Bidirectional data communications cable
First Claim
1. A bidirectional data communications cable, comprising:
- a first connector configured to mate with a corresponding connector of a data source or a data sink, the first connector comprising;
a first controller configured to generate a first mode signal based on whether the first connector is connected to the data source or the data sink;
a first modulator configured to modulate a first optical signal with a first data signal from the data source based on the first mode signal;
a first demodulator configured to demodulate a second optical signal to produce a second data signal based on the first mode signal;
a first switch circuit configured to;
route the first data signal from the data source to the first modulator based on the first mode signal indicating that the first connector is connected to the data source; and
route the second data signal from the first demodulator to the data sink based on the first mode signal indicating that the first connector is connected to the data sink;
a second connector configured to mate with a corresponding connector of the data source or the data sink, the second connector comprising;
a second controller configured to generate a second mode signal based on whether the second connector is connected to the data source or the data sink;
a second modulator configured to modulate the second optical signal with the second data signal from the data source based on the second mode signal;
a second demodulator configured to demodulate the first optical signal to produce the first data signal based on the second mode signal;
a second switch circuit configured to;
route the second data signal from the data source to the second modulator based on the second mode signal indicating that the second connector is connected to the data source; and
route the first data signal from the second demodulator to the data sink based on the second mode signal indicating that the second connector is connected to the data sink; and
a cable housing at least partially enclosing;
a first set of one or more optical fibers for transmitting the first modulated optical signal from the first connector to the second connector; and
a second set of one or more optical fibers for transmitting the second modulated optical signal from the second connector to the first connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bidirectional data communications cable is disclosed. The cable includes first connector, second connector, and cable housing coupled to the first and second connectors. The first connector includes a controller configured to determine whether the first connector is connected to a data source or data sink. If connected to a data source, the controller configures a switch circuit to route a data signal from the data source to an optical modulator for modulating an optical signal for transmission from the first to the second connector via an optical fiber. If connected to a data sink, the controller configures the switch circuit to route a data signal from an optical demodulator to the data sink, the optical demodulator receiving an optical signal modulated with the data signal from the second connector via an optical fiber. The second connector is configured similar to the first connector. The cable housing encloses the optical fibers.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A bidirectional data communications cable, comprising:
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a first connector configured to mate with a corresponding connector of a data source or a data sink, the first connector comprising; a first controller configured to generate a first mode signal based on whether the first connector is connected to the data source or the data sink; a first modulator configured to modulate a first optical signal with a first data signal from the data source based on the first mode signal; a first demodulator configured to demodulate a second optical signal to produce a second data signal based on the first mode signal; a first switch circuit configured to; route the first data signal from the data source to the first modulator based on the first mode signal indicating that the first connector is connected to the data source; and route the second data signal from the first demodulator to the data sink based on the first mode signal indicating that the first connector is connected to the data sink; a second connector configured to mate with a corresponding connector of the data source or the data sink, the second connector comprising; a second controller configured to generate a second mode signal based on whether the second connector is connected to the data source or the data sink; a second modulator configured to modulate the second optical signal with the second data signal from the data source based on the second mode signal; a second demodulator configured to demodulate the first optical signal to produce the first data signal based on the second mode signal; a second switch circuit configured to; route the second data signal from the data source to the second modulator based on the second mode signal indicating that the second connector is connected to the data source; and route the first data signal from the second demodulator to the data sink based on the second mode signal indicating that the second connector is connected to the data sink; and a cable housing at least partially enclosing; a first set of one or more optical fibers for transmitting the first modulated optical signal from the first connector to the second connector; and a second set of one or more optical fibers for transmitting the second modulated optical signal from the second connector to the first connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification