综述了现有各种光学电功率传感器的传感机理和主要特点, 提出了电功率传感器研究中存在的问题、方法和研究方向。光学电功率传感器一般具有测量范围大、响应频带宽和电气绝缘能力强等优点。根据光载波中是否含有电功率调制信号, 可将光学电功率传感器分为直接调制型和间接调制型两类；与光学电压、电流传感信号相比, 直接调制型光学电功率传感信号更加微弱, 且其有功功率传感信号为直流信号, 易与光载波强度波动混淆。对于单晶体型电功率传感器, 一般要求传感介质兼具线性电光、磁光效应, 或者具有双横向电光Pockels或Kerr效应；此外, 选择传感介质时应全面考虑其多重光学效应及其相互关系, 并应考虑如何避免或抑制传感信号的温度漂移。光学电功率传感器在智能电网、微波功率及电磁脉冲功率测量等领域具有潜在的应用前景。

Sensing principles and characteristics of some optical electric-power sensors are reviewed, and some typical problems, solutions, and research proposals are summarized and analyzed. Main advantages of optical electric-power sensors include large measurement range, broadband frequency response, and good electrically insulating capability. Optical electric-power sensors can be classified into two types according to different light modulating approaches, i.e. direct modulation and indirect modulation. Compared with conventional optical voltage and current sensing signals, the optical electric-power sensing signal is much weaker and the active power sensing signal is a direct current signal. It is difficult to distinguish the direct current sensing signal from fluctuation of the probing light intensity. The sensing material of a single crystal-based electric-power sensor should exhibit both electro-optic and magneto-optic effects, or dual transverse electro-optic Pockels or Kerr effects. In addition, we should consider multiple optical effects in sensing crystals and their mutual interference, and how to avoid or suppress the temperature drift of sensing signal. Optical electric-power sensors have potential applications to smart power grid, microwave and electro-magnetic pulse power measurement.