Patent Publication Number: US-2007122156-A1

Title: Apparatus, system, and method for interconnecting electrical and electronic signals

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to apparatus, system, and method for interconnecting electrical and/or electronic signals. In particular, it relates to interconnecting electrical and/or electronic signals using an optical signal path terminated by electrical interfaces.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      It is generally known in the art that electrical and/or electronic signals, referred to hereinafter as electrical signals without losing generality, may be conveyed or carried around or shared among multiple electronic devices through electrical cables. It is also known in the art that optical signals or light signals or lights may propagate from one optical device to another optical device through an optical signal path or optical signal transmission medium such as, for example, an optical fiber. The signals, in their electrical or optical forms, may carry information including, for example, audio signal, video signal, and/or data.  
      An electrical cable used in electrical and electronic device interconnection is usually terminated at opposite ends of the cable by two connectors. The connectors typically have a mating portion with a mating face facing toward a complementary connector attached to the electronic device. An electrical cable in general is easy to use and requires low maintenance and/or no care. In particular, electrical connectors used in connecting or engaging electronic devices are generally considered durable and reliable. Electrical cables, for example cables used in an environment where high signal fidelity and/or wide bandwidth are required, are usually bulky, rigid, heavy, and expensive. Power levels of signals at a receiving end of the cable may vary due to variations of cable losses and, as is known in the art, quality of signals received may fluctuate depending on power levels of the signals. In addition, the quality of signals may suffer from electromagnetic interference the cable carrying the signals may be subjected to. The above cables may be found, for example, in a broadcasting studio and/or some high-end home entertainment systems connecting various electrical signal ports including, for example, from a media center outlet to a high-definition television (HDTV), set-top box, DVD/VCD/VCR players and/or sounds systems. The above cables may also be found in a wireless application such as, for example, in an application where cables are used to interconnect electrical signals between central units of base station and antennas.  
      Optical cables are generally compact, flexible, light and inexpensive. An optical cable may provide low or almost no loss to optical signals propagating therein, and may be immune to at least some of the electrical interferences that an electrical cable may suffer otherwise. Reliable optical signal interconnection between two optical cables or between an optical cable and an optical device may depend on the good care and diligent maintenance of optical connectors to protect them from potential damage and/or contaminations. Also, it requires paying a close attention to the safety issue of laser light exposure when working with optical cables and optical interconnections. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustration of an interconnected electronic system according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to yet another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to one another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to yet another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to one another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustration of a terminal configuration according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustration of a terminal configuration according to another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustration of a terminal configuration according to yet another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 12  is a block diagram illustration of a terminal configuration according to one another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 13  is a block diagram illustration of a terminal configuration according to another embodiment of the invention; and  
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustration of a method for interconnecting an electrical signal between two electronic devices according to one embodiment of the invention; 
    
    
      It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Embodiments of the present invention may provide an apparatus for interconnecting an electrical and/or electronic signal from a first electronic device to a second electronic device. The apparatus may include at least one optical signal path having first and second terminals integrally integrated with the optical signal path, the first terminal may have an electrical interface adapted to receive the electrical signal from the first electronic device; the second terminal may have an electrical interface adapted to transfer or couple the electrical signal to the second electronic device; and at least one of the terminals may receive an electrical power supply via one of the electrical interfaces for its operation.  
      According to one embodiment, the first terminal may include a mechanism or module to convert the electrical signal received from the first electronic device into an optical signal to propagate in the optical signal path, wherein the mechanism or module of converting the electrical signal into the optical signal may include a light source such as, for example, a laser diode (LD), a light emitting diode (LED), or an electro-absorption modulated laser (EML).  
      According to another embodiment, the second terminal may include a mechanism or module to convert the optical signal received from the optical signal path back into the electrical signal to be transmitted or transferred or coupled to the second electronic device, wherein the mechanism or module of converting the optical signal into the electrical signal may include a photon-detector (PD) such as, for example, a PIN photon-diode (PIN-PD) or an avalanche photon-detector (APD).  
      According to one embodiment, at least one of the mechanisms or modules may be powered for operation by an electrical power supply or energy received from an external power source via one of the electrical interfaces. According to one embodiment, at least one of the electrical interfaces may be a connectorized interface and may include an electrical connector. According to one embodiment, the optical signal path may be an optical fiber.  
      Embodiments of the invention may further provide an apparatus having an electrical wire that may carry or convey an electrical power supply or energy from one of the first and second terminals to the other terminal. The electrical wire may run alongside the optical signal path or optical fiber. According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the mechanism or modules may be operated by the electrical power supply or energy received via the electrical wire.  
      According to one embodiment, the electrical interface of the first terminal may be adapted to receive at least first and second electrical signals from the first electronic device, wherein the first terminal may include a mechanism or module to convert the first and second electrical signals received from the first electronic device into first and second optical signals to propagate in the optical signal path.  
      According to one embodiment, the second terminal may include a mechanism to convert the first and second optical signals received from the optical signal path back into the first and second electrical signals respectively, and the electrical interface of the second terminal may be adapted to transmit or couple or transfer the first and second electrical signals to the second electronic device.  
      Embodiments of the invention may further provide an apparatus having at least a second optical signal path having a first terminal or end point terminated at the first terminal and a second terminal or end point terminated at a third terminal, wherein the first terminal may include a mechanism to convert the first and second electrical signals received from the first electronic device into first and second optical signals to propagate in the first and second optical signal paths; the second terminal may include a mechanism or module to convert the first optical signal received from the first optical signal path back into the first electrical signal; and the third terminal may include a mechanism to convert the second optical signal received from the second optical signal path back into the second electrical signal.  
      According to one embodiment, the electrical interface of the second terminal may be adapted to receive a second electrical signal from the second electronic device and convey or carry the second electrical signal to the first terminal, and wherein the electrical interface of the first terminal may be adapted to transmit or couple or transfer the second electrical signal to the first electronic device.  
      According to one embodiment, the first terminal may include a first mechanism to convert the first electrical signal received from the first electronic device into first optical signal to propagate in the optical signal path; a second mechanism to convert a second optical signal received from the optical signal path into a second electrical signal to be transmitted or coupled or transferred to the first electronic device, and wherein the second optical signal is converted from the second electrical signal received at the second terminal.  
      Embodiments of the invention may provide a method for interconnecting an electrical signal from a first electronic device to a second electronic device, via one or more electrically terminated optical signal paths, among electrical signal ports of multiple electronic devices. It enables interconnectivity for electrical signals with wide signal bandwidth provided by optical fibers with the durability, reliability, and convenience of electrical connectors.  
      Embodiments of the present invention may provide an apparatus, a device, and/or a cable arrangement, which may provide functions referred to herein as electrical-signal-through-optical-propagation (E-top), and therefore the cable arrangement may be referred to as an E-top cable or an E-top cable arrangement. The E-top cable or cable arrangement may combine functionalities of that of electrical connectors and fiber optical cables. Embodiments of the invention may employ optical signals that are confined or contained or sealed within an optical signal path, for example, an optical cable of fibers and the optical signals may be converted from, or converted into, electrical signals at their integrally integrated terminals of the E-top cables. Thus, a user applying the E-top cable to interconnecting electrical signals among electronic devices may avoid the risk of being exposed to direct laser light, or may be even not aware the very existence of any optical signals inside the cable arrangement.  
      Embodiments of the present invention may provide cables, such as E-top cables as described above, which may be flexible and have relatively high signal transfer rates. The E-top cables may include electrical interfaces or connectors adapted for interconnecting, for example, component video, s-video, composite video and audio signals. Such connectors may include, but not limited to, USB connectors,  1394  firewire connectors, S-video connectors, RCA video connectors, VGA cable connectors, RF coaxial cable connectors of BNC type, SMA type, F-type, N-type, and variations thereof. The E-top cable may in addition provide high-performance connection between PCs and, for example, flat panel displays, digital CRT displays, DVD player, projectors, and HDTV. E-top cables may also be adapted to provide high-performance, high-bandwidth interconnection required for video displays. E-top cable may further be used for interconnection among network elements and/or severs, data and/or electronic file storage devices, wireless and/or satellite stations, antennas and/or other applications requiring high-bandwidth and/or high fidelity electrical signal transmissions.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. However it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods and procedures have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments of the invention.  
      Some portions of the detailed description in the following are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on electrical and/or electronic signals, and optical signals. These algorithmic descriptions and representations may be the techniques used by those skilled in the electrical and electronic engineering and optical communication arts to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.  
      An algorithm is here, and generally, considered to be a self-consistent sequence of acts or operations leading to a desired result. These include physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or electronic or optical signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, converted, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like. It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.  
      Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,”“determining”, “interconnecting”, “transferring”, “conveying”, “coupling”, “receiving” or the like, refer to actions and/or processes of a terminal and/or an optical signal path of a cable arrangement in an interconnected electronic system, or similarly a signal port of an electronic device, that manipulate and/or transform and/or transfer data and/or signals represented as physical, such as electrical and/or electronic, quantities within the terminal and/or optical signal path into other data and/or signals similarly represented as physical quantities within the interconnected system&#39;s terminals, including electrical interfaces and electrical-to-optical conversion modules, and electrical and optical signal paths.  
      In the following description, various figures, diagrams, flowcharts, models, and descriptions are presented as different means to effectively convey the substances and illustrate different embodiments of the invention that are proposed in this application. It shall be understood by those skilled in the art that they are provided merely as exemplary samples, and shall not be constructed as limitation to the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustration of an interconnected electronic system according to one embodiment of the invention. System  100  may include a plurality of electronic devices or components or equipments; for example, a media center outlet ( 111 ), a VCR/DVD player ( 112 ), a High-Definition TV (HDTV) ( 113 ), a sound system ( 114 ), a computer ( 115 ), and a wireless station ( 116 ). However, the present invention is not limited in this respect and other types and other numbers of electronic devices or components may be used.  
      Electronic devices or components  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115 , and  116  at the same and/or different locations may be connected or interconnected through one or more cables or cable arrangements. For example, cable arrangement  141  may connect devices  111 ,  112 , and  113  together; cable arrangement  142  may connect devices  111  and  114 ; and cable arrangement  143  may connect devices  111 ,  115 , and  116 . Cable arrangements  141 ,  142 , and  143  may be, for example, different embodiments of the present invention as described below in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2-8 .  
      According to one embodiment of the invention, cable arrangement  141  may include, for example, cables  101 ,  102 , and  103  connecting to or engaging with devices  111 ,  112 , and  113  through terminals  121 ,  124 , and  125  that may include electrical interfaces. Devices  111 ,  112 , and  113  may be at the same or different locations. Cable  101 ,  102 , and/or  103  may be optical cables of optical fibers. However, the present invention is not limited in this respect and cable  101 ,  102 , and/or  103  may be any types of optical transmission media that provide an optical signal path between terminals. Terminal  121 ,  124 , and  125  may include electrical interfaces that connect to electronic devices  111 ,  112 , and  113  through their electrical signal port  131 ,  134 , and  135 . Cable arrangement  142  may include an optical cable  104  connecting devices  111  and  114 , at the same or different locations, through their electrical signal ports  132  and  136  at terminals  122  and  126 . Cable arrangement  143  may include optical cables  105  and  106  connecting devices  111 ,  115 , and  116 , at the same and/or different locations, through their electrical signal ports  133 ,  137 , and  138  at terminals  123 ,  127 , and  128 .  
      Device  111 , for example, may transmit an electrical and/or electronic signal, or simply an electrical signal, to device  113 . The electrical signal may be sent through signal port  131  to terminal  121 . Terminal  121  may convert the received electrical signal into an optical signal, and pass the optical signal through cables  101  and then  103  to terminal  125 . Inside terminal  125 , the optical signal may be converted back into an electrical signal corresponding to the original electrical signal, and the converted-back electrical signal may be transmitted to, or passed onto, device  113  through signal port  135  of device  113 .  
      In a reversed direction, device  113  may send an electrical signal to terminal  125 . The signal received by terminal  125  may be converted into an optical signal to propagate through cable  103  and then cable  101 , to reach terminal  121 . Inside terminal  121 , the optical signal may be converted back into its original electrical signal format and the electrical signal may be passed onto device  111  at signal port  131 . Therefore, cable arrangement  141  may be a bi-directional device allowing signals to pass through in both directions.  
      As is evident from the description above, cable arrangement  141  (similarly for cable arrangements  142  and  143 ) may be a cable performing electrical-signal-through-optical-propagation (E-top), therefore may be referred to herein as an E-top cable for simplicity.  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention. Apparatus  200 , or device or cable arrangement as may be referred to hereinafter, may include, for example, an optical signal path  201  integrally integrated with two terminals  210  and  220 . In other words, the ends of optical signal path  201  may be embedded inside or built into terminals  210  and  220  such that lights or optical signals that are conveyed or transmitted or propagating inside optical signal path  201  may be confined within the apparatus or device or cable arrangement  200  and therefore may not be visible or accessible to a user. For example, a user applying apparatus  200  to interconnect electrical signals between two electronic devices, for example, may not be even aware the existence of optical signals inside apparatus  200 . Between terminals  210  and/or  220  and optical path  201 , which may be an optical fiber, there may be a protective jacket. The protective jacket may provide, for example, environmental protection such as waterproof for outdoor application of the cable arrangement, and for protection such as micro-bending or cutting to the optical fiber. The protective jacket may be formed to fit around the optical cable and/or terminals. The cable jacket may be made of polyester or any suitable materials.  
      Optical signal path  201 , for example, may include an optical cable containing one or more optical fibers, for example, an optical fiber  202 . However, the invention is not limited in this respect and other physical media that provide optical signal passage or guide transmission of light therein may be used. For example, optical signal path  201  may include integrated optical circuits (IOC), planar light-wave circuits (PLC), free space, optical lens, mirrors, and/or any combination thereof. Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the invention, an electrical medium such as an electrical wire adapted to convey or carry an electrical power supply for terminals  210  and/or  220  may co-exist, alongside optical signal path  201 , with optical fiber  202  as described below in detail with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 .  
      Terminal  210  may include an electrical-to-optical (E/O) signal conversion module or mechanism  212  attached to an electrical interface  211 . However the invention is not limited in this respect and electrical interface  211  may be linked to E/O mechanism  212  via an electrical cable (not shown). Terminal  220  may include an optical-to-electrical (O/E) signal conversion module or mechanism  222  attached to an electrical interface  221 . However the invention is not limited in this respect and electrical interface  221  may be linked to O/E mechanism  222  via an electrical cable (not shown). Electrical interfaces  211  and  221  may be connecterized interfaces and as such may include various types of connectors, for example, USB connectors,  1394  firewire connectors, S-video connectors, RCA video connectors, VGA cable connectors, RF coaxial cable connectors of BNC type, SMA type, F-type, N-type, variations thereof, and/or other types of electrical connectors. According to one embodiment, connectors used by interfaces  211  and/or  221  may be adapted to receive an electrical power supply from an external power source.  
      According to one embodiment, conversion mechanism  212  may include at least one light source  214  such as, for example, laser-diode (LD) or light emitting diode (LED), which converts an electrical signal  231 , received from a first electronic device at a first location via interface  211 , into an optical signal  233 . According to one embodiment, a signal conditioner  213 , which may be integrated circuits (ICs) and/or discrete components, may boost the power level and/or reshape input electrical signal  231 , among other functions, to drive light source  214 . However, the invention is not limited in this respect and input electrical signal  231  may be directly applied to light source  214  to produce optical signal  233 , and terminal  210  may not include signal conditioner  213 .  
      According to one embodiment, conversion mechanism  222  may include at least one photon-detector  224  such as, for example, PIN photon-diode (PIN-PD) or avalanche photon-diode (APD), to convert an optical signal  234  received via optical signal path  201  into an output electrical signal  232 . According to one embodiment, a signal conditioner  223  may boost the power level and/or reshape output electrical signal  232  received from photon-detector  224  before electrical signal  232 , which corresponds to electrical signal  231 , is transferred to a second electronic device at a second location via electrical interface  221 . However, the invention is not limited in this respect and electrical signal  232  may be transferred directly to a second electronic device without going through signal conditioner  223 . In other words, terminal  220  may not include signal conditioner  223 . Configurations of terminals, such as terminals  210  and  220 , are described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 9-13 .  
      According to embodiments of the invention, terminals  210  and  220  may be separated by any distance in a range, up to the length of the optical signal path, adapted to connect the first and second electronic devices at respective first and second locations. Terminals  210  and  220  may be at the same place, or may be apart or separated by, for example, three(3) feet, six(6) feet, nine(9) feet, or, for example, by more than twelve (12) feet.  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. Apparatus  300 , or device or cable arrangement as may be referred to hereinafter, may include an optical signal path  301  integrally integrated at the two end points with terminals  310  and  320 . In other words, the end points of optical signal path  301  may be embedded inside or built into terminals  310  and  320  such that lights or optical signals that are conveyed or transmitted or propagating inside optical signal path  301  may be confined within the apparatus or device or cable arrangement  300  and therefore may not be visible or accessible to a user applying apparatus  300  to interconnect electrical signals between two electronic devices. Optical signal path  301  may be, for example, an optical cable having at least one optical fiber  302  but other optical transmission media may be possible. In addition, according to one embodiment of the invention, an electrical medium such as an electrical wire adapted to convey or carry an electrical power supply for use by terminals  310  and/or  320  may co-exist alongside optical signal path  301  with optical fiber  302 .  
      Terminal  310  may include an E/O signal conversion module or mechanism  312  and an electrical interface  311 . Terminal  320  may include an O/E signal conversion module or mechanism  322  and an electrical interface  321 . Electrical interfaces  311  and  321  may include various types of connectors such as, for example, USB connectors,  1394  firewire connectors, S-video connectors, RCA video connectors, VGA cable connectors, RF coaxial cable connectors of BNC type, SMA type, F-type, N-type, variations thereof and/or other types of electrical connectors. According to one embodiment, connectors used by interfaces  311  and/or  321  may be adapted to receive an electrical power supply from an external power source.  
      Terminal  310  may receive one or more electrical signals, for example, signals  331 , at electrical interface  311  from an external electronic device at a first location ( FIG. 1 ). In other words, electrical interface  311  may couple electrical signals  331  from an external electronic device to E/O conversion module  312 . Electrical signals  331  may be converted into one or more optical signals, for example, optical signals  333 , inside E/O module  312 . According to one embodiment, the conversion may include the use of one or more light sources  314  such as, for example, an array of laser-diodes. A multiplexer  315 , for example, may multiplex optical signals  333  into at least one wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) signal to propagate along optical fiber  302 , for example.  
      Optical fiber  302  may convey the WDM signal from terminal  310  to O/E module  322  of terminal  320 . A de-multiplexer  325  inside O/E module  322 , for example, may de-multiplex the WDM signal into one or more optical signals of single wavelength, for example, optical signals  334  that may be converted back into electrical signals, for example, signals  332 . According to one embodiment, the conversion may include the use of one or more photon-detectors  324  such as, for example, an array of PIN photon-diodes. According to another embodiment, signal conditioners  313  and  323  may be used to boost power levels of electrical signals  331  and  332  respectively. Electrical signals  332 , which correspond to electrical signals  331 , may be transferred or coupled to another external electronic device at a second location ( FIG. 1 ) via electrical interface  321 . The multiplexing and de-multiplexing of optical signals inside terminals are described in details below with references to  FIGS. 9-13 .  
      According to embodiments of the invention, the first and second locations may be at the same place, or may be apart or separated by at least, for example, three(3) feet, six(6) feet, nine(9) feet, or any other desirable distances less than or equal to the length of the optical signal path. For example, the first and second locations may be apart or separated by more than twelve (12) feet.  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to yet another embodiment of the invention. Apparatus  400 , or device or cable arrangement, may include an optical signal path  401  terminated integrally at two terminals  410  and  420 . Optical signal path  401  may include, for example, an optical cable having at least one optical fiber  402 . However, the present invention is not limited in this respect and other physical media that provide optical transmission support may be used. Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the invention, an electrical medium such as an electrical wire adapted to convey or carry an electrical power supply for terminals  410  and  420  may be included, along optical fiber  401 , inside optical signal path  401 . However, the invention is not limited in this respect and the electrical wire may run in parallel to optical signal path  401 . Apparatus  400  may be used in interconnecting electrical signals among at least two electrical devices.  
      Terminal  410  may include an electrical interface  411 , which may be a connectorized interface, and a module or mechanism  412  for E/O and O/E signal conversion. Terminal  420  may include an electrical interface  421 , which may also be a connectorized interface, and a module or mechanism  422  for O/E and E/O signal conversion. According to one embodiment of the present invention, terminal  410  may receive at least one electrical signal, for example, signal  431 , from a signal port of an electronic device ( FIG. 1 ) via electrical interface  411 . Electrical signal  431  may be converted into an optical signal  435  inside module  412  through modulating a light source  414 , which for example may be an LD or LED. Optical signal  435  may then be passed or conveyed or transported by optical signal path  401  to terminal  420 .  
      Additionally, module or mechanism  412  may receive at least one optical signal  438  from optical signal path  401 . Optical signal  438  may be converted into an electrical signal  434  inside module  412  by, for example, a photon-detector  416 . Photon-detector  416  may be for example a PIN-PD or an APD and other photon-detectors may be used. Electrical signal  434  may be transferred or coupled to the same signal port via the same electrical interface  411  where electrical signal  431  is received. According to one embodiment, a signal conditioner  413 , which may be optional, may boost the power levels of input and output electrical signals  431  and  434 . According to another embodiment, a multiplexer  415  may multiplex the optical signals  435  and  438  inside module  412  into a bi-directional WDM optical signal.  
      According to one embodiment of the present invention, terminal  420  may receive at least one electrical signal  433  from a signal port of a second electronic device ( FIG. 1 ) via electrical interface  421 . Module  422  inside terminal  420  may convert signal  433  into an optical signal  437 , through modulating a light source  426 , which for example may be an LD or LED. Optical signal  437  may then be passed or conveyed or transported by optical signal path  401  to terminal  410 . Additionally, module or mechanism  422  may receive at least one optical signal  436  from optical signal path  401  and convert optical signal  436  into an electrical signal  432  by, for example, a photon-detector  424 . Photon-detector  424  may be for example a PIN-PD or an APD and other photon-detectors may be used. Electrical signal  432  may be transferred or coupled to the same signal port via the same electrical interface  421  where electrical signal  433  is received. According to one embodiment, a signal conditioner  423 , which may be optional, may boost the power levels of output and input electrical signals  432  and  433 . According to another embodiment, a multiplexer  425  may multiplex the optical signals  436  and  437  inside module  422  into a bi-directional WDM optical signal.  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention. Apparatus  500  or device or cable arrangement may include multiple optical signal paths  501  integrally integrated with two terminals  510  and  520 . For example, optical signal paths  501  may include an optical cable containing multiple optical fibers, for example, optical fibers  502  and  503 . However, the present invention is not limited in this respect and other optical signal paths may be possible. For example, optical signal paths  501  may include multiple optical cables, which may in turn contain one or more optical fibers. Apparatus  500  may interconnect multiple electronic devices as illustrated in  FIG. 1  to pass or convey or interconnect electrical signals.  
      According to one embodiment, terminal  510  may include an electrical interface  511  and an E/O conversion module  512 . Terminal  520  may include an electrical interface  521  and an O/E conversion module  522 . Terminal  510  may receive multiple electrical signals, for example, signals  531  from a first electronic device at a first location ( FIG. 1 ) via electrical interface  511  and convert signals  531  into multiple optical signals, for example, optical signals  533  inside E/O conversion module  512  by modulating multiple light sources  514 , for example, an array of laser-diodes. Optical signals  533  may propagate along multiple optical fibers  502  and  503  of optical signal paths  501 , and reach terminal  520  as optical signals  534 . Inside O/E conversion module  522  of terminal  520 , optical signals  534  may be converted back into electrical signals  532  by, for example, an array of photon-detectors  524 . Electrical signals  532 , which correspond to electrical signals  531 , may be transferred or coupled to a second electronic device at a second location ( FIG. 1 ) via electrical interface  521 . The first and second locations may be separated by, for example, three (3) feet, six (6) feet, or more than nine (9) feet. According to one embodiment, signal conditioners  513  and  523 , of module  512  and  522  respectively, may be used to boost the power levels of electrical signals  531  and  532 . However, the invention is not limited in this respect and signal conditioners  513  and  523  may be optional.  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. Apparatus  600  or device or cable arrangement may include multiple optical signal paths  601  terminated or integrally integrated at the end points with two terminals  610  and  620 . Optical signal paths  601  may include multiple optical fibers, for example, optical fibers  602  and  603  being confined within, for example, a single optical cable or in multiple optical cables. Other grouping of optical fibers and other physical media of optical signal paths may be possible. Apparatus  600  may be connected to multiple electrical and/or electronic devices to interconnect or convey or transfer electrical signals among the multiple devices.  
      According to one embodiment of the invention, terminal  610  may include, for example, a connectorized electrical interface  611  and an O/E and E/O conversion module  612  or mechanism. Terminal  620  may include, for example, a connectorized electrical interface  621  and an O/E and E/O conversion module  622  or mechanism. Terminal  610  may receive at least one electrical signal, for example, signal  631  from an external signal port ( FIG. 1 ) via interface  611 . Electrical signal  631  may be converted into an optical signal  635  inside module  612  through modulation of a light source  614 , for example, an LD or LED. Optical signal  635  may be coupled to propagate along, for example, optical fiber  602  towards terminal  620 . In addition, module  612  may receive at least one optical signal  638  from, for example, optical fiber  603  and convert optical signal  638  into an electrical signal  634  through, for example, a photon-detection process by a photon-detector  615 . Photon-detector  615  may be for example a PIN-PD or APD. Electrical signal  634  may then be coupled or transferred or passed, via electrical interface  611 , to the external signal port from where electrical signal  631  is received. According to one embodiment, a signal conditioner  613  may be used optionally to boost the power levels of input and output electrical signals  631  and  634 .  
      According to one embodiment, terminal  620  may receive an electrical signal  633  from another signal port via electrical interface  621  and module  622  inside terminal  620  may convert electrical signal  633  into an optical signal  637  through modulation of a light source  625 , for example, an LD or LED. Optical signal  637  may be coupled to propagate along, for example, optical fiber  603  towards terminal  610 . In addition, module  622  may receive at least one optical signal  636  from, for example, optical fiber  602  and convert optical signal  636  into an electrical signal  632  through a photon-detection process by a photon-detector  624 . Photon-detector  624  may be a PIN-PD or APD. Electrical signal  632  may then be coupled or transferred or passed, via electrical interface  621 , to the signal port where electrical signal  633  is received. According to one embodiment, a signal conditioner  623  may be used optionally to boost the power levels of output and input electrical signals  632  and  633 .  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention. Apparatus  700  or device or cable arrangement may include multiple optical signal paths, for example, optical signal paths  702 ,  703 , and  704 . Optical signal paths  702 ,  703 , and  704  may share, according to one embodiment, at least one section of their optical signal paths, for example, section  701 , and have their end points integrally integrated with or terminated at multiple terminals. For example, section  701  may be a part or a section of optical signal path  704 , and optical signal path  704  may be integrally integrated with terminal  710  at one end and with terminal  720  at the other end. Section  701  may be referred to hereinafter as an optical signal path as well. Other numbers of optical signal paths may share other numbers of sections of their optical signal paths. Apparatus  700  may be used in interconnecting electrical and/or electronic signals among multiple electronic devices.  
      Terminal  710  may include, for example, an electrical interface  711  and a module  712  that may include E/O and/or O/E conversion mechanisms. Terminal  710  may, for example, receive a first set, hereinafter a set includes one, of electrical signals from an electrical or electronic device ( FIG. 1 ) via electrical interface  711 , convert the electrical signals by the E/O conversion mechanism into one or more corresponding optical signals inside module  712 , combine or multiplex the optical signals to become a first WDM optical signal, and couple or transmit the first WDM optical signal to propagate initially along optical signal path  701 . In a reverse direction, terminal  710  may receive a second WDM optical signal, from optical signal path  701 . The second WDM optical signal may be divided or de-multiplexed into multiple optical signals, for example, of different wavelengths. The multiple optical signals may be converted inside module  712  by the O/E conversion mechanism into their corresponding electrical signals, or a second set of electrical signals, and transferred or passed or coupled to the electrical or electronic device, via electrical interface  711 , where the first set of electrical signal is received.  
      According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first WDM optical signal coupled by terminal  710  to optical signal path  701  may continue to propagate, and at the end of the shared section  701  the first WDM optical signal may be de-multiplexed or divided into multiple optical signals, which may have the same or different wavelength, to propagate either jointly or separately in optical paths  702 ,  703 , and  704 . The de-multiplexing or division of the first WDM optical signal from optical path  701  to optical paths  702 ,  703 , and  704  may be dependent on wavelengths of each individual optical signal. However, the invention is not limited in this respect and the de-multiplexing or division may be based on, for example, power of the optical signals. For example, a same optical signal may be divided into two signals to propagate, for example, in optical path  702  and  704 . An optical signal propagating along optical path  704 , for example, may reach terminal  720  and may then be converted back into an electrical signal by an O/E conversion mechanism inside module  722 , and transferred or coupled or transmitted to an external electronic device via an electrical interface  721  of terminal  720 .  
      According to one embodiment of the invention, terminal  720 , and other terminals of optical signal paths  702  and  703 , may receive one or more electrical signals via their respective electrical interfaces, and convert the electrical signals inside their E/O and/or O/E modules into optical signals, and transmit or couple the optical signals along their respective optical signal paths  702 ,  703 , and  704 , via shared optical signal path  701 , towards terminal  710 . Terminal  710  may then convert the optical signals into their respective electrical signals, which may correspond to their original electrical signals received at the other ends of their respective optical signal paths, and transferred or coupled or conveyed to an external electronic device via electrical interface  711 .  
       FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of an apparatus of cable arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention. Apparatus  800  or device or cable arrangement may include multiple optical signal paths  801 ,  802 , and  803 . Optical signal paths  801 ,  802 , and  803  may be optical cables of optical fibers. One of the terminal points of optical signal paths  801 ,  802 , and  803  may be terminated at an electrical terminal  810 . The other terminal points of optical signal paths  801 ,  802 , and  803  may be terminated separately at separated terminals. For example, the other terminal point of optical signal path  803  may be terminated at a terminal  820 . Apparatus  800  may interconnect signals, which may be electrical signals, among multiple devices, which may be electrical and electronic devices.  
      According to one embodiment of the invention, terminal  810  may include, for example, an E/O and/or O/E module  812  and an electrical interface  811  that may include a connector. Terminal  820  may include, for example, an E/O and/or O/E conversion module  822  and an electrical interface  821  that may include a connector. Terminal  810  may receive one or more electrical signals from an electronic device via electrical interface  811 , convert the electrical signals into multiple optical signals inside module  812 , and transmit or couple or propagate the optical signals along optical paths  801 ,  802 , and/or  803 . For example, an optical signal may be received by terminal  820 . Module  822  of terminal  820  may convert the optical signal received back into an electrical signal, which may correspond to the original electrical signal received at terminal  810 , and pass or transfer the electrical signal to an external electronic device via electrical interface  821 . Terminal  810  may also receive one or more optical signals via optical paths  801 ,  802 , and/or  803 . For example, an optical signal may propagate along optical signal path  803  from terminal  820  to terminal  810 .  
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustration of a terminal configuration according to one embodiment of the invention. Terminal  900  may include at least an electrical interface  911 , which may be an electrical connector as described above, and a module  912  having included an E/O ( 916 ) and/or an O/E ( 920 ) conversion mechanism therein. According to one embodiment of the invention, module  912  may be pigtailed to one or more optical signal paths  902  and  903 . Optical signal paths  902  and  903  may be, for example, optical fibers enclosed inside one optical cable  901 . However, the invention is not limited in this respect and optical fibers  902  and  903  may be enclosed in separate optical cables.  
      According to one embodiment, terminal  900  may receive an electrical signal  921  from an external electronic device, as shown in  FIG. 1 , via interface  911 . Inside module  912 , electrical signal  921  may first be boosted by a signal conditioner  915 , and then converted into an optical signal  917  by E/O conversion module  916 . Optical signal  917  may be launched or coupled to propagate along optical signal path  903  towards another terminal (not shown). According to another embodiment, an optical signal  919  may be received by module  912  via an optical signal path  902 . O/E conversion module  920  may convert optical signal  919  into an electrical signal  922 . Optionally, electrical signal  922  may be boosted in power by signal conditioner  915  before being coupled or transferred to the external electronic device from where electrical signal  921  is received via interface  911 .  
      According to one embodiment of the invention, a power unit  914  inside module  912  may receive electrical energy or a power supply, via electrical interface  911  through a media  913  such as for example a wire, from an external power source. The power supply or electrical energy may be a direct current (DC). However the invention is not limited in this respect and power supplies other than a DC power supply may be used. If other forms of power supplies are used, power unit  914  may provide transformation of the power supplies into a DC power supply to be used by other components or devices inside module  912 , for example, signal conditioner  915 , E/O module  916  and/or O/E module  920 .  
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustration of a terminal configuration according to another embodiment of the invention. Terminal  1000  may include an electrical interface  1011 , which may be an electrical connector as described above, and a module  1012  included therein an E/O conversion mechanism or module  1016  and/or an O/E conversion mechanism or module  1020 . According to one embodiment, module  1012  may be pigtailed by an optical signal path  1001 , which for example may be an optical fiber  1002  enclosed inside an optical cable. Optical fiber  1002  may convey or transfer optical signals in both directions.  
      According to one embodiment, terminal  1000  may receive an electrical signal  1021  via connector  1011 . The power of signal  1021  may be boosted by a signal conditioner  1015 , and then converted into an optical signal  1017  by E/O conversion module  1016 . Optical signal  1017  may then propagate along optical signal path  1002  via a multiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DEMOX) module  1018 . According to another embodiment, an optical signal  1019  may be received by module  1012  via optical signal fiber  1002  and MUX/DEMUX module  1018 . O/E conversion module  1020  may convert optical signal  1019  into an electrical signal  1022 . Electrical signal  1022  may be power boosted by signal conditioner  1015  before being passed or coupled or transferred to, via connector  1011 , an external electronic device from which electrical signal  1021  is received. According to one embodiment of the invention, a power unit  1014  may receive a power supply, via electrical interface  1011  through a media such as a wire  1013 , from an external power source, and provide the power supply or energy received, which may be a DC power supply, to signal conditioner  1015 , E/O module  1016 , and/or O/E module  1020 .  
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustration of a terminal configuration according to yet another embodiment of the invention. Terminal  1100  may include an electrical interface  1111 , which may be an electrical connector as described above, and a module  1112  having an E/O ( 1116 ) and/or an O/E ( 1120 ) conversion mechanism. According to one embodiment, module  1112  may be pigtailed by an optical signal path, for example, an optical fiber  1102  inside an optical cable  1101 . Optical fiber  1102  may transfer or convey optical signals in one or in both directions.  
      According to one embodiment, an electrical signal  1121  may be received at connector  1111 , boosted optionally in power by a signal conditioner  1115 , and converted into an optical signal  1117  by E/O conversion module  1116 . According to one embodiment, via optical signal path  1102 , an optical signal  1119  may be received by module  1112 . O/E conversion module  1120  may convert optical signal  1119  into an electrical signal  1122 , which may be optionally boosted by signal conditioner  1115  and transferred or coupled to an electronic device outside, from where electrical signal  1121  is received, via connector  1111 .  
      According to one embodiment of the invention, a power unit  1114  may provide electrical energy to signal conditioner  1115 , to E/O module  1116 , and/or to O/E module  1120 . Power unit  1114  may receive a power supply or electrical energy from an external power source (not shown) through an interface or a connectorized interface  1110  via an electrical path  1113 , for example, a wire. However, the invention is not limited in this respect. Power unit  1114  may include a battery to receive electrical power or energy to be supplied to other devices or components inside module  1112  such as signal conditioner  1115 , E/O module  1116 , and/or O/E module  1120 .  
       FIG. 12  is a block diagram illustration of a terminal configuration according to yet another embodiment of the invention. Terminal  1200  may include an electrical connector  1211  and a module  1212  having electro-optic conversion mechanisms. According to one embodiment, module  1212  may be pigtailed by an optical signal path, e.g., an optical fiber  1202  inside an optical cable  1201 . Optical fiber  1202  may transport or carry or convey optical signals in one or in both directions.  
      According to one embodiment, terminal  1200  may receive an electrical signal  1221  via connector  1211 . A signal conditioner  1215  may boost electrical signal  1221  in power, and converted electrical signal  1221  into an optical signal  1217  by an E/O conversion module  1216 . According to one embodiment, via optical signal path or optical fiber  1202 , an optical signal  1219  may be received by module  1212  via a MUX/DEMUX module  1218 , converted by an O/E conversion module  1220  into an electrical signal  1222 , boosted in power and/or conditioned in shape by signal conditioner  1215 , and transmitted or coupled or transferred to an external signal port, via electrical connector  1211 , from where electrical signal  1221  is received. Outgoing optical signal  1217  and incoming optical signal  1219  may be multiplexed by MUX/DEMUX module  1218 .  
      According to one embodiment of the invention, a power unit  1214  may provide electrical power supply or energy to, for example, signal conditioner  1215 , E/O module  1216 , and/or O/E module  1220 . The electrical energy may be received from an external power source via interface  1210 . However, the invention is not limited in this respect and the power source may be received via electrical interface  1211 . In addition, power unit  1214  may provide a power supply or electrical energy via an electrical path  1213  to a remote terminal, which may be a terminal at the other end of optical signal path  1201 , through an electrical wire  1230 . Electrical wire  1230  may be retained or confined, alongside with optical fiber  1202 , inside optical cable  1201 .  
       FIG. 13  is a block diagram illustration of a terminal configuration according to another embodiment of the invention. Terminal  1300  may include an electrical interface  1311  and a module  1312 . According to one embodiment, module  1312  may be pigtailed, for example, by an optical fiber  1302  inside an optical cable  1301 . Optical fiber  1302  may transport or carry or convey optical signals, in one or in both directions.  
      According to one embodiment, terminal  1300  may receive an electrical signal  1321  via electrical connector  1311 . A signal conditioner  1315  may boost electrical signal  1321  in power, and converted electrical signal  1321  into an optical signal  1317  by an E/O conversion module  1316 . According to one embodiment, via optical signal path  1302 , an optical signal  1319  may be received by module  1312  via a MUX/DEMUX module  1318 , converted by an O/E conversion module  1320  into an electrical signal  1322 , after boosted in power and/or conditioned in shape by signal conditioner  1315  and transmitted or coupled or transferred to an external signal port, via connector  1311 , from where electrical signal  1321  is received. Outgoing optical signal  1317  and incoming optical signal  1319  may be multiplexed at MUX/DEMUX module  1318 .  
      According to one embodiment of the invention, a power unit  1313  may provide an electrical power supply or energy to other components or devices inside module  1312  such as, for example, signal conditioner  1315 , E/O module  1316 , and/or O/E module  1320 , via an electrical path  1314 . The electrical power supply or energy may be received, via an electrical wire  1330  coming alongside with optical fiber  1302  within optical cable  1301 , from a remote terminal, for example terminal  1200  ( FIG. 12 ), at the other end of optical path or cable  1301 .  
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustration of a method for passing an electrical signal from a first to a second electronic device according to one embodiment of the invention.  
      According to one embodiment of the invention, the method may, at operation  1402 , coupling the electrical signal from a signal port of the first electronic device to a first terminal of a cable arrangement or apparatus. The coupling may be through an electrical interface or a connectorized interface. At operation  1404 , the electrical signal may be converted to an optical signal inside the first terminal through an electrical-to-optical conversion mechanism or an E/O module. For example, the mechanism may apply a light source such as a laser-diode to generate an optical signal corresponding to the input electrical signal. At operation  1406 , the generated optical signal may be conveyed through or propagate along an optical signal path of the cable arrangement to a second terminal. The cable arrangement may be, for example, one or more optical fibers. The optical fiber may be a single mode fiber a multi-mode fiber, and may be a silica based fiber or a plastic fiber or any other fibers made with materials able to transport lights or optical signals. At operation  1408 , the optical signal may be converted back into an electrical signal, inside the second terminal, which may correspond to and represent or carry the same information such as voice, image, or data information as, the original electrical signal received at the first terminal. At operation  1410 , the re-generated electrical signal may be transmitted or coupled or transferred to a signal port of the second electronic device via an electrical interface of the second terminal. The first and second electronic devices may be in general different electronic devices but the invention is not limited in this respect and the first and second electronic device may be a same device having multiple electrical signal ports.  
      While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the spirit of the invention.