Method and apparatus for transmitting fiber-channel and non-fiber channel signals through a common cable

• US 6,826,337 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Linnell, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): HEALY, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US10/154,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20030012528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 385/100, 385/101, 385/53, 385/59, 385/71, 385/70, 385/76, 385/77, 385/92, 385/139, 439/577, 439/607, 439/608, 439/609, 439/610
• US Class Current: 385/100
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/22 Cables including at least one electrical conductor together with optical fibres

Abstract

A method for transmitting fiber channel signals and non-fiber channel signals. The method includes: providing a cable having a connector at each end thereof; and transmitting both the fiber-channel signals and the non-fiber channel signals through the cable between the connectors. In one embodiment of the invention, the non-fiber channel signals are transmitted in outer region of the cable and the fiber channel signals are transmitted in a region of the cable interior to the outer region.

Claims

1. A cable comprising:

a pair of connectors each one having a plurality of pins;

a first plurality of conductors arrange to transmit fibre channel signals, ends of such conductors being connected to pins in each one of the pair of connectors;

a second plurality of conductors disposed around the first plurality of conductors, ends of such conductors being connected to pins in each one of the pair of connectors,

including a conductive shield disposed between the first plurality of conductors and the second plurality of conductors.

2. The cable recited in claim 1 including a second conductive shield disposed about both the first and second pluralities of conductors.

3. The cable recited in claim 1 wherein the second plurality of conductors are disposed between an outer surface of the cable and the first plurality of conductors.

4. The cable recited in claim 3 wherein the second plurality of conductors surround the first plurality of conductors.

5. The cable recited in claim 4 including a second conductive shield disposed about both the first and second pluralities of conductors.