Patents by Inventor Todd Vafiades

Todd Vafiades has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Apparatus and method of signal detection in an optical transceiver
    Patent number: 7976225
    Abstract: The present invention includes an optical transceiver having a fiber module with an optical data input and an electrical data output. The fiber module further includes a signal detect output that indicates the receipt of valid optical data. A physical layer device having a receive input is coupled to the electrical data output through a switch that is controlled by the signal detect output. The switch passes electrical data from the electrical data output of the fiber module to the receive input when the signal detect output indicates the receipt of valid optical data, and does not pass the electrical data when the signal detect output indicates invalid optical data. By using this configuration, the signal detects pins of the physical layer device are eliminated. In another embodiment, the switch is not utilized, and the electrical data output of the transceiver is ac-coupled to the differential receive input of the physical layer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Vafiades, Art Pharn
  • Apparatus and method of signal detection in an optical transceiver
    Publication number: 20090016731
    Abstract: The present invention includes an optical transceiver having a fiber module with an optical data input and an electrical data output. The fiber module further includes a signal detect output that indicates the receipt of valid optical data. A physical layer device having a receive input is coupled to the electrical data output through a switch that is controlled by the signal detect output. The switch passes electrical data from the electrical data output of the fiber module to the receive input when the signal detect output indicates the receipt of valid optical data, and does not pass the electrical data when the signal detect output indicates invalid optical data. By using this configuration, the signal detects pins of the physical layer device are eliminated. In another embodiment, the switch is not utilized, and the electrical data output of the transceiver is ac-coupled to the differential receive input of the physical layer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Vafiades, Art Pharn
  • Apparatus and method of signal detection in an optical transceiver
    Patent number: 7178992
    Abstract: The present invention includes an optical transceiver having a fiber module with an optical data input and an electrical data output. The fiber module further includes a signal detect output that indicates the receipt of valid optical data. A physical layer device having a receive input is coupled to the electrical data output through a switch that is controlled by the signal detect output. The switch passes electrical data from the electrical data output of the fiber module to the receive input when the signal detect output indicates the receipt of valid optical data, and does not pass the electrical data when the signal detect output indicates invalid optical data. By using this configuration, the signal detects pins of the physical layer device are eliminated. In another embodiment, the switch is not utilized, and the electrical data output of the transceiver is ac-coupled to the differential receive input of the physical layer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Vafiades, Art Pharn
  • Apparatus and method of signal detection in an optical transceiver
    Publication number: 20050105861
    Abstract: The present invention includes an optical transceiver having a fiber module with an optical data input and an electrical data output. The fiber module further includes a signal detect output that indicates the receipt of valid optical data. A physical layer device having a receive input is coupled to the electrical data output through a switch that is controlled by the signal detect output. The switch passes electrical data from the electrical data output of the fiber module to the receive input when the signal detect output indicates the receipt of valid optical data, and does not pass the electrical data when the signal detect output indicates invalid optical data. By using this configuration, the signal detects pins of the physical layer device are eliminated. In another embodiment, the switch is not utilized, and the electrical data output of the transceiver is ac-coupled to the differential receive input of the physical layer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Todd Vafiades, Art Pharn