Combined electric/optic cable and application thereof to the link between a camera head and a control unit

• US 5,150,442 A
• Filed: 03/12/1991
• Issued: 09/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Video Equipment
• Original Assignee: Thomson Video Equipment
• Inventors: Desmons, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US07/668,174
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.10, 350/96.23, 174/70 R, 174/103, 174/104, 174/105 R, 385/100, 385/101, 385/102
• US Class Current: 385/101
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/1891 comprising auxiliary conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/206 Tri-conductor coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/22 Cables including at least one electrical conductor together with optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A combined electric/optic cable has a triaxial cable having, along one and the same central axis, three imbricated, concentric, tubular, electric conductors and a central optic fiber. The present invention may find particular application in high definition television systems.

Claims

1. A combined electrical/optic cable for the transmission of television signals, having a rotationally symmetrical structure and comprising, along one and the same central axis and protected by an external sheath, at least three imbricated, concentric, tubular electrical conductors C1, C2, C3, separated by insulator tubes, the conductor C3 being designed to be grounded, and at least one central optic fiber, with the same axis, designed to transmit video signals.

2. A cable according to claim 1, wherein the electrical conductors C1, C2, C3 constitute a triaxial structure, the two internal conductors C1, C2 having a matched coaxial structure and the third conductor being designed to be grounded.

3. A cable according to either the claims 1 and 2, wherein at least one of the conductors is formed by two conductive coaxial tubes in contact.

4. A cable according to claim 3, wherein said cable links a camera head and a control unit, and wherein the optic fiber is designed for the bidirectional transmission of the video signals between the camera head and the control unit, the conductors C1 and C2 are designed to transmit supply signals from the control unit to the camera head and to transmit auxiliary signals bidirectionally between the control unit and the camera head, and the conductor C3 is connector to ground.

5. A cable according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein said cable links a camera head and a control unit, and wherein the optic fiber is designed for the bidirectional transmission of the video signals between the camera head and the control unit, the conductors C1 and C2 are designed to transmit supply signals from the control unit to the camera head and to transmit auxiliary signals bidirectionally between the control unit and the camera head, and the conductor C3 is connected to ground.

6. A combined electrical/optic cable for the transmission of television signals, having a rotationally symmetrical structure and comprising, along one and the same central axis and protected by an external sheath, at least three imbricated, concentric, tubular electrical conductors C1, C2, C3, separated by insulator tubes, the conductor C3 being designed to be grounded, and at least one central optic fiber, with the same axis, designed to transmit video signals;

wherein said combined electro/optic cable links a camera head and control unit, and wherein the optic fiber is designed for the bidirectional transmission of the video signals between the camera head and the control unit, the conductors C1 and C2 are designed to transmit supply signals from the control unit to the camera head and to transmit auxiliary signals bidirectionally between the control unit and the camera head, and the conductor C3 is connected to ground; and

wherein, for the bidirectional transmission of the video signals in the optic fiber, for each direction of transmission, these signals are first of all digitalized and serialized in a device respectively and then converted into light signals in a laser transmitter, with wavelengths of λ

1 and λ

2 respectively.

7. A combined electrical/optic cable for the transmission of television signals, having a rotationally symmetrical structure and comprising, along one and the same central axis and protected by an eternal sheath, at least three imbricated, concentric, tubular electrical conductors C1, C2, C3, separated by insulator tubes, the conductor C3 being designed to be grounded, and at least one central optic fiber, with the same axis, designed to transmit video signals;

wherein said combined electro/optic cable links a camera head and control unit, and wherein the optic fiber is designed for the bidirectional transmission of the video signals between the camera head and the control unit, the conductors C1 and C2 are designed to transmit supply signals from the control unit to the camera head and to transmit auxiliary signals bidirectionally between the control unit and the camera head, and the conductor C3 is connected to ground;

wherein, for the bidirectional transmission of the video signals in the optic fiber, for each direction of transmission, these signals are first of all digitalized and serialized in a device respectively and then converted into light signals in a laser transmitter, with wavelengths of λ

1 and λ

2 respectively; and

wherein the wavelengths λ

1 and λ

2 are different and wherein the direction of transmission is selected by a coupling device according to the wavelengths, λ

1 and λ

2, said coupling device being placed between the laser transmitter and the optic fiber.

8. A combined electrical/optic cable for the transmission of television signals, having a rotationally symmetrical structure and comprising, along one and the same central axis and protected by an external sheath, at least three imbricated, concentric, tubular electrical conductors C1, C2, C3, separated by insulator tubes, the conductor C3 being designed to be grounded, and at least one central optic fiber, with the same axis, designed to transmit video signals, wherein at least one of the conductors is formed by two conductive coaxial tubes in contact;

wherein said cable links a camera head and a control unit, and wherein the optic fiber is designed for the bidirectional transmission of the video signals between the camera head and the control unit, the conductors C1 and C2 are designed to transmit supply signals from the control unit to the camera head and to transmit auxiliary signals bidirectionally between the control unit and the camera head, and the conductor C3 is connected to ground; and

wherein, for the bidirectional transmission of the video signals in the optic fiber, for each direction of transmission, these signals are first of all digitalized and serialized in a device respectively and then converted into light signals in a laser transmitter, with wavelengths of λ

1 and λ

2 respectively.

9. A combined electrical/optic cable for the transmission of television signals, having a rotationally symmetrical structure and comprising, along one and the same central axis and protected by an external sheath, at least three imbricated, concentric, tubular electrical conductors C1, C2, C3, separated by insulator tubes, the conductor C3 being designed to be grounded, and at least one central optic fiber, with the same axis, designed to transmit video signals, wherein at least one of the conductors is formed by two conductive coaxial tubes in contact;

wherein said cable links a camera head and a control unit, and wherein the optic fiber is designed for the bidirectional transmission of the video signals between the camera head and the control unit, the conductors C1 and C2 are designed to transmit supply signals from the control unit to the camera head and to transmit auxiliary signals bidirectionally between the control unit and the camera head, and the conductor C3 is connected to ground;

wherein, for the bidirectional transmission of the video signals in the optic fiber, for each direction of transmission, these signals are first of all digitalized and serialized in a device respectively and then converted into light signals in a laser transmitter, with wavelengths of λ

1 and λ

2 respectively; and

wherein the wavelengths λ

1 and λ

2 are different and wherein the direction of transmission is selected by a coupling device according to the wavelengths, λ

1 andλ

2, said coupling device being placed between the laser transmitter and the optic fiber.