Active optical cable with integrated retiming
First Claim
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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;
a retiming mechanism for supporting retiming of an input high speed electrical signal to reduce total link jitter in the integrated cable; and
a mechanism for providing host selectable pre-emphasis of an output high speed electrical signal to reduce total link jitter, wherein the level of pre-emphasis is host adjustable via a serial interface of the integrated cable.
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Abstract
An active cable that is configured to communicate over much of its length using one or more optical fibers, and that includes an integrated electrical connector at least one end. The active cable includes an integrated retiming mechanism. Thus, multiple links of cable may be used while reducing the chance that the jitter will exceed allowable limits. The cable may be an electrical to optical cable, and electrical to electrical cable, or one of many other potential configurations.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An integrated cable comprising:
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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; a retiming mechanism for supporting retiming of an input high speed electrical signal to reduce total link jitter in the integrated cable; and a mechanism for providing host selectable pre-emphasis of an output high speed electrical signal to reduce total link jitter, wherein the level of pre-emphasis is host adjustable via a serial interface of the integrated cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated cable comprising:
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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; and a mechanism for supporting adaptive equalization of an input high speed electrical signal to reduce total link jitter in the integrated cable; a retiming mechanism for supporting retiming of an input high speed electrical signal to reduce total link jitter in the integrated cable; an electrical conductor configured to carry electrical power to the cable end; and means for converting down the electrical power to power at least the retiming mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification