Corning Incorporated recently announced the availability of its USB 3.Optical Cables by Corning; the products have the capability to send 5-Gbit/sec data at distances up to 30 meters. “This cable is designed to be compatible with devices using USB 3.0 and 2.0 interfaces,” the company said when announcing its availability, adding that USB-IF has not yet developed a specification for optical-fiber transmission.
On that note, Corning added, “The USB 3.Optical Cables by Corning are up to 50 percent thinner and up to 80 percent lighter than comparable copper cables—qualities that enable convenient transport.” Also, the new cables “quickly and easily extend data transmission beyond the 3-meter limitation of comparable copper cable,” it added.
The cables are available online—from Accu-Tech here and from Amazon here—currently in 10-meter lengths with A-to-receptacle-A connectors. Corning says this interface setup enables “maximum flexibility to connect devices with different USB connector form factors, such as B or Micro B with short adapters.” Corning says the cables will be available in length of 15 and 30 meters later this year.
The cables have what Corning describes as a zero-bend radius; they can withstand bending, squeezing and tangling without damage or loss of function, the company said.
Bernhard Deutsch, vice president of product line management for optical connectivity solutions with Corning Optical Communications, commented, “With longer, thinner and lighter cables, USB 3.Optical Cables by Corning give users the freedom to max out data-connection speeds for a more-enjoyable creative workflow. Imagine having your computer at your workstation and the whir of backup hard drives, printers and other noise peripherals in an entirely different room—and still benefiting from unbelievable transmission speeds.”
Among the devices that Corning said are ideally connected via the USB 3.Optical Cables are digital cameras and camcorders, storage drives, digital signage and point-of-sale systems at retail locations, zero-client computing devices, smartboards in educational institutions, and remote consoles in healthcare and industrial-automation settings.
“Our cables aren’t just for the creative community,” Deutsch stressed. “There are a host of commercial applications that can benefit from the increased length, strength and flexibility of USB 3.Optical Cables by Corning. For example, restaurants can connect their order-entry stations to USB-equipped printers located in both the bar and kitchen areas. The system then splits out the orders, printing food tickets I the kitchen and drink orders at the bar, resulting in faster service and happier customers.”