Active optical cable with electrical connector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An integrated cable comprising:
- a first optical fiber within the integrated cable;
a first opto-electrical transducer within the integrated cable and coupled to a first end of the first optical fiber such that when a first optical signal is present on the first optical fiber, the first opto-electrical transducer receives the first optical signal and converts the first optical signal into a first electrical signal;
a first electrical connector integrated with the integrated cable and coupled to the first opto-electrical transducer such that when the first optical signal is received by the first opto-electrical transducer, the first electrical connector receives the first electrical signal, wherein the first electrical connector is sized to connect with a first electrical port external to the cable such that when connected to the first electrical port and when the first electrical signal is present on the first electrical connector, the first electrical signal is provided to the first electrical port, wherein the first electrical connector further includes one or more connections for a serial data interface;
nonvolatile memory disposed in the first electrical connector, wherein the serial data interface is configured to be used to read or write data to the nonvolatile memory;
a laser driver and a post amplifier disposed in the first electrical connector, the serial interface being configured to load setup data to the nonvolatile memory for control of the laser driver or post amplifier; and
a protective coating configured to surround the first optical fiber, the first opto-electrical transducer and at least portions of the first electrical connector such that the first electrical connector is permanently affixed to the first optical fiber of the integrated cable.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An active cable that communicates over much of its length using one or more optical fibers, but which includes at integrated electrical connector at least one of its ends. The cable may be an electrical to optical cable, and electrical to electrical cable, or one of many other potential configurations.
-
Citations
33 Claims
-
1. An integrated cable comprising:
-
a first optical fiber within the integrated cable; a first opto-electrical transducer within the integrated cable and coupled to a first end of the first optical fiber such that when a first optical signal is present on the first optical fiber, the first opto-electrical transducer receives the first optical signal and converts the first optical signal into a first electrical signal; a first electrical connector integrated with the integrated cable and coupled to the first opto-electrical transducer such that when the first optical signal is received by the first opto-electrical transducer, the first electrical connector receives the first electrical signal, wherein the first electrical connector is sized to connect with a first electrical port external to the cable such that when connected to the first electrical port and when the first electrical signal is present on the first electrical connector, the first electrical signal is provided to the first electrical port, wherein the first electrical connector further includes one or more connections for a serial data interface; nonvolatile memory disposed in the first electrical connector, wherein the serial data interface is configured to be used to read or write data to the nonvolatile memory; a laser driver and a post amplifier disposed in the first electrical connector, the serial interface being configured to load setup data to the nonvolatile memory for control of the laser driver or post amplifier; and a protective coating configured to surround the first optical fiber, the first opto-electrical transducer and at least portions of the first electrical connector such that the first electrical connector is permanently affixed to the first optical fiber of the integrated cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. An integrated cable comprising:
-
a first electro-optical transducer within the integrated cable and coupled to a first electrical connector such that when a first electrical signal is applied to the first electrical connector, the first electro-optical transducer receives the first electrical signal and converts the first electrical signal into a first optical signal; a first optical fiber within the integrated cable and coupled to the first electro-optical transducer such that when the first electrical signal is present on the first electrical connector, the first optical fiber receives the first optical signal from the first electro-optical transducer at a first end of the first optical fiber; a first integrated circuit disposed within the first electrical connector, the first integrated circuit including equalization circuitry configured to provide compensation for high frequency loss in host board traces, wherein the level of equalization is based on a length of one or more of the host board traces; and nonvolatile memory disposed in the first electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
30. An integrated cable comprising:
-
a first optical fiber within the integrated cable; a first opto-electrical transducer within the integrated cable and coupled to a first end of the first optical fiber such that when a first optical signal is present on the first optical fiber, the first opto-electrical transducer receives the first optical signal and converts the first optical signal into a first electrical signal; a first electrical connector integrated with the integrated cable and coupled to the first opto-electrical transducer such that when the first optical signal is received by the first opto-electrical transducer, the first electrical connector receives the first electrical signal, wherein the first electrical connector is sized to connect with a first electrical port external to the cable such that when connected to the first electrical port and when the first electrical signal is present on the first electrical connector, the first electrical signal is provided to the first electrical port, wherein the first electrical connector further includes a connection for a link disable control signal; a laser driver and a post amplifier disposed in the first electrical connector, the serial interface being configured to load setup data to nonvolatile memory disposed in the integrated cable, the setup data for control of the laser driver or post amplifier; and at least one electrical conductor spanning the length of the integrated cable, wherein the at least one electrical conductor is configured to transmit low speed serial data from one end of the integrated cable to the other end of the integrated cable.
-
Specification