Patent ID: 8744270

Claim:
An avionics device configured to be installed on board an aircraft, the avionics device comprising: a receptacle comprising at least one wall having an opening defined therein; means for processing information having an electrical coupling, the means configured to be installed in the receptacle; an electro-optical connector interface configured to at least one of receive and transmit information through an optical bus and coupled to the means for processing information; and an optical bus comprising: an optical cable; and an optical connector at an end of the optical cable; wherein the optical connector is inserted in the at least one wall of the receptacle in a fixed and irremovable way; wherein the optical connector is configured to be releasably coupled with the electro-optical connector interface when the means for processing information is installed in the receptacle; wherein the electro-optical connector interface comprises: an electrical coupling interface for connecting to the electrical coupling of the means for processing information, and configured to at least one of transmit and receive information in the form of electrical signals through the electrical coupling, the electrical coupling interface comprising a means for electrical coupling configured to be inserted into the electrical coupling of the means for processing information; and an optical connection interface for connecting to the optical bus, and for at least one of transmitting and receiving information in the form of optical signals through the optical bus, the optical connection interface comprising a means for optical contact configured to be connected to the optical bus, the optical connection interface configured to at least one of: convert electrical signals from the electrical coupling interface into optical signals and transmit the optical signals to the optical connection interface, and convert optical signals from the optical connection interface into electrical signals and transmit the electrical signals to the electrical coupling interface, and wherein the electro-optical connector interface is configured to at least one of convert the electrical signals into optical signals and convert the optical signals into electrical signals.