Integrated optical fiber and electro-optical converter

• US 20060088251A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, U.S.A., Inc. (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Emcore Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Xiaozhong, Yuen, Albert T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4202 for coupling an active element with fibres without intermediate optical elements, e.g. fibres with plane ends, fibres with shaped ends, bundles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables

Abstract

A fiber optic communications cable for providing a short range, high speed data communications link between information system units, including an optical fiber with an integral housing at each end having an electrical connector extending from the housing and adapted to mate with a corresponding electrical connector on an external information system unit for transferring an information signal between the cable and the unit. A signal converter in the integral housing'"'"'s converts the information signal between an electrical signal and a corresponding optical signal.

Claims

1. A communications cable for providing a short range, high speed data communications link between information system units comprising:

an integral housing including

an electrical connector extending from the housing and adapted to mate with a corresponding electrical connector on an external information system unit for transferring an information signal between the cable and the unit;

a signal converter connected to the electrical connector for converting an information signal between an electrical signal and a corresponding optical signal; and

an optical fiber coupled to said signal converter and extending from the housing for transmitting an optical signal over a distance between the external unit and a first remote information system unit.

2. A communications cable as defined in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is an Infiniband connector.

3. A communications cable as defined in claim 1, further comprising an electrical cable connected to said electrical connector and extending from said housing for transmitting an electrical signal over a distance between the external unit and said remote information system unit.

4. A communications cable as defined in claim 1, further comprising an electrical cable connected to said electrical connector and extending from said housing for transmitting an electrical signal over a distance between the external unit and a second remote information system unit.

5. A communications cable as defined in claim 4, wherein said electrical cable carries an electrical signal corresponding to the optical signal.