Hybrid electrical-optical data communications cable with wireline capacitance compensation

• US 9,397,750 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobix Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cosemi Technologies
• Inventors: Parekh, Devang, Nguyen, Nguyen X., Kuo, Chien-Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Woldekidan, Hibret
• Application Number:
  US14/322,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20150010311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 398/135, 398/138, 398/139, 398/140, 398/141, 398158-162, 398115-117
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4277 Protection against electromagnetic interference [EMI], e.g. shielding means shielding of electric apparatus H05K9/00, of instruments G12B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4293 hybrid electrical and optical connections for transmitting electrical and optical signals
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/045 using multiple communication channels, e.g. parallel and serial
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/10 Use of a protocol of communication by packets in interfaces along the display data pipeline
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/18 Use of optical transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25 Arrangements specific to fibre transmission

Abstract

A communications cable is disclosed. The cable includes a first circuit configured to receive electrical data signals from a data source via an input connector, and convert the electrical data signals into optical signals for transmission by way of one or more optical fibers. The cable includes a second circuit configured to convert the optical signals received via the one or more optical fibers back to electrical data signals for providing to a data sink via an output connector. The cable includes a third circuit for applying pre- and post-signal conditioning to bi-directional control data for transmission to and received from the data sink via wires. The cable includes a fourth circuit for applying pre-and post-signal conditioning to bi-directional control data for transmission to and received from the data source via wires. The pre- and post-signal conditioning compensate for capacitance and/or resistance effects on the signals introduced by the wires.

Claims

1. A communications cable, comprising:

an input connector configured to;

connect to a data source;

receive a first set of electrical multimedia data signals from the data source;

receive a second set of electrical control data signals from the data source; and

provide a third set of electrical control data signals from a data sink to the data source;

an output connector configured to;

connect to the data sink;

provide the first set of electrical multimedia data signals to the data sink;

provide the second set of electrical control data signals to the data sink; and

receive the third set of electrical control data signals from the data sink;

a plurality of optical fibers each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively;

a plurality of electrical wires each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively;

a first circuit configured to convert the first set of electrical multimedia data signals into optical signals for transmission to the output connector by way of the optical fibers, respectively, wherein the first circuit resides in the input connector;

a second circuit configured to convert the optical signals received by way of the optical fibers back to the first set of electrical multimedia data signals, respectively, wherein the second circuit resides in the output connector;

a third circuit configured to apply a first signal conditioning on the second set of electrical control data signals received by way of the wires, respectively, wherein the third circuit resides in the output connector; and

a fourth circuit configured to apply a second signal conditioning on the third set of electrical control data signals received by way of the wires, respectively, wherein the fourth circuit resides in the input connector;

wherein the input connector comprises;

a connector interface for connection to the data source; and

a first arbiter configured to arbitrate between the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the second set of electrical control data signals from the data source to the input connector and the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the third set of electrical control signals from the input connector to the data source.

2. The communications cable of claim 1, wherein the first signal conditioning is configured to compensate for adverse effects on the second set of control electrical data signals introduced by the wires, respectively.

3. The communications cable of claim 2, wherein the adverse effects are due to capacitance or resistance of the wires.

4. The communications cable of claim 1, wherein the first signal conditioning comprises one or more of the following:

amplifying, buffering, and equalizing the second set of electrical control data signals.

5. The communications cable of claim 1, wherein the second signal conditioning is configured to compensate for adverse effects on the third set of control electrical data signals introduced by the wires, respectively.

6. The communications cable of claim 5, wherein the adverse effects are due to capacitance or resistance of the wires.

7. The communications cable of claim 1, wherein the second signal conditioning comprises one or more of the following:

amplifying, buffering, and equalizing the third set of electrical control data signals.

8. The communications cable of claim 1, further comprising a fifth circuit configured to apply a third signal conditioning on the second set of electrical control data signals prior to transmission to the output connector by way of the wires, respectively, wherein the fifth circuit resides in the input connector.

9. The communications cable of claim 8, wherein the third signal conditioning is configured to compensate for adverse effects on the second set of electrical control data signals to be introduced by the wires, respectively.

10. The communications cable of claim 9, wherein the adverse effects are due to capacitance or resistance of the wires.

11. The communications cable of claim 8, wherein the third signal conditioning comprises one or more of the following:

amplifying and pre-emphasizing the second set of electrical control data signals.

12. The communications cable of claim 1, further comprising a fifth circuit configured to apply a third signal conditioning on the third set of electrical control data signals prior to transmission to the input connector by way of the wires, respectively, wherein the fifth circuit resides in the output connector.

13. The communications cable of claim 12, wherein the third signal conditioning is configured to compensate for adverse effects on the third set of control electrical data signals to be introduced by the wires, respectively.

14. The communications cable of claim 13, wherein the adverse effects are due to capacitance or resistance of the wires.

15. The communications cable of claim 12, wherein the third signal conditioning comprises one or more of the following:

amplifying and pre-emphasizing the third set of electrical control data signals.

16. The communications cable of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third sets of electrical data signals are compliant with HDMI, DisplayPort or DVI protocol.

17. The communications cable of claim 1, wherein the input connector comprises a second arbiter configured to arbitrate between the use of at least one of the wires for transmission of at least a portion of the second set of electrical control data signals from the input connector to the output connector and the use of the at least one of the wires for transmission of at least a portion of the third set of electrical control signals from the output connector to the input connector.

18. The communications cable of claim 1, wherein the output connector comprises a second arbiter configured to arbitrate between the use of at least one of the wires for transmission of at least a portion of the second set of electrical control data signals from the input connector to the output connector and the use of the at least one of the wires for transmission of at least a portion of the third set of electrical control signals from the output connector to the input connector.

19. The communications cable of claim 1, wherein the output connector comprises:

a connector interface for connection to the data sink; and

a second arbiter configured to arbitrate between the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the second set of electrical control data signals from the output connector to the data sink and the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the third set of electrical control signals from the data sink to the output connector.

20. A communications cable, comprising:

an input connector configured to;

connect to a data source;

receive a first set of electrical multimedia data signals from the data source;

receive a second set of electrical control data signals from the data source; and

provide a third set of electrical control data signals from a data sink to the data source;

an output connector configured to;

connect to the data sink;

provide the first set of electrical multimedia data signals to the data sink;

provide the second set of electrical control data signals to the data sink; and

receive the third set of electrical data control data signals from the data sink;

one or more optical fibers each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively;

one or more electrical wires each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively;

a first circuit configured to convert the first set of electrical multimedia data signals into optical signals for transmission to the output connector by way of the one or more optical fibers, wherein the first circuit resides in the input connector;

a second circuit configured to convert the optical signals received by way of the one or more optical fibers back to the first set of electrical multimedia data signals, wherein the second circuit resides in the output connector;

a third circuit configured to apply a first signal conditioning on the second set of electrical control data signals received by way of the one or more wires, wherein the third circuit resides in the output connector; and

a fourth circuit configured to apply a second signal conditioning on the third set of electrical control data signals received by way of the one or more wires, wherein the fourth circuit resides in the input connector;

wherein the input connector comprises;

a connector interface for connection to the data source; and

an arbiter configured to arbitrate between the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the second set of electrical control data signals from the data source to the input connector and the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the third set of electrical control signals from the input connector to the data source.

21. The communications cable of claim 20, wherein the first, second, and third sets of electrical data signals are compliant with HDMI, DisplayPort or DVI protocol.

22. A communications cable, comprising:

an input connector configured to;

connect to a data source;

receive a first set of parallel electrical multimedia data signals from the data source;

receive a second set of electrical control data signals from the data source; and

provide a third set of electrical control data signals from a data sink to the data source;

an output connector configured to;

connect to the data sink;

provide the first set of parallel electrical multimedia data signals to the data sink;

provide the second set of electrical control data signals to the data sink;

and receive the third set of electrical control data signals from the data sink;

a plurality of optical fibers each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively, wherein the number of optical fibers is less than the number of the parallel electrical data signals of the first set;

one or more electrical wires each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively;

a first circuit configured to convert the first set of electrical multimedia data signals into optical signals for transmission to the output connector by way of the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the first circuit resides in the input connector;

a second circuit configured to convert the optical signals received by way of the one or more optical fibers back to the first set of electrical multimedia data signals, wherein the second circuit resides in the output connector;

a third circuit configured to apply a first signal conditioning on the second set of electrical control data signals received by way of the one or more wires, wherein the third circuit resides in the output connector; and

a fourth circuit configured to apply a second signal conditioning on the third set of electrical control data signals received by way of the one or more wires, wherein the fourth circuit resides in the input connector;

wherein the input connector comprises;

a connector interface for connection to the data source; and

an arbiter configured to arbitrate between the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the second set of electrical control data signals from the data source to the input connector and the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the third set of electrical control signals from the input connector to the data source.

23. The communications cable of claim 22, wherein the first, second, and third sets of electrical signals are compliant with HDMI, DisplayPort or DVI protocol.

24. A communications cable, comprising:

an input connector configured to;

connect to a data source;

receive a first set of electrical multimedia data signals from the data source;

receive a second set of electrical control data signals from the data source; and

provide a third set of electrical control data signals from a data sink to the data source;

an output connector configured to;

connect to the data sink;

provide the first set of electrical multimedia data signals to the data sink;

provide the second set of electrical control data signals to the data sink; and

receive the third set of electrical control data signals from the data sink;

a plurality of optical fibers each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively;

a plurality of electrical wires each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively;

a first circuit configured to convert the first set of electrical multimedia data signals into optical signals for transmission to the output connector by way of the optical fibers, respectively, wherein the first circuit resides in the input connector;

a second circuit configured to convert the optical signals received by way of the optical fibers back to the first set of electrical multimedia data signals, respectively, wherein the second circuit resides in the output connector;

a third circuit configured to apply a first signal conditioning on the second set of electrical control data signals received by way of the wires, respectively, wherein the third circuit resides in the output connector; and

a fourth circuit configured to apply a second signal conditioning on the third set of electrical control data signals received by way of the wires, respectively, wherein the fourth circuit resides in the input connector;

wherein the output connector comprises;

a connector interface for connection to the data sink; and

an arbiter configured to arbitrate between the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the second set of electrical control data signals from the output connector to the data sink and the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the third set of electrical control signals from the data sink to the output connector.

25. A communications cable, comprising:

an input connector configured to;

connect to a data source;

receive a first set of electrical multimedia data signals from the data source;

receive a second set of electrical control data signals from the data source; and

provide a third set of electrical control data signals from a data sink to the data source;

an output connector configured to;

connect to the data sink;

provide the first set of electrical multimedia data signals to the data sink;

provide the second set of electrical control data signals to the data sink; and

receive the third set of electrical data control data signals from the data sink;

one or more optical fibers each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively;

one or more electrical wires each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively;

a first circuit configured to convert the first set of electrical multimedia data signals into optical signals for transmission to the output connector by way of the one or more optical fibers, wherein the first circuit resides in the input connector;

a second circuit configured to convert the optical signals received by way of the one or more optical fibers back to the first set of electrical multimedia data signals, wherein the second circuit resides in the output connector;

a third circuit configured to apply a first signal conditioning on the second set of electrical control data signals received by way of the one or more wires, wherein the third circuit resides in the output connector; and

a fourth circuit configured to apply a second signal conditioning on the third set of electrical control data signals received by way of the one or more wires, wherein the fourth circuit resides in the input connector;

wherein the output connector comprises;

a connector interface for connection to the data sink; and

an arbiter configured to arbitrate between the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the second set of electrical control data signals from the output connector to the data sink and the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the third set of electrical control signals from the data sink to the output connector.

26. A communications cable, comprising:

an input connector configured to;

connect to a data source;

receive a first set of parallel electrical multimedia data signals from the data source;

receive a second set of electrical control data signals from the data source;

and provide a third set of electrical control data signals from a data sink to the data source;

an output connector configured to;

connect to the data sink;

provide the first set of parallel electrical multimedia data signals to the data sink;

provide the second set of electrical control data signals to the data sink; and

receive the third set of electrical control data signals from the data sink;

a plurality of optical fibers each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively, wherein the number of optical fibers is less than the number of the parallel electrical data signals of the first set;

one or more electrical wires each including opposite ends coupled to the input and output connectors, respectively;

a first circuit configured to convert the first set of electrical multimedia data signals into optical signals for transmission to the output connector by way of the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the first circuit resides in the input connector;

a second circuit configured to convert the optical signals received by way of the one or more optical fibers back to the first set of electrical multimedia data signals, wherein the second circuit resides in the output connector;

a third circuit configured to apply a first signal conditioning on the second set of electrical control data signals received by way of the one or more wires, wherein the third circuit resides in the output connector; and

a fourth circuit configured to apply a second signal conditioning on the third set of electrical control data signals received by way of the one or more wires, wherein the fourth circuit resides in the input connector;

wherein the output connector comprises;

a connector interface for connection to the data sink; and

an arbiter configured to arbitrate between the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the second set of electrical control data signals from the output connector to the data sink and the use of the connector interface for transmission of at least a portion of the third set of electrical control signals from the data sink to the output connector.