Combined optical and electrical transmission assembly and module

• US 20080310848A1
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Cable Limited (Proterial Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Cable Limited (Proterial Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Masahiko, Yasuda, Hiroki, Hirano, Koki
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/115
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4403 with ribbon structure G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables

Abstract

A combined optical and electrical transmission assembly includes a combined optical, electrical and power cable having an optical fiber, electrical wiring and a power line combined therein or a combined optical and electrical cable having an optical fiber and electrical wiring combined therein, and a combined optical and electrical transmission module that includes an electrical-to-optical conversion unit having a laser for converting electrical signals to optical signals and a driving IC for driving the laser, and/or an optical-to-electrical conversion unit having a photodiode for converting optical signals to electrical signals and an amplification IC for amplifying electrical signals from the photodiode. The combined optical and electrical transmission module is connected to both ends of the combined optical, electrical and power cable or the combined optical and electrical cable. The combined optical and electrical transmission modules are each connected with an electrical cable for transmitting electrical signals with an external device and a power cable for transmitting power. The length of the power cable is shorter than that of the electrical cable.

Claims

1. A combined optical and electrical transmission assembly, comprising:

a combined optical, electrical and power cable comprising an optical fiber, electrical wiring and a power line combined therein or a combined optical and electrical cable comprising an optical fiber and electrical wiring combined therein; and

a combined optical and electrical transmission module comprising an electrical-to-optical conversion unit comprising a laser for converting electrical signals to optical signals and a driving IC for driving the laser, and/or an optical-to-electrical conversion unit comprising a photodiode for converting optical signals to electrical signals and an amplification IC for amplifying electrical signals from the photodiode, wherein the combined optical and electrical transmission module is connected to both ends of the combined optical, electrical and power cable or the combined optical and electrical cable, and the combined optical and electrical transmission modules are each connected with an electrical cable for transmitting electrical signals with an external device and a power cable for transmitting power, and the length of the power cable is shorter than that of the electrical cable.

2. A combined optical and electrical transmission assembly, comprising:

a combined optical, electrical and power cable comprising an optical fiber, electrical wiring and a power line combined therein; and

a combined optical and electrical transmission module comprising an electrical-to-optical conversion unit comprising a laser for converting electrical signals to optical signals and a driving IC for driving the laser, and/or an optical-to-electrical conversion unit comprising a photodiode for converting optical signals to electrical signals and an amplification IC for amplifying electrical signals from the photodiode,

wherein power cables branch off from both ends respectively of the combined optical, electrical and power cable, and combined optical and electrical cables, as which the combined optical, electrical and power cable is left by the power cables branching off therefrom, are each connected with the combined optical and electrical transmission module, and the combined optical and electrical transmission module is connected with an electrical cable for transmitting electrical signals with an external device.

3. The combined optical and electrical transmission assembly according to claim 2, wherein:

the length of the power cables branching off from the combined optical, electrical and power cable is shorter than that from a position that the power cables branch off from the combined optical, electrical and power cable, to electrical connectors provided at tips of the electrical cables connected to the combined optical and electrical transmission modules.

4. A combined optical and electrical transmission module, comprising:

a combined optical, electrical and power cable comprising an optical fiber, electrical wiring and a power line combined therein or a combined optical and electrical cable comprising an optical fiber and electrical wiring combined therein; and

an electrical-to-optical conversion unit comprising a laser for converting electrical signals to optical signals and a driving IC for driving the laser, and/or an optical-to-electrical conversion unit comprising a photodiode for converting optical signals to electrical signals and an amplification IC for amplifying electrical signals from the photodiode,

wherein the combined optical and electrical transmission module is connected with an electrical cable for transmitting electrical signals with an external device, and a film type optical waveguide is disposed inside the combined optical and electrical transmission module, and the combined optical, electrical and power cable and the electrical cable transmit signals via the film type optical waveguide.

11. The combined optical and electrical transmission module according to claim 4, wherein:

the combined optical and electrical transmission module is connected to both ends of the combined optical, electrical and power cable, and

the combined optical and electrical transmission module is provided with an electrical connector in place of the electrical cable, and electrically connected with an external device by the electrical connector.

5. A combined optical and electrical transmission module, comprising:

a combined optical, electrical and power cable comprising an optical fiber, electrical wiring and a power line combined therein or a combined optical and electrical cable comprising an optical fiber and electrical wiring combined therein; and

an electrical-to-optical conversion unit comprising a laser for converting electrical signals to optical signals and a driving IC for driving the laser, and/or an optical-to-electrical conversion unit comprising a photodiode for converting optical signals to electrical signals and an amplification IC for amplifying electrical signals from the photodiode,

wherein a film type optical waveguide is disposed inside the combined optical and electrical transmission module, and the electrical-to-optical conversion unit and/or 12 the optical-to-electrical conversion unit is disposed to the film type optical waveguide.

6. The combined optical and electrical transmission module according to claim 5, wherein:

an electrical cable with an electrical connector connected to an external device is connected to a rigid substrate disposed inside the combined optical and electrical transmission module, and the film type optical waveguide disposed on a flexible printed circuit is connected to the rigid substrate by a card edge connector.

7. The combined optical and electrical transmission module according to claim 6, wherein:

an electrical cable with an electrical connector connected to an external device is connected to the rigid substrate, and the film type optical waveguide disposed on the flexible printed circuit is electrically connected to the rigid substrate by an anisotropic conductive resin or non-conductive resin.

8. The combined optical and electrical transmission module according to claim 6, wherein:

the electrical-to-optical conversion unit and/or the optical-to-electrical conversion unit is disposed between the film type optical waveguide and the rigid substrate.

9. A combined optical and electrical transmission module, comprising:

a combined optical, electrical and power cable comprising an optical fiber, electrical wiring and a power line combined therein or a combined optical and electrical cable comprising an optical fiber and electrical wiring combined therein; and

an electrical-to-optical conversion unit comprising a laser for converting electrical signals to optical signals and a driving IC for driving the laser, and/or an optical-to-electrical conversion unit comprising a photodiode for converting optical signals to electrical signals and an amplification IC for amplifying electrical signals from the photodiode,

wherein a voltage converter for converting voltage supplied from outside is disposed inside the combined optical and electrical transmission module, and power is supplied to the driving IC and/or the amplification IC by the voltage converter.

10. The combined optical and electrical transmission module according to claim 9, wherein:

the combined optical and electrical transmission module further comprises a rigid substrate inside thereof,

the rigid substrate comprises an electrical ground layer inside thereof, and

the electrical-to-optical conversion unit and/or the optical-to-electrical conversion unit disposed to the film type optical waveguide is disposed on one side of the rigid substrate, while a voltage converter for converting voltage supplied from outside is disposed on the other side of the rigid substrate.