Back to results
US 2002/0159725 A1Published application
Electrically-terminated, optically-coupled communication cables
AssigneeAnalog Devices, Inc.
InventorWillard K. Bucklen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrically-terminated, optically-coupled communication cables are provided that are suitable for transport of high data rates and are safe for use in consumer communication applications. This safety is ensured with integral cable elements and permanent assembly of these elements.
Claims31
An electrically-terminated, optically-coupled communication cable, comprising:
- first and second integral shells;
- a flexible tube that permanently couples said first and second shells;
- a plurality of optical fibers within said tube that extend into said first and second shells;
- first and second arrays of electrical contacts that are respectively permanently fixed in said first and second shells to mate with external parts;
- at least one laser within said first shell that is coupled between respective contacts of said first array and is arranged to radiate a light signal into a respective one of said optical fibers;
- and
- at least one photodiode within said second shell that is coupled between respective contacts of said second array and is arranged to receive a light signal from a respective one of said optical fibers;
- said cable thereby providing external electrical terminations and shielded internal optical transmission.
5 more elements
An electrically-terminated, optically-coupled communication cable, comprising:
- a first integral shell that has first and second shell ends;
- a second integral shell that has third and fourth shell ends first and second arrays of electrical contacts permanently fixed in said first and fourth shell ends to mate with external parts;
- a plurality of optical fibers that are permanently received through said second and third shell ends;
- at least one laser within said first shell that is coupled between respective contacts of said first array and is arranged to radiate a light signal into a respective one of said optical fibers;
- and
- at least one photodiode within said second shell that is coupled between respective contacts of said second array and is arranged to receive a light signal from a respective one of said optical fibers;
- said cable thereby providing external electrical terminations and shielded internal optical transmission.
4 more elements
An electrically-terminated, optically-coupled communication cable, comprising:
- an integral sheath that defines first and second shells and a flexible tube that couples said first and second shells;
- first and second arrays of electrical contacts permanently fixed in said first and second shells to mate with external parts;
- a plurality of optical fibers that extend through said tube and terminate within said first and second shells;
- at least one laser within said first shell that is coupled between respective contacts of said first array and arranged to radiate a light signal into a respective one of said optical fibers;
- and
- at least one photodiode within said second shell that is coupled between respective contacts of said second array and arranged to receive a light signal from a respective one of said optical fibers;
- said cable thereby providing external electrical terminations and shielded internal optical transmission.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.