Patent ID: 6447174
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A fiber optic communications cable for interconnecting electrical signals to at least one electrical socket, comprising:a fiber optic bundle with a first terminal end and a second terminal end having a two-dimensional array of separate fiber channels; a first two-dimensional integrated circuit array of emitter and/or detector elements aligned and attached to said first terminal end of said fiber bundle and adapted to couple photonic signals between the fiber channels of the fiber bundle and said emitter and/or detector elements of said first array; an ASIC substrate, wherein said ASIC substrate has drive circuitry electrically connecting to each of said emitter and/or detector elements of said first array and adapted to drive an emitter element and/or sense a detector element and further providing a plurality of separate electrical signal channels corresponding to each said emitter element and each said detector element; a fanout circuit for spatially separating said separate electrical signal channels; and an electrical connector connected to the fanout circuit and having individual connectors corresponding to said separate electrical signal channels with the electrical connector mechanically and electrically connecting to said electrical socket.