Hybrid Electrical Optical Data Power Cable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Ethernet cabling systems, such as PoE, are inadequate for meeting increasing data transmission bandwidth requirements, particularly for high-definition video streams and associated audio, as they are limited to 1 Gigabit Ethernet, making them obsolete for future data transmission needs.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid electrical/optical data/power cabling system that combines a power transmission layer and an optical data signal transmission layer within a single cable, allowing for increased data transmission bandwidth by converting electrical data signals to optical signals for transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional Ethernet cabling (Cat5, Cat6, Cat7) is used with PoE systems, then power and data transmission is achieved, but data transmission bandwidth is limited to maximum 1 GbE
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrical power transmission conductors and optical data signal transmission conductors into a single hybrid cable assembly. This merging allows the cable to simultaneously carry both power and high-bandwidth optical data signals, resolving the contradiction by enabling future-proof data transmission capabilities while maintaining power delivery functionality through one unified infrastructure rather than separate cables
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid cable is designed to perform multiple functions: transmitting electrical power through copper conductors and transmitting optical data signals through optical conductors within the same cable assembly. This multi-functionality allows a single cable to replace both traditional power cables and Ethernet data cables, providing adaptability for both current PoE requirements and future high-bandwidth applications
2Device complexity
If a single cable transmits both power and data, then cable complexity is reduced, but transmission bandwidth is limited by electrical signal constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using optical conductors (such as optical fibers) within the hybrid cable to transmit data signals. These optical intermediaries carry data as light signals rather than electrical signals, enabling high-bandwidth transmission while the same cable simultaneously uses electrical conductors for power delivery. This intermediary optical transmission layer resolves the bandwidth limitation of purely electrical cables while maintaining the simplicity of a single unified cable structure
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
Enables higher data transmission bandwidth, supporting future data requirements by transmitting both power and optical data signals through a single cable, thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional Ethernet cabling systems.
Implementation Method 1
converting electrical data signals to optical signals for transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid electrical/optical data/power cabling system includes a pair of cable connectors and an elongated cable base extending between the cable connectors. A first hybrid electrical/optical data/power wire extends through the elongated cable base and is connected to each of the cable connectors. A first power transmission layer in the first hybrid electrical/optical data/power wire is configured to transmit power between the cable connectors, and a first optical data signal transmission layer included in the first hybrid electrical/optical data/power wire is configured to transmit optical data signals between the cable connectors. In some examples, the first power transmission layer may include a tubular cylindrical power transmission layer, and the first optical data signal transmission layer may include a tubular optical data signal transmission layer that is positioned within the tubular cylindrical power transmission layer.