Intel's Rattner demos Light Peak optical cable

by Sylvie Barak on 25 September 2009, 11:39

Tags: Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)

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I/O silver!

The execs discussed how the high-speed optical I/O technology might improve bandwidth and flexibility while also greatly reducing the cost as well as the complexity of masses of tangled cables for PC users wanting to quickly download videos or other digital media.

Postley noted that 50 copper-based cables on the set of a 3-D shoot could, in fact, be replaced with a single optical cable with Light Peak technology instead. This also opens up avenues for the technology to eventually be integrated in the work station and eventually the consumer market.

To add to its lightening fast data transfer speeds, Light Peak technology also has the currently unique ability to simultaneously transport multiple existing I/O protocols, bi-directionally.

Sadly, Light Peak is still only in its developmental stages, but Rattner said Intel would be working with the industry to find the best way to make the technology into a standard and to push for its adoption across a plethora of devices including PCs, handhelds, consumer electronics and more. 

 

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HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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CE = Consumer Electronics I presume?
I've always wondered what the considerations for optical comms are. I'm used to dealing with electrical stuff - transfer functions, impulse responses, impedances, selectivity etc. What are the big issues with getting data down a tube as light? Anyone?
Yes Funkstar, Consumer Electronics. sorry!
IT CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH!!!

Much of the digital world is now limited by bandwidth constraints, with the electronics on the ends able to go far faster. In the case of many devices the only way to improve performance is to shorten cables / tracks on PCBs so as to shave nanoseconds off signal times.

By switching to light, we would open up the digital world massively.

@Steve: if you want to know the constraints of using fibre optic cable and the difficulties in implementing it, just take optical SPIDIF as an example:
  • Very high quality signal
  • flexible cables
  • Small connectors
This kind of technology coud be expanded very easily to replace many of the horribly limiting copper cables which are bogging are systems down!

Appologies for length of rant!! :angst: