Radio frequency identification of a connector by a patch panel or other similar structure
The device includes a fiber optic cable, a transponder, an antenna, and a transceiver. The transponder is attached to a fiber optic connector of the fiber optic cable. The transceiver is electrically connected to the antenna, the transceiver is able to activate the transponder thus enabling the transceiver to read the information deposited with the transponder. Information deposited with the transponder can include information related to the length of the fiber optic cable, information related to the industrial standard to which the fiber optic connector conforms, information related to the predetermined optical fiber grade of the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable, information related to the specific purchase date of the fiber optic cable, or information related to the warranty of the fiber optic cable.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to radio frequency identification devices. The invention more particularly concerns the radio frequency identification of a connector by a patch panel.
2. Discussion of the Background
Radio frequency identification devices (RFID) are known in the art. Typically, radio frequency identification systems incorporate an antenna or coil, a transceiver (with decoder), and a transponder (RF tag). Often times the antenna and the transceiver are packaged together so as to form a reader or interrogator. The transponder includes a transponder antenna and an integrated circuit chip attached to the transponder antenna. The antenna or coil emits a radio wave which induces an electrical current in the antenna of the transponder. The electrical current then activates the integrated circuit chip of the transponder. The integrated circuit chip can then transmit information through the antenna of the transponder via radio waves back to the antenna or coil. Information can be stored on the integrated circuit as either read only memory or read/write memory.
Radio frequency identification devices can be either active or passive. An active system includes a transponder which contains its own power source. In contrast, in a passive system the transponder obtains the energy from the radio waves emanating from the antenna or coil so as to enable the transponder to operate and transmit information. A transponder operating in accordance with the active system is able to transmit information to the antenna or coil over a greater distance than is a transponder operating in accordance with the passive system. However, the transponder operating in accordance with the active system is larger than the transponder operating in accordance with the passive system. Furthermore, typically transponders operating in accordance with the passive system contain integrated circuit chips that have read only memory. Examples of radio frequency identification components are presented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,206,626; 5,448,110; 6,118,379; 6,147,655; 6,424,263; 6,429,831; 6,445,297; 6,451,154; and 6,677,917. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,206,626; 5,448,110; 6,118,379; 6,147,655; 6,424,263; 6,429,831; 6,445,297; 6,451,154; and 6,677,917 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Connectors and panels or patch panels are also known in the art. Known connectors include fiber optic connectors and electrically conductive connectors. An electrically conductive connector can be attached to electrically conductive cable such as copper based cable, or the electrical conductive connector can be integrated into a device such as an optoelectronic device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,063 discloses electrical connectors and cables, and an optoelectronic device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,063 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The front panel of a host device has many receptacles. Each receptacle accepts at least an individual fiber optic cable. The other end of the fiber optic cable connects to another device. The fiber optic cable can have a length of a few meters or of a few kilometers. A host device can accommodate a few hundred fiber optic cables. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,233,674, and 5,481,634 disclose a fiber optic cable having a fiber optic connector. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,233,674, and 5,481,634 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Experience has shown that a fiber optic cable can be inadvertently detached from the host device, or that the optical fiber within the fiber optic cable breaks and the fiber optic cable no longer transmits light energy to the host device. In such instances, a worker must go and look at the panel of the host device and determine which cable is no longer transmitting light signals to the host device either because the optical fiber is broken or the fiber optic cable is detached from the host device. When two or more fiber optic cables are malfunctioning, the worker's job becomes very burdensome and time consuming since there are hundreds of fiber optic cables to examine. Furthermore, a device or person is not receiving information conveyed by the malfunctioning fiber optic cable. Thus, organization of the cables, including the fiber optic cables and the copper based cables, in the vicinity of the panel is of great interest to the operators of the host devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the invention to provide a device which facilitates the identification of a specific connector or cable relative to a specific location on a panel.
In one form of the invention the device includes a cable, a transponder, a panel, an antenna, and a transceiver. The transponder is attached to the cable. The antenna is positioned adjacent to the panel. The transceiver is electrically connected to the antenna. In operation, when the transponder is placed close enough to the antenna, the transceiver is able to activate the transponder thus enabling the transponder to read the information deposited with the transponder. The cable can be a fiber optic cable or cable based on an electrically conductive material such as copper.
In another form of the invention, the device includes a cable, a transponder, a substrate, an antenna, and a transceiver. The transponder is attached to the cable. The antenna is attached to the substrate. The substrate is adapted for attachment to a panel of a host device. The transceiver is electrically connected to the antenna so as to form a reader or interrogator. The cable can be a fiber optic cable or cable based on an electrically conductive material such as copper.
In still yet another form of the invention, the device includes a cable, a transponder, a substrate, an antenna, and a transceiver. The cable includes a connector. The transponder is attached to the connector. The antenna is attached to the substrate. The substrate is adapted for attachment to a panel of a host device. The transceiver is electrically connected to the antenna so as to form a reader or interrogator which is capable of activating and interrogating the transponder when the transponder is sufficiently close to the antenna. The cable can be a fiber optic cable or a cable based on an electrically conductive material such as copper. Likewise, the connector is a fiber optic connector when a fiber optic cable is used, and the connector is an electrically conductive connector when an electrically conductive cable is used.
In yet still another form of the invention the device includes an optoelectronic device, a transponder, a panel, an antenna, and a transceiver. The optoelectronic device includes a connector which conveys energy along electrically conductive materials housed within the connector. The transponder is attached to the optoelectronic device. The antenna is positioned adjacent to the panel. The transceiver is electrically connected to the antenna. In operation, when the transponder is placed close enough to the antenna, the transceiver is able to activate the transponder thus enabling the transponder to read the information deposited with the transponder.
Thus, the invention achieves the objectives set forth above. The invention provides a device which is able to determine the association between a specific location on a panel and a specific connector or cable whether it be fiber optic or electrically conductive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSA more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to
In practice, for example, a fiber optic connector 10 is inserted into and through aperture 92 of the substrate 90 and through aperture 87 of the panel 80 so as to engage the fiber optic connector 10 with the host device 110. Once installed, the antenna or coil 93 encircles a portion of the fiber optic connector 10 in the plane of the substrate 90. The transponder 70 is close enough to the antenna or coil 93 so that the radio waves, or electromagnetic power 104, emanating from antenna or coil 93 induce an electrical current in the transponder antenna 72 (see
Examples of information which can be stored in the transponder 70 include the following information: the length of the fiber optic cable to which the transponder is attached; the date of purchase of the fiber optic cable to which the transponder is attached; the type or style of fiber optic connector to which the transponder is attached; the type of warranty associated with the fiber optic cable to which the transponder is attached; the type, style, or grade of optic fiber housed within the fiber optic cable to which the transponder; and/or a unique identification number or serialization number or code which uniquely identifies a specific fiber optic cable.
Thus, if the fiber optic cable goes dark because the optical fiber housed within the fiber optic cable is broken, then the host device 110, through the transceiver 102, can pinpoint the location of the malfunctioning fiber optic cable. The malfunctioning fiber optic cable can then be repaired or replaced. Additionally, the device provides a system operator with the ability to monitor the number and location of the fiber optic connectors attached to the host device.
A second embodiment of the invention is disclosed in
A third embodiment of the invention is disclosed in
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
Claims
1-29. (canceled)
30. A device comprising:
- a fiber optic cable having a fiber optic connector;
- a transponder attached to the fiber optic connector;
- an antenna; and
- a transceiver electrically connected to the antenna so as to form a reader which is capable of activating and interrogating the transponder when the transponder is sufficiently close to the antenna, and wherein
- the fiber optic cable has a length, and wherein
- the transponder includes information related to the length of the fiber optic cable.
31. A device comprising:
- a fiber optic cable having a fiber optic connector;
- a transponder attached to the fiber optic connector;
- an antenna; and
- a transceiver electrically connected to the antenna so as to form a reader which is capable of activating and interrogating the transponder when the transponder is sufficiently close to the antenna, and wherein
- the fiber optic connector conforms to an industrial standard, and wherein
- the transponder includes information related to the industrial standard.
32. A device comprising:
- a fiber optic cable having a fiber optic connector;
- a transponder attached to the fiber optic connector;
- an antenna; and
- a transceiver electrically connected to the antenna so as to form a reader which is capable of activating and interrogating the transponder when the transponder is sufficiently close to the antenna, and wherein
- the fiber optic cable includes an optical fiber, and wherein the optical fiber conforms to a predetermined optical fiber grade, and wherein
- the transponder includes information related to the predetermined optical fiber grade of the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable.
33. A device comprising:
- a fiber optic cable having a fiber optic connector;
- a transponder attached to the fiber optic connector;
- an antenna; and
- a transceiver electrically connected to the antenna so as to form a reader which is capable of activating and interrogating the transponder when the transponder is sufficiently close to the antenna, and wherein
- the fiber optic cable was purchased on a specified date, and wherein
- the transponder includes information related to the specific purchase date of the fiber optic cable.
34. A device comprising:
- a fiber optic cable having a fiber optic connector;
- a transponder attached to the fiber optic connector;
- an antenna; and
- a transceiver electrically connected to the antenna so as to form a reader which is capable of activating and interrogating the transponder when the transponder is sufficiently close to the antenna, and wherein
- the fiber optic cable was purchased pursuant to a warranty, and wherein
- the transponder includes information related to the warranty.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 13, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 20, 2005
Applicant:
Inventors: Richard Durrant (Suffolk), Maurice Fitzgibbon (Glen Cove, NY)
Application Number: 11/078,540