Cable with circuitry for communicating performance information

摘要

A cable with circuitry that enables the cable to communicate data in one of at least two different signal modes of operation is presented. In a first signal mode, the cable enables data communication between the circuitry and either a source device or a sink device. The first signal mode can be used either to communicate properties of the cable itself or of a signal passing through the cable to either the source device or the sink device. In a second signal mode, the cable enables data communication between the source device and the sink device. The second signal mode can be used to communicate data in accordance with a predetermined protocol.

主权项

1. A cable between a transmitter of a first device and a receiver of a second device, comprising:
a set of conductors extending from one end of the cable configured to couple with the transmitter to another end of the cable configured to couple with the receiver; a switch coupled to at least one of the set of conductors; and a circuit coupled to the switch and configured to control the switch to transition the cable from a first signal mode to a second signal mode, a path established via the set of conductors in the first signal mode to communicate first data between the circuit and either the transmitter or the receiver, and another path established via the set of conductors in the second signal mode to communicate second data between the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the first data includes information associated with at least one characteristic of the cable.