Active Optical Cable with Integrated Pre-emphasis and Equalization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-speed communication solutions, particularly at 10 Gbps, face challenges with copper-based solutions due to high power consumption, bulky cables, and limited port density, while optical solutions are costly and may not be feasible for all applications.
Innovation Solution
An active communication cable that uses optical fibers for most of its length with integrated electrical connectors at both ends, allowing for high-speed communication over distances of up to 100 meters and supporting both copper-based and optical communication standards, thereby reducing power consumption and increasing port density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If copper-based solutions are used for 10 Gbps communication, then cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but power consumption increases and port density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces copper-based electrical transmission with optical fiber transmission for the cable interconnect portion of the system. Optical signals carry data through the cable while electrical signals are used only at the transceiver ends, eliminating the need for high-power copper signaling over long distances and reducing overall power consumption while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized optical components
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into distinct segments: electrical transceivers at each end and an optical cable interconnect in the middle. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal domain - electrical signals for short-distance connector interfaces and optical signals for long-distance cable transmission - thereby reducing power consumption in the cable portion while keeping the system manufacturable with standardized components
2Ease of manufacture
If copper-based solutions are used for 10 Gbps communication, then cost is reduced, but cable size increases and port density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes optical fiber for copper cable in the interconnect portion. Optical fibers have significantly smaller diameter and lighter weight compared to copper cables required for 10 Gbps transmission. This substitution reduces cable volume while maintaining cost-effectiveness through standardized optical components and reduced material requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission medium parameter from electrical (copper) to optical (fiber). This parameter change enables smaller cable dimensions because optical fibers require less physical space to transmit the same data rate over the same distance, thereby increasing port density without sacrificing cost-effectiveness
3Use of energy by moving object
If optical solutions are used for high-speed communication, then power consumption is reduced and port density is increased, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal cable system that can be used across multiple applications and distances. The optical cable infrastructure serves both short and long-distance connections, replacing the need for separate copper and optical solutions. This universality reduces overall system cost through standardized components and infrastructure while maintaining low power consumption and high port density benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses standardized optical transceiver modules (such as SFP modules) that can be replicated and deployed across multiple ports. These modular transceivers reduce cost through economies of scale and standardized manufacturing, while the optical cable infrastructure provides consistent low-power performance across all deployed units
4Adaptability or versatility
If copper-based solutions are used for 10 Gbps communication, then adaptability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the optical cable system to be universally compatible with standard optical transceivers and networking equipment. The cable can adapt to various transmission distances and configurations while maintaining efficient optical transmission. This universality provides adaptability comparable to copper solutions while achieving superior power consumption through optical transmission physics
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient high-speed communication over long distances with reduced power consumption and increased port density, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional optical solutions by allowing either copper-based or optical communication without the need for separate optical ports.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical fiber within the integrated cable, the first optical fiber having a first end and a second end
Data Source
AI summary
An active cable that is configured to communicate over much of its length using one or more optical fibers, and that includes an integrated electrical connector at least one end. The active cable can include a circuit disposed in the integrated cable, the circuit configured to provide pre-emphasis of the second electrical signal. The pre-emphasis can be accomplished by either boosting high frequency content or removing low frequency content from the first or second electrical signals. The active cable can also include circuitry configured to provide equalization of the first electrical signal within the integrated cable. The preemphasis and/or equalization can be fixed, adjustable, or adaptable. The preemphasis and/or equalization can be host selectable via a serial interface of the integrated cable, which can include I2C.