TOSLINK
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| TOSLINK / EIAJ optical | ||
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| Type | Optical digital audio connector | |
| Production history | ||
| Designer | Toshiba | |
| Designed | 1983 | |
| Manufacturer | Toshiba | |
| Produced | 1983 to present | |
| Specifications | ||
| Hot pluggable | yes | |
| External | yes | |
| Audio signal | Digital audio bitstream. Originally limited to 48 kHz at 20 bits. Extended to support all modern formats. |
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| Width | 32 bit audio packets | |
| Bandwidth | Originally 3.1 Mbps now 125 Mbps |
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| Max devices | 1 | |
| Protocol | Serial | |
| Cable | Fibre optic (10 meters max) | |
| Pins | 1 | |
| Connector | JIS F05 (JIS C5974-1993 F05) | |
TOSLINK is a standardized optical fiber connection system. Its most common use is in consumer audio equipment (via a "digital optical" socket), where it carries a digital audio stream between components such as MiniDisc and CD players and DAT recorders. TOSLINK may use inexpensive 1 mm plastic optical fiber or it can use higher quality multi-strand plastic optical fibers or even quartz glass optical fibers depending on the desired bandwidth and application.
TOSLINK was originally created by Toshiba to connect their CD players to their receivers for PCM audio streams, but it was soon adopted for most CD players, regardless of manufacturer. Early TOSLINK systems used raw data from the CD player, but the S/PDIF standard has now become fairly universal for audio streams. It can often be found on DVD players to connect the digital audio stream to Dolby Digital/DTS decoders.
TOSLINK has many applications, using several different connector types. However, audio connections using the JEITA RC-5720 connector are by far the most common.
TOSLINK Signal cables must be limited to below 10 meters or, in many cases, under 5 for reliable transmission unless using a signal booster.
TOSLINK is a registered trademark of Toshiba Corporation and hence the origin of the name: TOShiba-LINK. Variations of the name are often seen, such as TOSlink, TosLink, and Tos-link. The generic name for the standard is EIAJ optical.
[edit] External links
| Audio and video connectors |
|---|
| Single conductor: Binding post | Banana plug | Fahnestock clip |
| Audio: RCA | Jack plug | XLR | DIN / Mini-DIN | BNC | DB25 | Speakon | TosLink |
| Video: DVI / Mini-DVI / UDI | RCA | VGA / Mini-VGA | DFP | BNC | DIN / Mini-DIN | 13W3 | D-Terminal | DisplayPort |
| Multi: ADC | P&D | HDMI | TRS | SCART | F | Belling-Lee | DisplayPort |
