Optical cable with integrated electrical connector
A connection cable includes an optical cable and an integrated electrical connector. The integrated electrical connector is permanently fixed to the optical cable. The integrated electrical connector is for plug-in connection to a matching electrical connector on a target device.
1 . A connection cable comprising:
an optical cable; and,
an integrated electrical connector permanently fixed to the optical cable, the integrated electrical connector being for plug-in connection to a matching electrical connector on a target device.
2 . A connection cable as in claim 1 additionally comprising:
a second integrated electrical connector permanently fixed to the optical cable, the second integrated electrical connector being for plug-in connection to a matching electrical connector on a second target device.
3 . A connection cable as in claim 1 wherein the optical cable consists of a single optical fiber.
4 . A connection cable as in claim 1 wherein the optical cable consists of multiple optical fibers.
5 . A connection cable as in claim 1 wherein data transmission through the optical cable is at least one of the following:
digital data transmission;
analog data transmission.
6 . A connection cable as in claim 1 wherein the matching electrical connector is compatible with at least on of the following protocols:
universal serial bus (USB) protocol;
USB 2;
IEEE 1394 (Firewire);
Firewire 800;
Ethernet;
Enterprise Systems Connection (ESCON);
Infiniband;
a proprietary system interconnection.
7 . A connection cable as in claim 1 wherein data transmission through the optical cable is compatible with at least one of the following:
synchronous optical network (Sonet) protocol; optical fibre channel protocol;
Ethernet protocol.
8 . A method for constructing a connection cable comprising the following step:
permanently fixing an integrated electrical connector to an optical cable, the integrated electrical connector being for plug-in connection to a matching electrical connector on a target device.
9 . A method as in claim 8 additionally comprising the following step:
permanently fixing a second integrated electrical connector to the optical cable, the second integrated electrical connector being for plug-in connection to a matching electrical connector on a second target device.
10 . A method as in claim 8 wherein the optical cable consists of a single optical fiber.
11 . A method as in claim 8 wherein the optical cable consists of multiple optical fibers.
12 . A method as in claim 8 wherein data transmission through the optical cable is at least one of the following:
digital data transmission;
analog data transmission.
13 . A method as in claim 8 wherein the matching electrical connector is compatible with at least on of the following protocols:
universal serial bus (USB) protocol;
USB 2;
IEEE 1394 (Firewire);
Firewire 800;
Ethernet;
Enterprise Systems Connection (ESCON);
Infiniband;
a proprietary system interconnection.
14 . A method as in claim 8 wherein data transmission through the optical cable is compatible with at least one of the following:
synchronous optical network (Sonet) protocol; optical fibre channel protocol;
Ethernet protocol.
15 . A method for connecting two target devices comprising the following steps:
plugging a first integrated electrical connector permanently affixed to an optical cable into a matching electrical connector of a first target device; and,
plugging a second integrated electrical connector permanently affixed to the optical cable into a matching electrical connector of a second target device.
16 . A method as in claim 15 wherein the optical cable consists of a single optical fiber.
17 . A method as in claim 15 wherein the optical cable consists of multiple optical fibers.
18 . A method as in claim 15 wherein data transmission through the optical cable is at least one of the following:
digital data transmission;
analog data transmission.
19 . A method as in claim 15 wherein the matching electrical connector is compatible with at least on of the following protocols:
universal serial bus (USB) protocol;
USB 2;
IEEE 1394 (Firewire);
Firewire 800;
Ethernet;
Enterprise Systems Connection (ESCON);
Infiniband;
a proprietary system interconnection.
20 . A method as in claim 15 wherein data transmission through the optical cable is compatible with at least one of the following:
synchronous optical network (Sonet) protocol; optical fibre channel protocol;
Ethernet protocol.