Patent ID: 8403571

Claim:
An active optical cable assembly comprising: a fiber optic cable comprising at least one optical fiber; a host active circuit optically coupled to the fiber optic cable comprising a host termination impedance coupled to a host input line and a host termination switch, the host termination switch operable to selectively couple the host termination impedance to a ground reference potential; a client active circuit optically coupled to the fiber optic cable comprising a client termination impedance coupled to a client input line and a client termination switch, the client termination switch operable to selectively couple the client termination impedance to the ground reference potential; a host connector, wherein the host active circuit is positioned between a first end of the host connector and the fiber optic cable, and the host connector is configured to be removably coupled to a host port of a host device; a client connector, wherein the client active circuit is positioned between a first end of the client connector and the fiber optic cable, and the client connector is configured to be removably coupled to a client port of a client device; and wherein: upon a connection between the host active circuit and a host device, the client termination switch closes to couple the client termination impedance to the ground reference potential; and upon a connection between the client active circuit and a client device, the host termination switch closes to the couple the host termination impedance to the ground reference potential.