method for transmission of signals of the type 'fibre channel' and 'non fibre channel over a common cable

摘要

A method for transmitting fibre channel signals and non-fibre channel signals. The method includes: providing a cable having a connector at each end thereof; and transmitting both the fibre-channel signals and the non-fibre channel signals through the cable between the connectors. In one embodiment of the invention, the non-fibre channel signals are transmitted in outer region of the cable and the fibre channel signals are transmitted in a region of the cable interior to the outer region. The cable (520) has a central dielectric core (80). A quadrature-pair of electrically insulated conductors (82a - 82d) transmits two pairs of differential fibre channel signals. These conductors (82a - 82d) are disposed within an inner conductive shield (86) around which ten regularly spaced electrically insulated electrical conductors (88) carry the non-fibre channel signals, e.g. control signals. An outer conductive shield (92) is disposed around the ten insulated conductors (88) and is sheathed by a rubber-like sheath (94). IMAGE