Consumer electronics with optical communication interface
First Claim
1. A digital source device comprising:
- a source controller configured to generate control and digital video signals;
a transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) transmitter coupled to the source controller for receiving control and digital video signals from the source controller and for converting the control and digital video signals into electric TMDS signals;
an interface configured to receive a first end of an optical fiber; and
an optical transmitter for receiving the electronic TMDS signals, converting the electric TMDS signals into at least one optical signal, and for transmitting the at least one optical signal to the first end of the optical fiber, wherein the TMDS transmitter and optical transmitter are disposed in the digital source device along with the source controller and interface, wherein the digital source device is configured for bidirectional optical communication to both transmit the at least one optical signal to the first end of the optical fiber and also configured to receive at least one optical signal from the first end of the optical fiber, wherein the optical transmitter comprises means for transmitting and receiving optical signals, wherein the transmitting and receiving means comprises an optoelectronic device comprising;
a laser diode comprising a first PN junction with a first p layer and a first n layer, the laser diode including an active region configured to generate light;
a first tunnel junction coupled monolithically to the laser diode, the tunnel junction comprising a heavily doped n+ layer and a heavily doped p+ layer; and
a first photodiode coupled monolithically to the first tunnel junction, the first tunnel junction comprising a second PN junction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Digital electronic devices for optical communication of digital video and/or audio signals between a digital source device and a digital sink device. A digital source device includes a transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) transmitter for receiving control and digital video signals from a source controller and for converting the control and digital video signals into electric TMDS signals. An interface receives a first end of an optical fiber. An optical transmitter converts the electric TMDS signals to at least one optical signal and transmits the at least one optical signal to the first end of the optical fiber. A digital sink device receives the at least one optical signal from a second end of the optical fiber and converts the optical signal into TMDS signals. A TMDS receiver converts the TMDS signals into control and digital video signals and transmits the control and digital video signals to the sink controller.
182 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A digital source device comprising:
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a source controller configured to generate control and digital video signals; a transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) transmitter coupled to the source controller for receiving control and digital video signals from the source controller and for converting the control and digital video signals into electric TMDS signals; an interface configured to receive a first end of an optical fiber; and an optical transmitter for receiving the electronic TMDS signals, converting the electric TMDS signals into at least one optical signal, and for transmitting the at least one optical signal to the first end of the optical fiber, wherein the TMDS transmitter and optical transmitter are disposed in the digital source device along with the source controller and interface, wherein the digital source device is configured for bidirectional optical communication to both transmit the at least one optical signal to the first end of the optical fiber and also configured to receive at least one optical signal from the first end of the optical fiber, wherein the optical transmitter comprises means for transmitting and receiving optical signals, wherein the transmitting and receiving means comprises an optoelectronic device comprising; a laser diode comprising a first PN junction with a first p layer and a first n layer, the laser diode including an active region configured to generate light; a first tunnel junction coupled monolithically to the laser diode, the tunnel junction comprising a heavily doped n+ layer and a heavily doped p+ layer; and a first photodiode coupled monolithically to the first tunnel junction, the first tunnel junction comprising a second PN junction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A digital sink device comprising:
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a sink controller configured to receive control and digital video signals and cause digital video to be displayed by the digital sink device; an interface configured to receive an end of an optical fiber; an optical receiver for receiving an optical signal from the first end of the optical fiber and for converting the optical signal into at least one transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) signal; and a TMDS receiver coupled to the sink controller for receiving the TMDS signals from the optical receiver, converting the TMDS signals into control and digital video signals, and for transmitting the control and digital video signals to the sink controller, wherein the sink controller, interface, optical receiver, and TMDS receiver are disposed within the digital sink device, wherein the digital sink device is configured for bidirectional optical communication to both transmit the at least one optical signal to the first end of the optical fiber and also configured to receive at least one optical signal from the first end of the optical fiber, wherein the optical receiver comprises means for transmitting and receiving optical signals, wherein the transmitting and receiving means comprises an optoelectronic device comprising; a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diode comprising a first PN junction with a first p layer and a first n layer; a first tunnel junction coupled monolithically to the VCSEL, the tunnel junction comprising a heavily doped n+ layer and a heavily doped p+ layer; and a first photodiode coupled monolithically to the first tunnel junction, the first tunnel junction comprising a second PN junction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification