JP2015159415A - optical cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical cable capable of surely notifying a connector of a connection state with a host device while reducing power consumption.SOLUTION: An optical cable comprises a cable part 10 including an optical fiber 11, a first connector 20 which is provided in one end of the cable part 10 and can be electrically connected to a first host device, and a second connector which is provided in the other end of the cable part 10 and can be electrically connected to a second host device. The first connector 20 comprises: a connector part 21 which includes a signal terminal and a power supply terminal and can be electrically connected to the first host device; a light-emitting element 24 which converts an electric signal to an optical signal; a detection unit 27 which operates on the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal and detects electric disconnection of the signal terminal from the first host device; and a backup power supply 26 which supplies power supply voltage to the detection unit 27 after the signal terminal is electrically disconnected from the first host device.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical cable.

  Conventionally, an active optical cable including a photoelectric conversion element in connectors at both ends of an optical cable is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In an active optical cable, an electrical signal from a host device to which a connector at one end is connected is converted into an optical signal within the connector and transmitted to the connector at the other end with the optical cable.

International Publication No. 2013/099494

  In the active optical cable described above, the connection state with the host device to which the connector at one end is connected is notified to the connector at the other end via the optical cable. As the notification method, for example, there is a method in which an optical signal is transmitted at a constant time interval from a light emitting element in one connector to another connector. According to this method, when the connector at one end is pulled out from the host device and the connector at one end and the host device are not electrically connected, the light is directed from the connector at one end toward the connector at the other end. Since the signal is not transmitted, the connection state can be notified to the connector at the other end when the optical signal is not transmitted.

  Here, in the above method, even if there is no data transmission using the active optical cable, an optical signal is transmitted at a constant interval, so that power consumption may increase. In order to reduce power consumption, when there is no data transmission, an optical signal is not transmitted from the light emitting element in the connector at one end to the connector at the other end, and one end when the connector at one end is pulled out from the host device. It is preferable to transmit an optical signal from the light emitting element in the connector toward the connector on the other end. However, since the power supply to the connector stops when the connector is pulled out, in this method, an optical signal for notifying the connection state is sent from the light emitting element in the connector at one end to the connector at the other end. May not be able to send.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable that can reliably notify a connection state with a host device while reducing power consumption.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an optical cable according to the present invention includes a cable unit including an optical fiber, a first connector provided at one end of the cable unit and electrically connectable to a first host device, and a cable unit. And a second connector electrically connectable to the second host device, wherein the first connector includes a signal terminal and a power supply terminal and can be electrically connected to the first host device. A connector unit, a light emitting element that converts an electrical signal supplied from a signal terminal into an optical signal and outputs it to an optical fiber, and a power supply voltage supplied from a power supply terminal. Detection means for detecting that the power supply is disconnected, and a power supply means or a power supply structure for supplying a power supply voltage to the detection means after the signal terminal is electrically disconnected from the first host device, A second connector having a light receiving element for converting an optical signal output from the optical fiber into an electric signal.

  According to the optical cable of the present invention, it is possible to reliably notify the connection state with the host device while reducing power consumption.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an optical cable according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining details of the first connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector portion according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when plug-out is detected. FIG. 5 is a view for explaining details of the first connector according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connector portion according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a view for explaining details of the first connector according to the third embodiment.

[Description of Embodiment of Present Invention]
First, the contents of the embodiment of the present invention will be listed and described. (1) An optical cable according to the present invention is provided at a cable portion including an optical fiber, a first connector provided at one end of the cable portion and electrically connectable to a first host device, and provided at the other end of the cable portion. A second connector electrically connectable to the second host device, the first connector including a signal terminal and a power supply terminal, and a connector portion electrically connectable to the first host device; a signal; The signal terminal is electrically disconnected from the first host device by operating with a light emitting element that converts an electrical signal supplied from the terminal into an optical signal and outputting it to the optical fiber, and a power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal. And a power supply means or a power supply structure for supplying a power supply voltage to the detection means after the signal terminal is electrically disconnected from the first host device, and the second connector is , Having a light receiving element for converting an optical signal output from the fiber into an electrical signal.

  In the optical cable according to the present invention, the detection means of the first connector detects that the signal terminal is electrically disconnected from the first host device. Then, after being electrically disconnected, the power supply voltage is supplied from the power supply means or the power supply structure to the detection means. Since the power supply voltage is supplied to the first connector after being electrically disconnected from the first host device, the supplied power supply voltage is provided even when the first connector is electrically disconnected from the host device. Can be used to notify the second connector of the electrical disconnection. For this reason, when there is no data transmission, the optical signal is transmitted when the first connector is electrically disconnected from the first host device while reducing the power consumption without transmitting / receiving the optical signal between the connectors. It can be configured to transmit and receive. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical cable that can reliably notify a connection state with a host device while reducing power consumption.

  (2) In the above optical cable, the power supply means is a backup power supply that is electrically connected to the power supply terminal and can store electricity based on the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal. The backup power supply includes a signal terminal and a power supply terminal. The stored power supply voltage may be supplied to the detection means after being electrically disconnected from the first host device. In this optical cable, the power supply means is a backup power supply that stores electricity based on the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal. Then, after the signal terminal and the power supply terminal are electrically disconnected from the first host device, the stored power supply voltage is supplied to the detection means by the backup power supply. For this reason, when the first connector is electrically disconnected from the first host device, the power supply voltage can be reliably supplied to the detection means.

  (3) In the above optical cable, the power supply structure includes the tip of the signal terminal and the tip of the power terminal, and the tip of the power terminal is closer to the tip of the first connector than the tip of the signal terminal. May be located. At the front end of the signal terminal and the front end of the power supply terminal that are power supply structures, the front end of the signal terminal is located closer to the front end of the first connector than the front end of the power supply terminal. For this reason, when the first connector is disconnected from the first host device, the power terminal is disconnected after the signal terminal is disconnected. Since there is a time from when the signal terminal is disconnected until the power terminal is disconnected, that is, until the power supply is stopped, the power supply voltage can be supplied to the detection means at that time. For this reason, when the first connector is electrically disconnected from the first host device, the power supply voltage can be reliably supplied to the detection means.

  (4) In the above optical cable, the power supply means may further include a delay circuit electrically connected to the power supply terminal. By having a delay circuit that causes a time delay in the output signal with respect to the input signal, the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal with a time difference when the first connector is electrically disconnected from the first host device. The detection means can be supplied. For this reason, when the first connector is electrically disconnected from the first host device, the power supply voltage can be reliably supplied to the detection means.

[Details of the embodiment of the present invention]
Specific examples of the optical cable according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to these illustrations, is shown by the claim, and intends that all the changes within the meaning and range equivalent to the claim are included. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements in the description of the drawings, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical cable 1 according to the first embodiment. The optical cable 1 of this embodiment is an active optical cable (AOC: Active Optical Cable) provided with connectors having photoelectric conversion functions at both ends. The optical cable 1 includes a cable portion 10 including an optical fiber 11, a first connector 20 provided at one end of the cable portion 10, and a second connector 30 provided at the other end of the cable portion 10.

  The cable unit 10 is a cable including, for example, four optical fibers 11. Of the four optical fibers 11, two are optical fibers 11 a that transmit optical signals from the first connector 20 to the second connector 30, and the remaining two are from the second connector 30 to the first connector 20. This is an optical fiber 11b for transmitting an optical signal. Further, the cable portion 10 may include a metal wire. The metal line may be used as a power line or a ground line, or may be a signal line used when synchronizing the first connector 20 and the second connector 30. For example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can be used as the covering portion 12 of the cable portion 10, but is not limited thereto, and is conventionally used from the viewpoint of heat dissipation, pinch resistance, side pressure resistance, and the like. Various cables can be used.

  The first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are connectors that can be electrically connected to the host device. In the present embodiment, the first connector 20 is electrically connected to a personal computer that is a first host device, an audio / video medium playback device or the like (hereinafter, the personal computer 50 is exemplified as the first host device). The The second connector 30 is electrically connected to a display 60 that is a second host device. Since the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 have the same configuration, the detailed configuration of the first connector 20 will be described below, and the description of the second connector 30 will be omitted.

  Details of the first connector 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 together. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining details of the first connector 20 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector portion 21 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the first connector 20 is an optical connector that is an optical interface between a connector portion 21 that can be electrically connected to a personal computer 50, a controller 22 that controls the first connector 20, and the cable portion 10. 23, a light emitting element 24 that converts an electrical signal into an optical signal, and a light receiving element 25 that converts an optical signal into an electrical signal. The light emitting element 24 is a photoelectric conversion element related to signal transmission to the second connector 30. The light receiving element 25 is a photoelectric conversion element related to signal reception from the second connector 30.

  The connector unit 21 is an electrical interface with the personal computer 50 that is electrically connected to the personal computer 50. The connector portion 21 can have the same shape as, for example, a connector corresponding to a mini display port that is a standard of a video output interface. As shown in FIG. 3, the connector portion 21 includes a pin connector. The arrangement of the pin connector can be the same as the connector corresponding to the mini display.

  The connector part 21 includes a signal terminal 21a and a power supply terminal 21b. The signal terminal 21a is a pin connector related to transmission / reception of electric signals with the personal computer 50 which is a host device. The signal terminal 21a is electrically connected to a personal link 50, a main link lane terminal used for transmission of display data and audio data, an auxiliary channel terminal used for device control, a configuration terminal used for configuration transmission / reception, and the personal computer 50. And a plug-in detection terminal used when detecting this. The power terminal 21 b is a pin connector related to power supply from the personal computer 50. The power supply terminal 21b includes a power supply terminal that supplies 3.3V power and a ground terminal.

  Refer to FIG. 2 again. The controller 22 controls signal transmission in the first connector 20. The controller 22 operates with a power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal 21b. The controller 22 controls the signal transmission to be performed in either the high speed mode or the low speed mode. The high speed mode is a mode for transmitting and receiving audio data, image data, and the like between the first connector 20 and the second connector 30. The controller 22 performs control so that the electrical signal transmitted from the personal computer 50 to the connector unit 21 is output to the light emitting element 24 during signal transmission in the high-speed mode. In this case, the electrical signal output to the light emitting element 24 is converted into an optical signal and then output to the optical fiber 11 a of the cable portion 10 via the optical connector 23. In addition, the controller 22 receives the optical signal output from the optical fiber 11 b at the light receiving element 25 when receiving the signal in the high speed mode. Then, the controller 22 performs control so that the electrical signal converted from the optical signal in the light receiving element 25 is output to the connector unit 21. That is, in the high-speed mode, the controller 22 performs control so that electric signals are input and output between the connector unit 21 and the light emitting element 24 and the light receiving element 25.

  On the other hand, the low-speed mode is a mode for transmitting and receiving a lower-speed optical signal between the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 than in the high-speed mode in a scene that is not at the time of data transmission such as audio data. For example, handshake communication performed to establish a communication rule between the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 when a plug-in is detected is controlled in the low-speed mode. Further, when the first connector 20 is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50 (plug-out is detected), communication in which an optical signal notifying plug-out is transmitted from the first connector 20 to the second connector 30 is performed. Controlled in low speed mode.

  The controller 22 performs control so that the electrical signal transmitted from the personal computer 50 to the connector unit 21 is output to the controller 22 during signal transmission in the low-speed mode. Then, the controller 22 outputs a low-speed electrical signal to the light emitting element 24. In this case, the electrical signal is converted into an optical signal by the light emitting element 24, and is output to the optical fiber 11a as a low-speed optical signal. In addition, the controller 22 receives the low-speed optical signal output from the optical fiber 11 b at the light receiving element 25 when receiving the signal in the low-speed mode. Then, the controller 22 performs control so that a low-speed electrical signal converted from a low-speed optical signal in the light receiving element 25 is output to the controller 22. Then, the controller 22 outputs an electrical signal to the connector unit 21. That is, in the low speed mode, the controller 22 controls the low speed electrical signal to be input / output between the controller 22 and the light emitting element 24 and the light receiving element 25. Details of the control of the controller 22 when plug-out is detected in the case of being controlled in the low-speed mode will be described later.

  The controller 22 includes a detection unit 27 and an emulation unit 28 as a configuration related to plug-in detection. The detection unit 27 detects that the first connector 20 is electrically connected to the personal computer 50 when an electrical signal is received from the connector unit 21. As described above, the connector portion 21 has the signal terminal 21a. The signal terminal 21a includes a plug-in detection terminal used when detecting that the personal computer 50 is electrically connected. When the plug-in detection terminal of the signal terminal 21a is electrically connected to the personal computer 50, an electric signal is output to the detection unit 27 of the controller 22 via the plug-in detection terminal. The detection unit 27 detects that the first connector 20 is electrically connected to the personal computer 50 by detecting the electric signal. The detection unit 27 outputs the plug-in detection result and the information of the personal computer 50 as the host device to the light emitting element 24 by a low-speed electric signal. Based on these pieces of information, the second connector 30 emulates the display 60 that is a host device.

  The emulator 28 detects that plug-in is detected in the second connector 30 that is a pair of connectors, that is, the second connector 30 detects that the second connector 30 is electrically connected to the display 60. In this case, the electrical characteristics of the personal computer 50 that is the host device of the first connector 20 are emulated based on the detection result and information on the display 60 to which the second connector 30 is electrically connected. The above-described detection result and information on the display 60 are transmitted from the second connector 30 through the optical fiber 11b, converted into an electrical signal by the light receiving element 25, and then output to the emulation unit 28.

  Further, the detection unit 27 has a function as detection means for detecting plug-out. Specifically, the detection unit 27 detects that the signal terminal 21a of the connector unit 21 (more specifically, the plug-in detection terminal of the signal terminal 21a) is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50. When detecting the plug-out, the detection unit 27 inputs the detection result to the light emitting element 24 as a low-speed electric signal. Then, the electrical signal is converted into an optical signal by the light emitting element 24, the optical signal is output to the optical fiber 11b, and the plug-out is notified to the second connector 30.

  Here, at the timing when the detection unit 27 detects the plug-out, the power terminal 21b as well as the signal terminal 21a are electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50. For this reason, supply of the power supply voltage from the power supply terminal 21b to the controller 22 is stopped at the timing when the detection unit 27 detects the plug-out. Accordingly, the supply of the power supply voltage to the detection unit 27 is also stopped.

  When the non-communication state in which data transmission is not performed between the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 continues for a certain time (for example, about 0.1 s to 30 s), the first connector 20 Enter standby mode. In the standby mode, the light emitting element 24, the light receiving element 25, and the like are not activated. Therefore, no optical signal is transmitted or received between the first connector 20 and the second connector 30. For example, even in the standby mode, if transmission / reception of an optical signal between connectors is performed at a predetermined interval or the like, transmission / reception of the optical signal is not performed when the plug-out described above occurs. The occurrence of plug-out can be detected at the opposite connector. However, in the present embodiment, optical signals are not transmitted / received in the standby mode from the viewpoint of power saving. Therefore, in order to detect the occurrence of plug-out in the connector opposite to the side where the plug-out has occurred, a signal notifying that the plug-out has occurred is issued from the connector on the side where the plug-out has occurred. It is necessary to receive. As described above, when the plug-out is detected by the detection unit 27, the supply of the power supply voltage from the power supply terminal 21b to the detection unit 27 is stopped. Therefore, the first connector 20 cannot make a plug-out notification based on the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal 21 b to the second connector 30.

  Therefore, the first connector 20 according to the present embodiment includes power supply means for supplying power voltage to the detection unit 27 after the signal terminal 21 a is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50. Specifically, the power supply means of the first connector 20 is a backup power supply 26 that is electrically connected to the power supply terminal 21b and can store electricity based on the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal 21b. The backup power source 26 is, for example, a lead storage battery.

  Since the backup power supply 26 is electrically connected to the power supply terminal 21b, the power supplied from the personal computer 50 via the power supply terminal 21b when the power supply terminal 21b and the personal computer 50 are electrically connected. Voltage can be stored. The backup power supply 26 supplies the stored power supply voltage to the controller 22, that is, the detection unit 27 after the signal terminal 21 a and the power supply terminal 21 b are electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when plug-out is detected. Hereinafter, the operation of the optical cable 1 when plug-out is detected will be described with reference to FIG. First, the signal terminal 21a of the connector portion 21 (more specifically, the plug-in detection terminal of the signal terminal 21a) is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50, and plug disconnection occurs (step S1). At this time, after the signal terminal 21a and the power supply terminal 21b are electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50 by the backup power supply 26, the stored power supply voltage starts to be supplied to the detection unit 27 (step S2).

  Subsequently, the detection unit 27 detects that the signal terminal 21a of the connector unit 21 is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50 (step S3). Subsequently, the plug-out detection result is input to the light emitting element 24 by the detection unit 27 driven by the power supply voltage supplied to the backup power supply 26. Then, an optical signal is transmitted from the light emitting element 24 to the second connector 30 via the optical fiber 11a, so that the plug-out is notified to the second connector 30 (step S4).

  An effect obtained by the optical cable 1 of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. In the optical cable 1, the detection unit 27 of the first connector 20 detects that the signal terminal 21 a is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50 that is the first host device. Then, after being electrically disconnected, a power supply voltage is supplied to the detection unit 27 from a backup power supply 26 that is a power supply means. Since the power supply voltage is supplied to the first connector 20 after being electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50, even if the first connector 20 is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50, the supplied power supply voltage is Utilizing this, the first connector 20 can notify the second connector 30 that it has been electrically disconnected. Therefore, when there is no data transmission, the first connector 20 is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50 while reducing power consumption without transmitting / receiving optical signals between the connectors 20 and 30 as a standby mode. Can be configured to transmit and receive optical signals. As described above, according to the optical cable 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an optical cable that can reliably notify the connection state with the host device while reducing power consumption.

  Further, in the optical cable 1 according to the present embodiment, the power supply means is the backup power supply 26 that is electrically connected to the power supply terminal 21b and can store electricity based on the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal 21b. After the signal terminal 21 a and the power supply terminal 21 b are electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50, the stored power supply voltage is supplied to the detection unit 27. After the signal terminal 21a and the power supply terminal 21b are electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50 by the backup power supply 26 that stores the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal 21b, the stored power supply voltage is supplied to the detection unit 27. Is done. For this reason, when the first connector 20 is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50, the power supply voltage can be reliably supplied to the detection unit 27.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a view for explaining details of the first connector according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connector portion according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the optical cable 1 </ b> A of the present embodiment includes a first connector 20 </ b> A instead of the first connector 20 in the optical cable 1 of the first embodiment. The first connector 20A does not have the backup power source 26 of the optical cable 1 according to the first embodiment. The optical cable 1 </ b> A includes a power supply structure that supplies power to the detection unit 27 after the signal terminal 21 a is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50 as a configuration that supplies power to the detection unit 27.

  In the optical cable 1A, the shape of the connector portion 21x that can be electrically connected to the personal computer 50 is different from the connector portion 21 of the optical cable 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the connector portion 21x includes a signal terminal 21a and a power supply terminal 21c. The tip 21m of the power terminal 21c is located closer to the tip 35 of the first connector 20A than the tip 21n of the signal terminal 21a. The tip 35 of the first connector 20 </ b> A is an end portion on the connection direction D side when the first connector 20 </ b> A is electrically connected to the personal computer 50.

  The power supply structure described above includes a tip 21n of the signal terminal 21a and a tip 21m of the power terminal 21c. Except for the configuration related to the power supply structure, the optical cable 1A has the same configuration as the optical cable 1 according to the first embodiment.

  The effect obtained by the optical cable 1A of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. Of the distal end 21n of the signal terminal 21a and the distal end 21m of the power supply terminal 21c that are power supply structures, the distal end 21n of the signal terminal 21a is located closer to the distal end 35 of the first connector 20A than the distal end 21m of the power supply terminal 21c. .

  For this reason, when the first connector 20A is disconnected from the personal computer 50, the power terminal 21c is disconnected after the signal terminal 21a is disconnected. Since there is time until the power supply terminal 21c is disconnected after the signal terminal 21a is disconnected, that is, until the power supply is stopped, the power supply voltage can be supplied to the detection unit 27 at that time. For this reason, when the first connector 20 </ b> A is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50, the power supply voltage can be reliably supplied to the detection unit 27.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining details of the first connector according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the optical cable 1B of the present embodiment has a delay circuit 29 instead of the backup power supply 26 of the optical cable 1 according to the first embodiment and the power supply structure of the optical cable 1A according to the second embodiment. Yes. The delay circuit 29 is a power supply unit in the optical cable 1B. The optical cable 1B has the same configuration as the optical cable 1 according to the first embodiment except that the power supply means is the delay circuit 29.

  The delay circuit 29 delays the output signal with respect to the input signal. The delay circuit 29 is electrically connected to the power supply terminal 21b. Therefore, the power supply voltage input from the power supply terminal 21b to the delay circuit 29 while the personal computer 50 and the power supply terminal 21b are electrically connected is output with a time delay. As the delay circuit 29, various conventionally known delay circuits such as a CR delay circuit including a resistor and a capacitor can be used.

  The effect obtained by the optical cable 1B of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. The power supply means further includes a delay circuit 29 electrically connected to the power supply terminal 21b. By having a delay circuit 29 that causes a time delay in the output signal with respect to the input signal, when the first connector 20B is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50, the power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal 21b has a time difference. The detection unit 27 can be supplied. For this reason, when the first connector 20 </ b> B is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50, the power supply voltage can be reliably supplied to the detection unit 27.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. For example, as an example of the power supply means or the power supply structure, the backup power supply 26, the structure of the signal terminal 21a and the power supply terminal 21c, and the delay circuit 29 have been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, any other means or structure may be used as long as the power supply voltage can be supplied to the detection unit 27 after the signal terminal 21a is electrically disconnected from the personal computer 50.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1A, 1B ... Optical cable, 10 ... Cable part, 11, 11a, 11b ... Optical fiber, 20, 20A, 20B ... 1st connector, 21, 21x ... Connector part, 21a ... Signal terminal, 21b, 21c ... Power supply terminal , 21m ... the tip of the power supply terminal, 21n ... the tip of the signal terminal, 22 ... the controller, 24 ... the light emitting element, 25 ... the light receiving element, 26 ... the backup power supply, 27 ... the detection unit, 28 ... the emulation unit, 29 ... the delay circuit, 30 ... second connector, 35 ... tip of first connector, 50 ... personal computer, 60 ... display.

Claims (4)

A cable part including an optical fiber;
A first connector provided at one end of the cable portion and electrically connectable to a first host device;
A second connector provided at the other end of the cable portion and electrically connectable to a second host device,
The first connector is
A connector portion including a signal terminal and a power supply terminal and electrically connectable to the first host device;
A light emitting element that converts an electrical signal supplied from the signal terminal into an optical signal and outputs the optical signal to the optical fiber;
Detecting means that operates by a power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal and detects that the signal terminal is electrically disconnected from the first host device;
Power supply means or power supply structure for supplying a power supply voltage to the detection means after the signal terminal is electrically disconnected from the first host device;
The second connector is an optical cable having a light receiving element that converts an optical signal output from the optical fiber into an electrical signal. The power supply means is a backup power supply that is electrically connected to the power supply terminal and can be stored based on a power supply voltage supplied from the power supply terminal;
The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein the backup power supply supplies the stored power supply voltage to the detection unit after the signal terminal and the power supply terminal are electrically disconnected from the first host device. The power supply structure includes a front end of the signal terminal and a front end of the power terminal,
The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the power terminal is located closer to a distal end of the first connector than a distal end of the signal terminal. The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein the power supply means further includes a delay circuit electrically connected to the power supply terminal.

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