Patent ID: 7009378

Claim:
A time division multiplexed optical voltage measuring system comprising: a light source for generating a primary pulsed light wave having a selected pulse width and duty cycle; an optical voltage sensing system module including, (i) a plurality of optical sensors, N, wherein each n th sensor includes, (a) a receiving input for receiving an interrogation light wave, and (b) at least one emitting output for emitting a first sensor output light wave having optical characteristics derived from said interrogation light wave and in response to any sensed electric field thereat, and where said plurality of optical sensors are spatially located at a location where a voltage is intended to be measured, and where said voltage intended to be measured is a function of the sensor output light waves from selected ones of the N optical sensors, (ii) an optical circuit arrangement having, an input for receiving a module specific pulsed light wave derived from said primary pulsed light wave, and arranged such that each of said N optical sensors receives an interrogation pulsed light wave derived from said module specific pulsed light wave at differing times, and (iii) at least a first optical wave combiner having at least N inputs, where an n th input is coupled to a corresponding emitting output of an nth sensor for receiving a sensor output light wave therefrom; at least a first detector having, a detector input coupled to said first optical wave combiner output, and a detector output for producing an electrical detector output signal representative of any light at its input; and an electrical signal processor responsive to said electrical detector output signal for deriving said voltage intended to be measured as a function of received sensor output light waves from said plurality of sensors.