Where are Active Optical Cables used?

AOCs are typically used in production line applications, where high-resolution images are used for quality control, or to extend the control and video signals of a machine or computer that may be 50-200 ft away. For example, by using AOCs, clean room manufacturing can now be controlled several hundreds of feet away in a main control room outside of the clean area.

Cosemi LS Series Active Optical Cable 300-dpi — Cosemi’s AOCs, like its LS series pictured here, can reach up to 100 m in length, making them the interconnection choice for commercial and industrial markets where longer reaches are required.

As these applications drive the need for greater video resolutions, higher bandwidth needed for the high-resolution signals typically shrinks the distance communication can happen over passive copper links. AOCs offer greater bandwidth capacity, faster speeds and longer distances in a flexible, lightweight footprint with little to no latency.

AOCs can be adapted for use in almost any electronic communication applications – although some applications, such as robotics, may require a special high-flex cable or chemical-resistant cable. For applications where there are high levels of Electrical Magnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) present – such as many medical applications, automotive, and factories using industrial automation – a special type of cable is needed to protect against EMI and RFI. Cosemi recently introduced an AOC cable family, called the LS Series, that does just that.

These cables are extremely versatile in use. In theory, any copper interconnect can be made into an AOC. In particular, demand is currently high for AOCs in consumer video (HDMI, DisplayPort) and PC USB or data center (QSFP, SFP) applications.

This information was contributed by Cosemi Technologies Inc.