Patent ID: 7527527

Claim:
An assembly comprising: a first electrical component comprising a first electrical connector adapted to be connected to a power supply line from a voltage source and, wherein the first electrical connector comprises a first non-signal contact adapted to be connected to the power supply line and a plurality of signal contacts; and a cable assembly adapted to be connected to the first electrical connector, wherein the cable assembly comprises: a first cable assembly comprising a first electrical cable and a second electrical connector at an end of the first electrical cable, wherein the first cable comprises a first length, wherein the second electrical connector comprises a plurality of signal contacts, a second non-signal contact and an active electronic circuit inside the second electrical connector which is connected to the second non-signal contact, wherein the active electronic circuit is powered, in operation, by the power supply line of the first electrical component through the non-signal contacts, and an alternative second cable assembly comprising a second electrical cable and a third electrical connector at an end of the second electrical cable, wherein the second cable has a second length which is shorter than the first length of the first electrical cable, wherein the third electrical connector comprises a third non-signal contact and a plurality of signal contacts, wherein the third non-signal contact is connected to the first non-signal contact when the second cable assembly is connected to the first electrical connector, wherein the third electrical connector does not comprise the active electronic circuit, wherein the first and second cable assemblies are adapted to be alternatively connected to the first electrical connector of the first electrical component to accommodate different distances between the first electrical component and another electrical component without substantially poorer signal quality between the electrical components and without unnecessary use of the active electronic circuit when the distance between the electrical components allows the relatively shorter length of the second cable to be used.