US 10,855,331 B1Granted

Apparatuses and systems for improved copper connections

AssigneeMellanox Technologies, Ltd.

InventorsElad Mentovich, Anna Sandomirsky, Itshak Kalifa, Boaz Atias, Eyal Babish

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Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and associated methods are described that provide signal transmission over copper media. An example module includes a number of electrical signal generators that each generate an electrical signal, and a signal modulation system that receives the electrical signals generated by the electrical signal generators. The signal modulation system further modulates each of the electrical signals such that each modulated electrical signal is distinguishable from the other modulated electrical signals. The module further includes an active copper multiplexer in electrical communication with the electrical signal generators that receives the modulated electrical signals from the signal modulation system. The active copper multiplexer further combines the multiple modulated signals into a single combined electrical signal and transmits the single combined electrical signal through a single copper cable.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A communication system for transmitting signals over copper media, the system comprising:

a first module comprising:
a first plurality of electrical signal generators, wherein each first electrical signal generator is configured to generate an electrical signal;
a first signal modulation system, wherein the first signal modulation system is configured to:
receive the electrical signals generated by the first electrical signal generators;
and
modulate each of the electrical signals such that each modulated electrical signal is distinguishable from the other modulated electrical signals;
a first active copper multiplexer in electrical communication with the plurality of first electrical signal generators, wherein the first active copper multiplexer is configured to:
receive a plurality of modulated electrical signals from the first signal modulation system, and
combine the plurality of modulated signals into a first combined electrical signal comprising multiple modulated electrical signals;
a second module comprising:
a second plurality of electrical signal generators, wherein each second electrical signal generator is configured to generate an electrical signal;
a second signal modulation system, wherein the second signal modulation system is configured to:
receive the electrical signals generated by the second electrical signal generators;
and
modulate each of the electrical signals such that each modulated electrical signal is distinguishable from the other modulated electrical signals;
a second active copper multiplexer in electrical communication with the plurality of second electrical signal generators, wherein the second active copper multiplexer is configured to:
receive a plurality of modulated electrical signals from the second signal modulation system, and
combine the plurality of modulated signals into a second combined electrical signal comprising multiple modulated electrical signals;
and
a system multiplexer configured to:
receive the first combined electrical signal and the second combined electrical signal from the first and second modules, respectively;
combine the first combined electrical signal and the second combined electrical signal into a third combined electrical signal;
and
transmit the third combined electrical signal through a single copper cable.

21 more elements

A method for transmitting signals over copper media, the method comprising:

generating, via a first plurality of electrical signal generators of a first module, a first plurality of electrical signals;
modulating, via a first signal modulation system of the first module, each of the first plurality of electrical signals such that each modulated electrical signal of the first module is distinguishable from the other modulated electrical signals of the first module;
combining, via a first active copper multiplexer of the first module, the plurality of modulated signals of the first module into a first combined electrical signal comprising multiple modulated electrical signals of the first module;
generating, via a second plurality of electrical signal generators of a second module, a second plurality of electrical signals;
modulating, via a second signal modulation system of the second module, each of the second plurality of electrical signals such that each modulated electrical signal of the second module is distinguishable from the other modulated electrical signals of the second module;
combining, via a second active copper multiplexer of the second module, the plurality of modulated signals of the second module into a second combined electrical signal comprising multiple modulated electrical signals of the second module, and
combining, via a system multiplexer coupled with the first module and the second module, the first combined electrical signal and the second combined electrical signal into a third combined electrical signal;
and
transmitting, via the system multiplexer, the third combined electrical signal through a single copper cable.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.