USB Driver Apparatus, USB External Apparatus, USB System Having the Same and USB Connect Apparatus Using Light Guide

1 . A USB driver apparatus of a host computer for exchanging data with an external apparatus having a USB terminal, the USB driver apparatus comprising:

an optical USB port connected to the USB terminal of the external apparatus and configured to exchange data with the USB terminal using an optical signal;

a USB interface part configured to input and output data through the optical USB port; and

a photoelectric converter connected between the optical USB port and the USB interface part and configured to convert an optical signal into an electrical signal and vice versa,

wherein the optical USB port and the photoelectric converter are connected to each other through an optical waveguide to transmit data as an optical signal.

2 . The USB driver apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the optical waveguide is formed of an optical fiber or a polymer optical waveguide film.

3 . The USB driver apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the optical waveguide is installed in a printed circuit board or stacked on a printed circuit board.

4 . A USB external apparatus for exchanging data with a USB driver apparatus of a terminal having a USB port, the USB external apparatus comprising:

an optical USB terminal connected to the USB port of the terminal and configured to exchange data with the USB port using an optical signal;

a USB interface part configured to input and output data through the optical USB terminal; and

a photoelectric converter connected between the optical USB terminal and the USB interface part and configured to convert an optical signal into an electrical signal and vice versa,

wherein the optical USB terminal and the photoelectric converter are connected to each other through the optical waveguide to transmit data as an optical signal.

5 . The USB external apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the optical waveguide is formed of an optical fiber or a polymer optical waveguide film.

6 . The USB external apparatus according to 4 , wherein the optical waveguide is installed in a printed circuit board or stacked on a printed circuit board.

7 . The USB external apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the USB external apparatus is a USB memory.

8 . A USB system including a USB driver apparatus of a host computer having an optical USB port, and a USB external apparatus for exchanging data with the host computer through an optical USB terminal connected to the optical USB port,

wherein the USB driver apparatus comprises a first USB interface part configured to input and output data through the optical USB port, and a first photoelectric converter connected between the optical USB port and the first USB interface part to convert an optical signal into an electrical signal and vice versa, the optical USB port and the first photoelectric converter being connected to each other through an optical waveguide to transmit data as an optical signal,

the USB external apparatus comprises a second USB interface part configured to input and output data through the optical USB terminal, and a second photoelectric converter connected between the optical USB terminal and the second USB interface part to convert an optical signal into an electrical signal and vice versa, the optical USB terminal and the second photoelectric converter being connected to each other through an optical waveguide to transmit data as an optical signal, and

the USB driver apparatus and the USB external apparatus exchange data with each other through connection to the optical USB port and the optical USB terminal, and the optical waveguides are installed in the USB driver apparatus and the USB external apparatus to exchange data using an optical signal.

9 . The USB system according to claim 8 , wherein the optical waveguide is formed of an optical fiber or a polymer optical waveguide film.

10 . The USB system according to claim 8 , wherein the optical waveguide is installed in a printed circuit board or stacked on a printed circuit board.

11 . The USB system according to claim 8 , wherein the optical USB port and the optical USB terminal comprise guide pins and guide holes corresponding to the respective optical waveguides to optically align the optical waveguides with each other such that the optical waveguides can be optically connected to each other through coupling of the guide pins to the guide holes.

12 . The USB system according to claim 11 , wherein the guide pins and the guide holes are formed of a conductive material and coupled to each other to supply power to the USB driver apparatus and the USB external apparatus.

13 . A USB connection apparatus for connecting at least two different USB driver apparatuses having optical USB ports to each other, the USB connection apparatus including:

at least two optical USB terminals coupled to the optical USB ports and having optical waveguides therein; and

an optical waveguide cable configured to connect the optical USB terminals to each other.

14 . The USB connection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the optical USB port and the optical USB terminal comprise guide pins and guide holes corresponding to the optical waveguides to align the optical waveguides with each other such that the optical waveguides are optically connected to each other through coupling of the guide pins to the guide holes.

15 . The USB connection apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the guide pins and the guide holes are formed of a conductive material and coupled to each other to supply power to the USB driver apparatus and the USB external apparatus.

16 . The USB connection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the optical waveguide is formed of an optical fiber or a polymer optical waveguide film.