Patent ID: 6980588

Claim:
An apparatus for handling a plurality of high speed data communication signals; said plurality of communication signals being delivered to the apparatus in at least one input channel; each respective communication signal of said plurality of communication signals being expressed as a respective encoded signal embodied in signal excursions in at least one predetermined format operating within at least one excursion range; the apparatus comprising: (a) at least one input locus coupled with said at least one input channel for receiving said plurality of communication signals; (b) at least one output locus configured for presenting selected communication signals of said plurality of communication signals for further treatment in a desired format in at least one output channel; and (c) a plurality of treating circuits for treating said signal excursions in a plurality of formats; said plurality of formats including said at least one predetermined format and said desired format; each respective treating circuit of said plurality of treating circuits being coupled with at least one said respective input locus and coupled with at least one said respective output locus; wherein the apparatus presenting sufficiently low capacitance between said at least one input locus and said at least one output locus to impart substantially zero time delay to said plurality of communication signals.