Patent ID: 7876989
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An integrated cable comprising: a first optical fiber within the integrated cable; a first opto-electrical transducer within the integrated cable and coupled to a first end of the first optical fiber such that when a first optical signal is present on the first optical fiber, the first opto-electrical transducer receives the first optical signal and converts the first optical signal into a first electrical signal; a first electrical connector integrated with the integrated cable and coupled to the first opto-electrical transducer such that when the first optical signal is received by the first opto-electrical transducer, the first electrical connector receives the first electrical signal, wherein the first electrical connector is sized to connect with a first electrical port external to the cable such that when connected to the first electrical port and when the first electrical signal is present on the first electrical connector, the first electrical signal is provided to the first electrical port; a first electro-optical transducer within the integrated cable and coupled to the first electrical connector such that when a second electrical signal is applied to the first electrical connector, the first electro-optical transducer receives the second electrical signal and converts the second electrical signal into a second optical signal; a second optical fiber within the integrated cable and coupled to the first electro-optical transducer such that when the second electrical signal is present on the first electrical connector, the second optical fiber receives the second optical signal from the first electro-optical transducer at a first end of the second optical fiber; a second opto-electrical transducer within the integrated cable and coupled to a second end of the second optical fiber such that when the second optical signal is present on the second optical fiber, the second opto-electrical transducer receives the second optical signal and converts the second optical signal into a third electrical signal; a second electrical connector integrated with the integrated cable and coupled to the second opto-electrical transducer such that when the second optical signal is received by the second opto-electrical transducer, the second electrical connector receives the third electrical signal, wherein the second electrical connector is sized to connect with a second electrical port external to the cable such that when connected to the second electrical port and when the third electrical signal is present on the second electrical connector, the third electrical signal is provided to the second electrical port; and a second electro-optical transducer within the integrated cable and coupled to the second electrical connector such that when a fourth electrical signal is applied to the second electrical connector, the second electro-optical transducer receives the fourth electrical signal and converts the fourth electrical signal into the first optical signal, wherein the first optical fiber is coupled to the second electro-optical transducer such that when the fourth electrical signal is present on the second electrical connector, the first optical fiber receives the first optical signal from the second electro-optical transducer at a second end of the first optical fiber; a first retiming circuit disposed within the integrated cable, the first retiming circuit being configured to retime the fourth electrical signal received by the second electrical connector from the second electrical port external to the cable; a second retiming circuit disposed within the integrated cable, the second retiming circuit being configured to retime the third electrical signal received from the second opto-electrical transducer; a first electrical conductor spanning the length of the integrated cable; and a power connection configured to provide electrical power to the first retiming circuit over the first electrical conductor, wherein the first retiming circuit is disposed at a far end of the integrated cable from the power connection which provides power to the first retiming circuit.