International Business Times
Sony has announced the development of a single cable interface which would replace close to 22 cables used in smartphones to transmit power and data, said a statement.The new development of transmitting both power and data over a single copper cable would replace the complicated set of ribbons used to connect a handset display to the body of a device.
The single cable interface will allow clamshell mobile model makers greater flexibility in design.
Traditionally separate wires are dedicated to carry audio, video, control signals and power. Sony's technology allows both power and data to carry on the same cable and also makes transmission faster at 940 Mbps.
"Sony's newly-developed 'single wire interface technology' has achieved bi-directional transmission of several kinds of signals, including video, audio and control signals, by using time division duplex and multiplex," said a statement by the company.
In addition, the DC power is supplied on the same signal cable using Sony's unique encoding technology with DC balance that "enables both DC power supply and high speed data to be transmitted within a limited frequency bandwidth."
With a current surge in the features an average smartphone carries and the high resolution displays it uses, resulted in a glut of cables to accommodate the flow of data and additional power. The bundle of cables took more space and made bending a cluster of wires more difficult, thus limiting designing.
Sony's technology will help designers incorporate greater flexibility, with the freed space which cables would otherwise consume. Also for after sales service it would provide a less complicated platform - sans the bundle of wires.
The inside of mobile will be aesthetically more refined to complement its exterior now.
Sony has not announced any new models built around this development but plans to implement the technology by licensing the IP to ROHM Co., Ltd., which has a track record in peripheral technologies.
