical power 4 into electric power and supplying the electric power to a load device 5, and an optical power supply means 1
And the optical power transmitting means 3 for transmitting the optical power 4 to the optical power converting means 2.

The optical power supply means 1 has a power supply means 11 for supplying electric power for generating the optical power 4, and an optical power generation means 12 for generating the optical power 4 with the supplied power. The optical power conversion means 2 has an optical power 4
To the electric power. A light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser capable of obtaining a large amount of light power is used for the light power generation means 12 in order to obtain power to be supplied to the load device 5. A device in which a large number of photoelectric conversion elements such as solar cells are connected in series or in parallel is used.

That is, in the optical power supply device, the optical power supply means 1 generates the optical power 4 by the optical power generation means 12 by the electric power supplied from the power supply means 11, and the generated optical power 4 is transmitted to the optical power conversion means 2 by the optical power transmission means 3 such as an optical fiber. The optical power 4 transmitted to the optical power conversion means 2 is converted into electric power by the photoelectric conversion means 21 and the load device 5 is operated with the converted electric power.

[0006] An optical power supply apparatus in which the optical power conversion means 2 is provided with a power storage means for storing the power converted by the photoelectric conversion means 21 is proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-125417.

In the optical power feeding device provided with the power storage means, the amount of power supplied from the photoelectric conversion means 21 is reduced when the power consumption of the load device 5 fluctuates with time. If the amount of power consumption is larger than that, the power storage means such as a capacitor is charged with excess power not consumed by the load device 5 and the excess power is stored. The power stored in the power storage means is stored in the load device 5
Is discharged when the power consumption of the power supply becomes larger than the power supplied from the photoelectric conversion means 21, and the shortage of the power supplied from the photoelectric conversion means 21 can be compensated. Therefore, the amount of power required by the load device 5 can always be supplied.

[0008]

However, in the conventional optical power feeding device, since the operating states of the optical power converting means 2 and the load device 5 cannot be grasped from the optical power supplying means 1, the optical power feeding means 1 cannot be used. The optical power 4 is unilaterally and continuously transmitted from the supply means 1. Therefore, the optical power transmitting means 3 for transmitting the optical power 4
When an abnormality occurs in, for example, breakage or disconnection, not only it becomes impossible to supply power from the optical power conversion means 2 to the load device 5 but also the optical power transmission means 3 The optical power 4 leaks to the outside from a break or a break.

Since the optical power 4 is a laser beam for obtaining the power consumed by the load device 5, leakage of the optical power 4 to the outside may cause an obstacle to a human body, a chemical plant or gasoline. In an environment where explosive gas is present, such as a stand, there is a risk of causing an explosion accident or a fire, and there is a problem in safety.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of improving security when an abnormality occurs in an optical power transmitting means for transmitting optical power. The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, the outline of a representative one will be briefly described.
It is as follows. (1) An optical power generating means for generating optical power, a power supply means for supplying electric power to the optical power generating means, and a photoelectric conversion means for converting the optical power into electric power are provided. An optical power supply device for supplying the converted power to a load device, wherein when the optical power generation unit is generating optical power, a unit for detecting a voltage value at both ends of the photoelectric conversion unit, An optical power cut-off unit for shutting off generation of optical power in the optical power generation unit based on the detected voltage value is provided.

(2) Optical power generating means for generating optical power, power supply means for supplying power to the optical power generating means, photoelectric converting means for converting the optical power into electric power, and photoelectric converting means A power storage unit for storing the converted power, wherein the power storage unit supplies the power converted by the photoelectric conversion unit or the power stored in the storage unit to a load device; Power backflow prevention means for preventing backflow of electric power from the photoelectric conversion means, and means for detecting a voltage value at both ends of the photoelectric conversion means when the optical power generation means is generating optical power, An optical power cut-off means for shutting off the generation of the optical power by the optical power generation means based on the detected voltage value.

(3) Optical power generation means for generating optical power, power supply means for supplying power to the optical power generation means, and photoelectric conversion means for converting the optical power into electric power, An optical power supply device for supplying the power converted by the conversion unit to a load device, wherein the unit detects a voltage value across the photoelectric conversion unit when the optical power generation unit is generating optical power. Control signal generating means for generating a control signal depending on the detected voltage value, control signal transmitting means for transmitting the generated control signal to the optical power generating means side, and the transmitted control signal Optical power cutoff means for controlling the generation of optical power by the optical power generation means based on the output power.

(4) Optical power generating means for generating optical power, power supply means for supplying power to the optical power generating means, photoelectric converting means for converting the optical power into electric power, and the photoelectric converting means A power storage unit for storing the converted power, wherein the power storage unit supplies the power converted by the photoelectric conversion unit or the power stored in the storage unit to a load device; Power backflow prevention means for preventing backflow of electric power from the photoelectric conversion means, and means for detecting a voltage value at both ends of the photoelectric conversion means when the optical power generation means is generating optical power, Control signal generating means for generating a control signal depending on the detected voltage value; control signal transmitting means for transmitting the generated control signal to the optical power generating means; It is obtained by a light power interrupting means for interrupting controlling generation of light power in the optical power generating means based on the control signal.

(5) In the optical power feeding device of the means (4), the control signal generating means is provided closer to the photoelectric conversion means than the power backflow prevention means.

(6) In the optical power feeding device of the means (3) to (5), the control signal generating means generates a control signal having an intensity proportional to a voltage value between both ends of the photoelectric conversion means. is there.

(7) In the optical power feeding device according to any one of the means (3) to (5), the control signal generating means has a threshold voltage, and generates an optical signal having an intensity proportional to the voltage value above the threshold voltage. The optical signal generating means is provided, and the optical signal generating means is connected in parallel with the photoelectric conversion means.

(8) In the optical power feeding device of the means (7), the optical signal generating means generates an optical signal having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the optical power generated by the optical power generating means.

(9) In the optical power feeding device according to the means (7) or (8), the optical signal generating means is a light emitting diode.

(10) In the optical power feeding device according to the means (7) or (8), the light signal generating means has a light emitting diode and a constant voltage diode connected in series.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail together with embodiments (examples) with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings for describing the embodiments (examples), those having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their repeated description will be omitted.

[0022]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical power feeding apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an optical power supply unit, 2 is an optical power conversion unit, 3 is an optical power transmission unit,
Is optical power, 5 is load device, 6 is control signal transmission means, 7
Is a control signal, 11 is a power supply unit, 12 is an optical power generation unit, 13 is an optical power cutoff unit, 21 is a photoelectric conversion unit,
22 is a power storage means, 23 is a power backflow prevention means, and 24 is a control signal generation means.

The optical power feeding device according to the first embodiment has the structure shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the optical power supply unit 1, the optical power conversion unit 2, and the optical power transmission unit 3 for transmitting the optical power 4 generated by the optical power generation unit 12 to the photoelectric conversion unit 21.

The optical power supply means 1 includes a power supply means 11 for supplying power for generating the optical power 4 and an optical power generation means 12 for generating the optical power 4 with the power supplied from the power supply means 11. Having.

The optical power converting means 2 comprises: a photoelectric converting means 21 for converting the optical power 4 generated by the optical power generating means 12 into electric power; a power storage means 22 for storing the electric power converted by the photoelectric converting means 21; There is provided a power backflow prevention unit 23 for preventing the power stored in the power storage unit 22 from flowing back to the photoelectric conversion unit 21. The power converted by the optical power conversion means 2 is supplied to a load device 5.

The optical power conversion means 2 has voltage value detection means for detecting a voltage value at both ends of the photoelectric conversion means 21, and a control signal for generating a control signal 7 depending on the detected voltage value. A generating unit 24 is provided. The optical power supply unit 1 generates the optical power 4 when the photoelectric conversion unit 21 cannot be regarded as a normal operation state based on the control signal 7 and the optical power generating unit 12 generates the optical power 4. In this case, an optical power cutoff means 13 for stopping the generation of the optical power 4 (cutoff control) is provided. The control signal 7 is transmitted by the control signal transmitting means 6.

The operation of the optical power feeding device according to the first embodiment will be described below. First, in the optical power supply unit 1, the power supplied from the power supply unit 11
The optical power 4 is generated by the optical power generating means 12 such as a laser element. The generated optical power 4 is transmitted to the optical power conversion means 2 by the optical power transmission means 3 such as an optical fiber. The light power 4 transmitted to the light power conversion means 2 is converted into electric power (electric energy) by the photoelectric conversion means 21 such as a solar cell, and the converted electric power is supplied to the load device 5. .

Here, the photoelectric conversion means 21 is used because the power consumption of the load device 5 varies with time.
Is larger than the power consumption of the load device 5, excess power not consumed by the load device 5 is charged and stored in the power storage means 22. The power stored in the power storage unit 22 is discharged when the power consumption of the load device 5 increases and becomes larger than the power amount supplied from the photoelectric conversion unit 21, and the power stored in the power storage unit 22 is discharged from the photoelectric conversion unit 21. Make up for the shortage of supplied power. Therefore, the amount of power required by the load device 5 can always be supplied (see Japanese Patent Application No. 11-125417).

At this time, the control signal generating means 24
The voltage at both ends of the photoelectric conversion means 21 is always detected, and a control signal 7 depending on the detected voltage value is generated.
When an abnormality such as breakage or disconnection occurs in the optical power transmission unit 3 for transmitting the optical power 4, the intensity of the optical power 4 incident on the photoelectric conversion unit 21 changes.
The voltage value at both ends of the photoelectric conversion means 21 also changes to a value that cannot be considered as a normal operation state.

Therefore, it is possible to determine from the change of the control signal 7 whether the photoelectric conversion means 21 is in a normal operation state or the optical power transmission means 3 is in an abnormal operation state due to an abnormality. Becomes The control signal 7
Is transmitted by the control signal transmission means 6 to the optical power cutoff means 13 of the optical power supply means 1.

When the optical power cut-off means 13 is transmitting the optical power 4 from the optical power supply means 1, the received control signal 7 indicates that the previously set photoelectric conversion means 21 is in a normal operating state. If the value corresponds to a value that cannot be considered as a value, the power supply circuit from the power supply unit 11 to the optical power generation unit 12 is cut off, and the optical power generation unit 1
The generation of the optical power 4 in 2 is stopped.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control signal generating means 24 is provided closer to the photoelectric conversion means 21 than to the power backflow prevention means 23 for preventing the backflow of power from the power storage means 22 to the photoelectric conversion means 21. Thus, the power storage means 22
Photoelectric conversion means 21 without being affected by the terminal voltage of
Can be accurately detected. As the power backflow prevention means 23, a backflow prevention diode or the like is used.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the optical power generation unit 1 is generating the optical power 4, the control signal generation unit 24 generates the photoelectric conversion unit 21. A control signal 7 depending on the voltage value at both ends is transmitted to the optical power cutoff means 13 and the control signal 7
However, when the photoelectric conversion unit 21 corresponds to a value that cannot be regarded as a normal operation state, the optical power cutoff unit 13 can stop the generation of the optical power 4 in the optical power generation unit 12. That is, when an abnormality occurs in the optical power transmission means 3 for transmitting the optical power 4, the abnormality can be detected and the generation of the optical power 4 in the optical power generation means 12 can be stopped. Thus, it is possible to obtain a highly safe optical power feeding device in which the optical power 4 such as laser light does not leak out from the broken or broken portion of the optical power transmitting means 3.

The operation of stopping the transmission of the optical power 4 when an abnormality occurs in the optical power transmission means 3 based on the control signal 7 is performed by the optical power supply means 1 as in the first embodiment. The present invention can be applied to the case where the optical power 4 is continuously transmitted to the optical power conversion means 2 and the power storage means such as the case where the power consumption of the load device 5 is small as proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-191972. The present invention can also be applied to a case where the optical power 4 is intermittently transmitted by effectively utilizing the means 22.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical power feeding apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, wherein 25 is an optical signal generating means, 8 is an optical signal transmitting means,
9A is an optical signal.

The optical power feeding device according to the second embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, and the control signal 7 uses an optical signal having an intensity proportional to the voltage value above a certain threshold voltage. It is.

In the optical power feeding apparatus of the second embodiment, instead of the control signal generating means 24 of the first embodiment, an optical signal generating means 25 having a specific threshold voltage is used. Is greater than or equal to the threshold voltage of the optical signal generating means 25, an optical signal 9A having an intensity proportional to the voltage value across the photoelectric conversion means 21 is generated. The optical signal 9A is transmitted to the optical power cutoff unit 13 by an optical signal transmission unit 8 such as an optical fiber.

When the optical power generating means 12 generates the optical power 4, the optical power cutoff means 13 sets the intensity of the received optical signal 9 A to the normal value of the photoelectric conversion means 21 which is set in advance. When the voltage falls below a value corresponding to the lower limit voltage value during the operation, the power supply circuit from the power supply unit 11 to the optical power generation unit 12 is cut off, and the optical power in the optical power generation unit 12 is reduced. 4 is stopped.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the optical power generating means 12 is generating the optical power 4, the optical signal generating means 25 generates the optical signal 4. An optical signal 9A having an intensity proportional to the voltage value at both ends is transmitted to the optical power cutoff means 13, and the optical signal 9A is set to a value corresponding to a lower limit voltage value when the photoelectric conversion means 21 operates normally. When the power falls below the threshold value, the generation of the optical power 4 in the optical power generation means 12 can be stopped by the optical power cutoff means 13. That is,
When an abnormality occurs in the optical power transmission unit 3 for transmitting the optical power 4, the abnormality can be detected and the generation of the optical power 4 in the optical power generation unit 12 can be stopped. It is possible to obtain a highly safe optical power feeding device in which the optical power 4 such as a laser beam does not leak out from the broken or broken portion of the optical power transmission means 3.

As means for detecting a voltage between both ends of the photoelectric conversion means 21 and generating a signal having an intensity proportional to the voltage value, a specific threshold voltage is provided. By using the optical signal generating means 25 for generating the optical signal 9A having an intensity proportional to the following, the power is hardly consumed below the threshold voltage of the optical signal generating means 25. Power can be supplied to the load device 5 more effectively than in the case where the load device 5 is used.

The operation of stopping the transmission of the optical power 4 when an abnormality occurs in the optical power transmission means 3 based on the optical signal 9A is performed by the optical power supply means 1 as in the second embodiment. The present invention can be applied to the case where the optical power 4 is continuously transmitted to the optical power conversion means 2 and the power storage means such as the case where the power consumption of the load device 5 is small as proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-191972. The present invention can also be applied to a case where the optical power 4 is intermittently transmitted by effectively utilizing the means 22.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical power feeding apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The optical power feeding apparatus according to the third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the optical signal generator 25 generates an optical signal 9B having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the optical power 4, as shown in FIG. That is. Therefore, the optical signal 9 </ b> B is transmitted to the optical power cutoff unit 13 while also using the optical power transmission unit 3 that transmits the optical power 4.
The basic operation of the optical power feeding device according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the optical power feeding device described in the second embodiment, and thus the detailed description thereof is omitted.

Also in the optical power feeding apparatus of the third embodiment, both ends of the photoelectric conversion means 21 generated by the optical signal generation means 25 when the optical power generation means 12 generates the optical power 4. Is transmitted to the optical power cut-off means 13, and the optical signal 9B falls below a value corresponding to the lower limit voltage value when the photoelectric conversion means 21 operates normally. In this case, the generation of the optical power 4 in the optical power generation means 12 can be stopped by the optical power cutoff means 13. That is, when an abnormality occurs in the optical power transmission means 3 for transmitting the optical power 4, the abnormality can be detected and the generation of the optical power 4 by the optical power generation means 12 can be stopped. It is possible to obtain a highly safe optical power feeding device in which the optical power 4 such as laser light does not leak out from the broken or broken portion of the optical power transmitting means 3.

As means for detecting a voltage between both ends of the photoelectric conversion means 21 and generating a signal having an intensity proportional to the voltage value, a specific threshold voltage is provided. By using the optical signal generating means 25 which generates an optical signal 9B having an intensity proportional to the wavelength of the optical power 4 and a wavelength different from the wavelength of the optical power 4, power is hardly consumed below the threshold voltage of the optical signal generating means 25. As compared with the case where an electrically complicated terminal voltage detection circuit or the like is used, power can be supplied to the load device 5 more effectively, and the optical signal 9B is transmitted to the optical power transmission unit 3. Since transmission can be performed using the optical power feeding apparatus, it is possible to obtain a more economical optical power feeding apparatus as compared with the case of the second embodiment.

The operation of stopping the generation of the optical power 4 when an abnormality occurs in the optical power transmission means 3 based on the optical signal 9B is performed by the optical power supply means 1 as in the third embodiment. The present invention can be applied to the case where the optical power 4 is continuously transmitted to the optical power conversion means 2 and the power storage means such as the case where the power consumption of the load device 5 is small as proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-191972. The present invention can also be applied to a case where the optical power 4 is intermittently transmitted by effectively utilizing the means 22.

(Example) An example of the optical power feeding apparatus shown in the third embodiment will be described below. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) having a capacitance of 1 Farad (F) is used as the power storage means 22 and a resistance element is used as the load device 5 in a pseudo manner. Further, a light emitting diode (LED) is used as the optical signal generating means 25.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing characteristics of the light emitting diode used in the optical power feeding device of the present embodiment, and FIG.
Shows voltage-current characteristics, and FIG. 4B shows voltage-emission intensity characteristics.

The light emitting diode used in this embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the threshold voltage is about 1.6 volts (V).
When the voltage exceeds the threshold voltage, a current flows through the light emitting diode and light is emitted. The relationship between the terminal voltage of the light emitting diode and the light emission intensity at a voltage value equal to or higher than the threshold voltage is a proportional relationship as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, since the lower limit voltage value at which the photoelectric conversion means 21 can be considered to be operating normally is 1.7 volts (V), the emission intensity corresponding to the lower limit voltage value is shown in FIG. ) Was set to 0.1 (arbitrary unit).

In the optical power feeding device having such a configuration, when the optical power supply means 1 sends out the optical power 4, the light emission intensity of the light emitting diode corresponds to a preset lower limit voltage value. The value 0.1
When the value falls below (arbitrary unit), the power supply circuit from the power supply means 11 to the light power generation means 12 is cut off by the light power cutoff means 13 and the light power supply means 1 to the light power conversion means 2 Of the optical power 4 is stopped.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the optical power cutoff means used in the optical power feeding device of the present embodiment.
13 shows an example of the case of the optical power feeding device shown in the third embodiment. In FIG. 5, 13A is a phototransistor, 13B is an amplifier, 13C is a comparator, and 13D is NAN.
A logic circuit combining two D circuits, 13E is a cutoff switch.

The optical power cutoff means 13 will now be described with reference to FIG.
The operation of will be described. The optical signal 9B transmitted from the optical signal generating means 25 to the optical power cut-off means 13 is first converted into an electric signal by the phototransistor 13A, then amplified by the amplifier 13B, and supplied from the amplifier 13B to the electric signal having the voltage value V1. Is output as

The electric signal of the voltage value V1 output from the amplifier 13B is compared in the comparator 13C with a set voltage value VR1 corresponding to a value that the photoelectric conversion means 21 cannot be regarded as in a normal operation state. As a result of the comparison by the comparator 13C, when the voltage value V1 is greater than the set voltage value VR1, the comparator 13C outputs an electric signal having a voltage value V2 of 0 volt (V), and the voltage value V1 is When the voltage value is smaller than the set voltage value VR1, the comparator 13C outputs an electric signal having a voltage value V2 of 5 volts (V).

The electric signal of the voltage value V2 output from the comparator 13C is input to a logic circuit 13D in which two NAND circuits are combined. When the optical power supply unit 1 is transmitting the optical power 4, that is, when the optical power generation unit 12 is in a light emitting state, a voltage value V3 is applied to one input of each NAND circuit by 5 volts (V). ) Is always input.

In the logic circuit 13D, the NAN
Only when the voltage value V3 of the electric signal input to one input of the D circuit is 5 volts (V) and the voltage value V2 of the electric signal output from the comparator 13C is 0 volts (V), the voltage value V4 Output an electrical signal of 0 volts (V). The voltage value V2 of the electric signal output from the comparator 13C and the voltage value V3 of the electric signal input to one input of the NAND circuit
In other cases, the logic circuit 13D outputs an electric signal having a voltage value V4 of 5 volts (V).

The electric signal of the voltage value V4 output from the logic circuit 13D is input to the cutoff switch 13E. The cutoff switch 13E is open when the voltage value V4 is 5 volts (V), and the power supply circuit from the power supply unit 11 to the optical power generation unit 12 is cut off. A non-light emitting state is set. On the other hand, when the voltage value V4 is 0 volt (V), the cutoff switch 13E is closed and the optical power generation unit 12 is closed.
Becomes a light emitting state.

When a power supply control circuit or the like is additionally provided, 5 volts (V) is applied when the optical power generating means 12 is in a light emitting state, and 0 volts (V) is applied when the optical power generating means 12 is in a non-emitting state. Output from the power supply control circuit.

FIG. 6 shows the optical power cutoff means 13 of this embodiment.
It is a figure which shows operation | movement. The voltage value V3 of the electric signal input to one input of the logic circuit 13D is 5 volts (V)
Only when the voltage value V2 of the electric signal output from the comparator 13C is 0 volt (V), the voltage value V4 of the electric signal output from the logic circuit 13D becomes 0 volt (V). The optical power generation means 12 is in a light emitting state. When the voltage value V3 of the electric signal input to one input of the logic circuit 13D is 5 volts (V),
When the voltage value V2 of the electric signal output from 3C is 5 volts (V), that is, the voltage value V1 of the electric signal output from the amplifier 13B cannot be regarded as a normal operation state of the photoelectric conversion means 21. Set voltage value V corresponding to the value
When the voltage is lower than R1, the voltage V4 of the electric signal output from the logic circuit 13D becomes 5 volts (V), and the optical power generation unit 12 is in a non-light emitting state.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
When the optical power generation unit 12 is in the light emitting state, the intensity of the received optical signal 9B corresponds to the lower limit voltage value when the photoelectric conversion unit 21 is operating normally. When the value falls below 0.1 (arbitrary unit), the power supply unit 1 outputs the optical power generation unit 12.
By interrupting the power supply circuit to the optical power generation unit 12 so as not to emit light, the transmission of the optical power 4 from the optical power supply unit 1 to the optical power conversion unit 2 can be stopped. That is, when an abnormality occurs in the optical power transmission means 3 for transmitting the optical power 4, the abnormality can be detected and the transmission of the optical power 4 from the optical power supply means 1 can be stopped. Thus, it is possible to obtain a highly safe optical power converter in which the optical power 4 such as laser light does not leak out from the broken or broken portion of the optical power transmission means 3.

Further, since an electric double layer capacitor is used as the power storage means 22 and a light emitting diode is used as the optical signal generating means 25, power is hardly consumed below the threshold voltage of the light emitting diode. It is possible to more effectively supply power to the load device 5 as compared with a case where a simple terminal voltage detection circuit or the like is used.

In this embodiment, a light emitting diode for generating the optical signal 9B is used as the optical signal generating means 25. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a light emitting diode for generating the optical signal 9B and a constant voltage diode are connected in series. You may use what was done.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing voltage-current characteristics when a light emitting diode and a constant voltage diode are connected in series. When a light emitting diode and a constant voltage diode are connected in series, as shown in FIG. 7, about 3.0 volts (V)
When the current flows at a threshold voltage or more, light is emitted.

In the case where a light emitting diode and a constant voltage diode are connected in series as the optical signal generating means 25, the optical power generating means 12 generates the optical power 4 similarly to the above embodiment. When the light emission intensity of the light emitting diode falls below a value corresponding to a preset lower limit voltage value at which the photoelectric conversion means 21 can be considered to be operating normally, the power supply means 1
The power supply circuit from 1 to the optical power generation means 12 is cut off,
The generation of the optical power 4 by the optical power generating means 12 can be stopped. The threshold voltage of the light signal generating means 25 can be arbitrarily set by variously changing the combination of the light emitting diode and the constant voltage diode.

The power storage means 22 is not limited to the above embodiment, but may be any as long as it can store or supply a necessary amount of power. Further, the power storage means 22 may be not only one kind but also a plurality of kinds.
For example, if a storage battery and an electric double layer capacitor are combined, the load ratio of the storage battery at the time of load change is reduced, resulting in a more reliable device. Further, not only the unidirectional power supply from the optical power supply means 1 to the optical power conversion means 2 but also the optical power supply means 1 and the optical power conversion means 2
A device capable of transmitting an optical signal between the devices can also be improved.

At the start of the transmission of the optical power from the optical power supply means 1 to the optical power conversion means 2, if the power storage means 22 is in an uncharged state and the charging current is flowing through the power storage means 22, Even when the photoelectric conversion means 21 is in a normal operation state, its terminal voltage transiently increases from 0 volts (V) and reaches a terminal voltage value that can be regarded as normal operation after a certain period of time. Therefore, in starting the use of the optical power feeding device according to the present invention, taking the above into consideration, the optical power cutoff means 13 is operated for an appropriate period.
The system needs to be temporarily released.

Although not described as an embodiment,
After the A / D conversion of the voltage values at both ends as a cutoff control signal depending on the voltage values at both ends of the photoelectric conversion means 21,
The same effect can be obtained even if the optical power is transmitted to the optical power supply unit 1 as a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal or a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) signal and the optical power 4 transmitted from the optical power supply unit 1 is cut off. Can be In this case, the cutoff control signal transmitted from the optical power conversion means 2 to the optical power supply means 1 may be transmitted as an electric signal, or may be transmitted as an optical signal as in the above embodiment.

When the cutoff control signal is transmitted as an optical signal, the optical power supply means 1 detects the alternating current (modulation) component of the optical signal so that the wavelength of the optical signal becomes the wavelength of the optical power 4. It is possible to transmit by one optical power transmission unit 3 even if the same.

As described above, the present invention is applied to the above embodiment (example).
However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment (example), and it is needless to say that various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When an abnormality such as breakage or disconnection occurs in the optical power transmission unit, the transmission of the optical power from the optical power supply unit to the optical power conversion unit is stopped. Can be prevented from leaking to the outside. Thereby, safety can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an optical power feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an optical power feeding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an optical power feeding device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating characteristics of a light emitting diode used in an optical power feeding device according to an example of Embodiment 3;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an optical power cutoff unit used in the optical power supply device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the optical power cutoff means of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing characteristics when a light emitting diode and a constant voltage diode are combined.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional optical power feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical power supply means, 2 ... Optical power conversion means, 3 ... Optical power transmission means, 4 ... Optical power, 5 ... Load device, 6 ... Control signal transmission means, 7 ... Control signal, 8 ... Optical signal transmission means,
9A, 9B: optical signal, 11: power supply means, 12: optical power generation means, 13: optical power cutoff means, 21: photoelectric conversion means, 22: power storage means, 23: power backflow prevention means, 2
4 control signal generating means, 25 optical signal generating means, 13A
... Phototransistor, 13B ... Amplifier, 13C ... Comparator, 13D ... Logic circuit, 13E ... Interruption switch.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masato Mino 2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 5G003 AA06 CB05 DA06 EA09 FA04

Claims (10)

[Claims] An optical power generating unit configured to generate optical power; a power supply unit configured to supply power to the optical power generating unit; and a photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert the optical power into electric power. An optical power feeding device for supplying power converted by the means to a load device, wherein when the optical power generating means is generating optical power, means for detecting a voltage value at both ends of the photoelectric conversion means. An optical power supply device, comprising: an optical power cutoff unit that cuts off the generation of optical power in the optical power generation unit based on the detected voltage value. 2. An optical power generation unit for generating optical power, a power supply unit for supplying power to the optical power generation unit, and a photoelectric conversion unit for converting the optical power to electric power.
A power storage unit that stores the power converted by the photoelectric conversion unit, and supplies the power converted by the photoelectric conversion unit or the power stored in the power storage unit to a load device. A power backflow prevention unit for preventing a backflow of power from the power storage unit to the photoelectric conversion unit; and detecting a voltage value at both ends of the photoelectric conversion unit when the optical power generation unit is generating optical power. And an optical power cutoff unit that cuts off the generation of optical power by the optical power generation unit based on the detected voltage value. 3. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1, further comprising: an optical power generation unit configured to generate optical power; a power supply unit configured to supply power to the optical power generation unit; and a photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert the optical power into electric power. An optical power feeding device for supplying power converted by the means to a load device, wherein when the optical power generating means is generating optical power, means for detecting a voltage value at both ends of the photoelectric conversion means. A control signal generating means for generating a control signal depending on the detected voltage value, a control signal transmitting means for transmitting the generated control signal to the optical power generating means, and a control signal transmitting means for transmitting the control signal based on the transmitted control signal. An optical power feeding device, comprising: an optical power cutoff unit that cuts off control of generation of optical power by the optical power generation unit. 4. An optical power generation unit for generating optical power, a power supply unit for supplying power to the optical power generation unit, and a photoelectric conversion unit for converting the optical power to electric power.
A power storage unit that stores the power converted by the photoelectric conversion unit, and supplies the power converted by the photoelectric conversion unit or the power stored in the power storage unit to a load device. A power backflow prevention unit for preventing a backflow of power from the power storage unit to the photoelectric conversion unit; and detecting a voltage value at both ends of the photoelectric conversion unit when the optical power generation unit is generating optical power. Means for generating a control signal depending on the detected voltage value, control signal transmitting means for transmitting the generated control signal to the optical power generating means side, and the transmitted control An optical power feeding device, comprising: an optical power cutoff unit that cuts off the generation of optical power in the optical power generation unit based on a signal. 5. The optical power feeding device according to claim 4, wherein the control signal generating means is provided closer to the photoelectric conversion means than the power backflow preventing means. apparatus. 6. The optical power feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the control signal generating means generates a control signal having an intensity proportional to a voltage value between both ends of the photoelectric conversion means. An optical power feeding device, comprising: 7. The optical power feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the control signal generating means has a threshold voltage, and has an intensity proportional to the voltage value above the threshold voltage. An optical power feeding device, comprising: an optical signal generating means for generating an optical signal, wherein the optical signal generating means is connected in parallel with the photoelectric conversion means. 8. The optical power feeding device according to claim 7, wherein the optical signal generating means generates an optical signal having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the optical power generated by the optical power generating means. Optical power feeding device. 9. The optical power feeding device according to claim 7, wherein the optical signal generating means is a light emitting diode. 10. The optical power feeding device according to claim 7, wherein said optical signal generating means is a device in which a light emitting diode and a constant voltage diode are connected in series. Power supply.