Active Optical Cable Retiming for Jitter and Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-speed communication solutions, particularly at 10 Gbps, face challenges with copper-based solutions due to high power consumption and limited port density, while optical solutions are costly and may introduce significant jitter, limiting their effectiveness and practicality for network applications.
Innovation Solution
An active communication cable that uses optical fibers for most of its length with integrated electrical connectors at both ends, incorporating retiming mechanisms to manage jitter and power efficiently, allowing for flexible deployment as either copper-based or optical communication, supporting high-speed data transfer up to 10 Gbps and beyond.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If copper-based solutions are used for 10 Gbps communication, then bandwidth capacity is achieved, but power consumption increases significantly and port density is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces copper-based electrical transmission with optical fiber transmission for the cable interconnect portion of the system. This substitution eliminates the high power consumption associated with copper signal transmission and enables higher port density since optical transceivers consume significantly less power than copper interfaces, allowing more ports to be packed into the same rack space.
2Reliability
If optical solutions are used for high-speed communication, then transmission distance and bandwidth are improved, but cost increases and jitter is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication link into three distinct portions: (1) an electrical copper portion within the first network device, (2) an optical fiber cable portion for transmission, and (3) an electrical copper portion within the second network device. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently - the cable portion uses low-cost optical fiber without complex signal processing, while the device portions handle electrical-to-optical conversion and signal processing, thereby reducing overall system cost and jitter.
3Length of stationary object
If copper cable length is extended for longer distance communication, then coverage area increases, but signal quality degrades and jitter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces long-distance copper cable transmission with optical fiber transmission in the cable portion of the system. Optical fiber can transmit signals over much longer distances without signal degradation or jitter accumulation, thereby extending the effective cable length while maintaining signal quality and reliability.
4Productivity
If optical transceivers are used at both ends of the cable, then communication performance is optimized, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical interface requirement so that only the cable portion uses optical fiber transmission, while the network devices can use standard electrical copper interfaces. This segmentation reduces system cost by eliminating the need for expensive optical transceivers in the network devices, while still achieving high-speed communication through the optical cable portion.
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
This solution reduces power consumption, increases port density, and minimizes jitter, enabling cost-effective and efficient high-speed communication over longer distances without the need for complex signal processing, thus addressing the limitations of both copper and optical solutions.
Implementation Method 1
an optical transmitter, a fiber optic medium, and an optical receiver
Implementation Method 2
an optical transmitter, a fiber optic medium, and an optical receiver
Implementation Method 3
a fiber optic medium
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 includes an integrated retiming mechanism. Thus, multiple links of cable may be used while reducing the chance that the jitter will exceed allowable limits. The cable may be an electrical to optical cable, and electrical to electrical cable, or one of many other potential configurations.