Photonic power solutions are useful for delivering power to sensors for industrial monitoring applications and for test and measurement applications. By providing isolated power over a noise-immune, spark-free, non-conductive optical fiber, photonic power solutions are ideal for sensor applications such as EMI test and measurement.
Electrical circuits produce electric and magnetic fields that radiate radio frequency (RF) energy that increase the possibility of electronics exceeding regulated EMI limits. Magnetic or electric field probes are utilized in EMI testing to quantify emission levels and help identify EMI sources. The power for the probes used in this testing is usually provided via batteries. When the batteries require recharging, the testing is halted and the batteries are recharged or replaced. Battery recharging disrupts test continuity adding substantial amounts of time to the test cycle.
Photonic power can serve as an isolated power supply to drive the EMI probes, thereby offering a very pure power source that eliminates the need for batteries. An all-fiber solution can power the probe while sending back sampling data at very high rates to facilitate performance measurement. As a result, EMI testing can be completed more efficiently and more cost effectively in a significantly shorter period of time.
Photonic power offers the following cost and performance advantages for EMI measurement applications:
- isolated power immune to noise, EMI, and RF effects
- emission-free power source for enhanced measurement accuracy
- reduced cost and test time by eliminating need for battery power
- flexible means of powering electronics and transmitting digital or analog data over the same fiber medium.