Signaling medium and apparatus

• US 6,771,862 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Karnik, Tanay, Xu, Jianping
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasri, Javaid H.
• Application Number:
  US09/995,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20030099443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 385/101
• US Class Current: 385/101
• 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 6/441 built up from sub-bundles G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables

Abstract

A signaling medium is disclosed. The signaling medium includes several optical media and electrical conductors arranged such that one or more of the electrical conductors are disposed between the optical media. The medium may be shielded, and may included multiple groupings of electrical conductors and optical media. A connector; a signaling assembly, including a signaling medium and connector; a circuit board; and a signal communication system (including multiple circuit boards and one or more signaling media) are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A signaling medium, comprising:

a first plurality of optical signal conductors;

a first plurality of electrical signal conductors;

a first electrically conductive shield surrounding the first plurality of optical signal conductors and the first plurality of electrical signal conductors;

a second plurality of optical signal conductors;

a second plurality of electrical signal conductors; and

a second electrically conductive shield surrounding the second plurality of optical signal conductors and the second plurality of electrical signal conductors.

2. The signaling medium of claim 1, wherein the second electrically conductive shield is electrically coupled to the first electrically conductive shield.

3. The signaling medium of claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive shield surrounding the first plurality of optical signal conductors and the first plurality of electrical signal conductors is spaced apart from the first plurality of electrical signal conductors,

and wherein the second electrically conductive shield surrounding the second plurality of optical signal conductors and the second plurality of electrical signal conductors is spaced apart from the second plurality of electrical signal conductors.

4. The signaling medium of claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of optical signal conductors has a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area, wherein the longitudinal axis of each one of the plurality of optical signal conductors lies substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of every other one of the plurality of optical signal conductors, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each one of the plurality of optical signal conductors lies within a first substantially circular area.

5. The signaling medium of claim 4, wherein each one of the plurality of electrical signal conductors has a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area, wherein the longitudinal axis of each one of the plurality of electrical signal conductors lies substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of every other one of the plurality of electrical signal conductors, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each one of the plurality of electrical signal conductors lies within a second substantially circular area.

6. The signaling medium of claim 5, wherein a diameter of the second substantially circular area is less than a diameter of the first substantially circular area.

7. The signaling medium of claim 1, wherein each one of the first plurality of electrical signal conductors is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the first plurality of spaced apart optical signal conductors.

8. A signal communication system, comprising:

a first circuit board including a first plurality of spaced apart optical signal terminations and a first plurality of electrical signal terminations, wherein at least one of the first plurality of electrical signal terminations is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the first plurality of spaced apart optical signal terminations;

a second circuit board including a second plurality of spaced apart optical signal terminations and a second plurality of electrical signal terminations, wherein at least one of the second plurality of electrical signal terminations is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the second plurality of spaced apart optical signal terminations;

a signaling medium including a first plurality of spaced apart optical signal conductors capable of being in optical communication with the first and second plurality of optical signal terminations and a second plurality of electrical signal conductors capable of being in electrical communication with the first and second pluralities of electrical signal terminations, wherein at least one of the first plurality of electrical signal conductors is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the first plurality of spaced apart optical signal conductors;

a first electrically conductive shield surrounding the first plurality of spaced apart optical signal conductors and the first plurality of electrical signal conductors, and spaced apart from the first plurality of electrical signal conductors;

a second plurality of spaced apart optical signal conductors;

a second plurality of electrical signal conductors, wherein at least one of the second plurality of electrical signal conductors is disposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of the second plurality of spaced apart optical signal conductors; and

a second electrically conductive shield surrounding the second plurality of spaced apart optical signal conductors and the second plurality of electrical signal conductors, the second electrically conductive shield being spaced apart from the second plurality of electrical signal conductors and electrically coupled to the first electrically conductive shield.