Active optical cable with integrated retiming

US7712976B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• FINISAR CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Lewis B. Aronson · Los Altos, US
• Greta Light · San Mateo, US
• The-Linh Nguyen · San Jose, US
• Darin James Douma · Monrovia, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 10, 2006
• Grant date: May 11, 2010
• Expiry date: Apr 10, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/4416
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

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.