Patent ID: 7543998

Claim:
A transceiver module which transmits/receives data having a first electrical signal format from an information-processing device, and transmits/receives data having a second format from other components, comprising: a connector for balanced transmission that is capable of being coupled selectively to an electrical cable for balanced transmission and a connector for balanced transmission for an optical cable to communicate with the other components using signals having the second format, the electrical cable for balanced transmission having a plurality of signal terminals, a plurality of ground terminals, and being coupled to said other components, the connector for balanced transmission for the optical cable having a plurality of signal terminals, a plurality of ground terminals, a photoelectric conversion portion executing photoelectric conversion between optical signals received from the other components and electrical signals from the connector which are communicated via these terminals, a socket for the optical cable on which the photoelectric conversion portion is mounted, the optical cable being inserted into the socket for the optical cable, and the optical cable being coupled to said other components; a detecting portion that detects whether a cable coupled to the connector for balanced transmission is one of the electrical cable and the optical cable; and a power providing portion that provides an electrical power to the optical cable when the cable detected by the detecting portion is the optical cable, and does not provide the electrical power to the electrical cable when the cable detected by the detecting portion is the electrical cable.