Consumer electronics with optical communication interface

A digital sink device comprising:

• a sink controller;
• an interface configured to receive an end of an optical fiber;
• an optical receiver for receiving an optical signal from the first end of the optical fiber and for converting the optical signal into at least one transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) signal;
• and
• a TMDS receiver coupled to the sink controller for receiving the TMDS signals from the optical receiver, converting the TMDS signals into control and digital video signals, and for transmitting the control and digital video signals to the sink controller.

A method for communication between a digital source device and a digital sink device, the method comprising the following acts:

• receiving electrical transition minimized differential signaling (“TMDS”) signals from a TMDS transmitter within the digital source device;
• converting the TMDS signals into at least one optical signal within the digital source device;
• transmitting the at least one optical signal to a first end of an optical fiber coupled to an interface of the digital source device;
• receiving the optical signals from a second end of the optical fiber by a digital sink device coupled to a second end of the optical fiber;
• converting the at least one optical signal into electrical TMDS signals within the digital sink device;
• and
• transmitting the electrical TDMS signals to a sink controller.