Patent ID: 8923704

Claim:
A host computer system comprising: a host housing; a receptacle formed in the host housing and configured to pluggably receive an optical module having a module housing; and a controller positioned internal to the host housing and external to the module housing and configured to control the optical module, wherein the controller comprises: an analog interface adapted to at least one of deliver analog signals to the optical module and receive analog signals from the optical module, and a digital interface adapted to connect to a bus having at least a clock line and a data line to receive digital diagnostic parameters including a digital representation of operating characteristics of the optical module, wherein: the controller is configured to adjust its operation based on the received operating characteristics to allow for proper operation of the optical module, the controller is adapted to connect to the optical module through the analog and digital interfaces via the receptacle, and the digital diagnostic parameters include setup, identification, eye safety and fault detection, and temperature compensation.