Monolithic active optical cable assembly for data device applications and various connector types
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a communication cable including at least one optical communication channel; and
cable connectors coupled to either end of the communication cable, wherein the communication cable and the cable connectors form a monolithic cable assembly, each of the cable connectors including;
a physical end connector for electrically coupling to a data device connector;
optoelectronic components for converting data signals between an electrical realm and an optical realm; and
a passively aligned integrated lens cover disposed over at least a portion of the optoelectronic components, the integrated lens cover including at least one optical pathway for coupling optical data signals between the at least one optical communication channel and the optoelectronic components, wherein the cable connectors to connect to a data device connector of a data device including a control logic to alter a communication protocol of signals generated by the data device, the signals altered based on whether the monolithic cable assembly including the optoelectronic components or an electrical cable assembly without active optoelectronic components is coupled to the data device connector, the data device not included in a transceiver or multiplexer to transmit or receive optical signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A monolithic cable assembly includes a communication cable and cable connectors coupled to either end of the communication cable. The communication cable includes at least one optical communication channel. The cable connectors include a physical end connector for electrically coupling to a data device connector, optoelectronic components for converting data signals between an electrical realm and an optical realm, and a passively aligned integrated lens cover. The integrated lens cover includes at least one optical pathway for coupling optical data signals between the at least one optical communication channel and the optoelectronic components.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a communication cable including at least one optical communication channel; and cable connectors coupled to either end of the communication cable, wherein the communication cable and the cable connectors form a monolithic cable assembly, each of the cable connectors including; a physical end connector for electrically coupling to a data device connector; optoelectronic components for converting data signals between an electrical realm and an optical realm; and a passively aligned integrated lens cover disposed over at least a portion of the optoelectronic components, the integrated lens cover including at least one optical pathway for coupling optical data signals between the at least one optical communication channel and the optoelectronic components, wherein the cable connectors to connect to a data device connector of a data device including a control logic to alter a communication protocol of signals generated by the data device, the signals altered based on whether the monolithic cable assembly including the optoelectronic components or an electrical cable assembly without active optoelectronic components is coupled to the data device connector, the data device not included in a transceiver or multiplexer to transmit or receive optical signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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using a control logic in a data device to alter a communication protocol of data signals generated by the data device, the signals altered based on whether a monolithic cable assembly including optoelectronic components or an electrical cable without optoelectronic components is coupled to a data device connector coupled to the data device, the data device not included in a transceiver or multiplexer to transmit or receive optical signals; receiving first electrical data signals via the data device connector of the data device at a first cable connector of the monolithic cable assembly; converting at least a portion of the electrical data signals into optical data signals via first optoelectronic components disposed within the first cable connector; launching the optical data signals into at least one optical communication channel passively aligned with the first optoelectronic components; guiding the optical data signals from the first cable connector to a second cable connector of the monolithic cable assembly via the at least one optical communication channel; and converting the optical data signals to second electrical data signals via second optoelectronic components disposed within the second cable connector. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system, comprising:
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a communication cable including at least one optical communication channel; cable connectors coupled to either end of the communication cable, wherein the communication cable and the cable connectors form an active optical monolithic cable assembly; and a first device embedded within a processing system and coupled to one of the cable connectors, wherein the first device is configured to generate signals and to alter the signals to be transmitted over the active optical monolithic cable assembly dependent upon a determination by control logic whether an electrical cable assembly or the active optical monolithic cable assembly is coupled to the first device, the first device not included in a transceiver or multiplexer to receive or transmit optical signals. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification