Optical fiber can be used to transmit power using a photovoltaic cell to convert the light into electricity. While the efficiency is not nearly that of electricity (the efficiency of the photovoltaic is around 40 to 50%), it is especially useful in situations where it is desirable not to have a metallic conductor as in the case of use near MRI machines, which produce strong magnetic fields.
Fiber connections can be used for various types of connections. For example, most high definition televisions offer a digital audio optical connection. This allows the streaming of audio over light, using the TOSLink protocol.
October 12, 2011