Radio frequency identification transponder for communicating condition of a component

• US 20080100440A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sutherland, James S., Nederlof, Leo, Downie, John D., Wagner, Richard E., Whiting, Matthew S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,421,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/00 Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence

Abstract

There is provided a passive RFID transponder assembly that includes a condition responsive device adapted to read a condition relating to the component that is associated with the RFID transponder assembly. The condition that is read by the condition responsive device relates to physical contact with a field technician or a mating component, relates to electrical connection between an integrated circuit chip and an antenna, relates to one or more environmental conditions, or the like. The components with which the RFID transponder assemblies are associated include components of telecommunications equipment, such as fiber optic connectors, fiber optic adapters, fiber optic patch panels, copper connectors, and copper adapters to list some non-limiting examples.

Claims

1. A passive RFID transponder assembly associated with a component, the RFID transponder assembly comprising:

an integrated circuit chip;

an antenna adapted for electrical connection with the integrated circuit chip; and

at least one condition responsive device electrically connected to the integrated circuit chip, wherein the integrated circuit chip is adapted to read a condition relating to the component detected by the at least one condition responsive device;

wherein the RFID transponder assembly is configured to selectively communicate the condition relating to the component.

2. A transponder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the condition detected by the at least one condition responsive device relates to selective physical contact of the component by a technician.

3. A transponder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the condition detected by the at least one condition responsive device relates to selective physical contact of the component with a mating component.

4. A transponder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the condition detected by the at least one condition responsive device relates to electrical connection of the integrated circuit chip with the antenna.

5. A transponder assembly according to claim 1 wherein the condition detected by the at least one condition responsive device relates to an environmental condition relating to the component, wherein the environmental condition comprises at least one of the group of temperature, pressure, humidity, and light exposure.

6. A transponder assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one condition responsive device is physically included within the integrated circuit chip.

10. A transponder assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the integrated circuit chip and the antenna is associated with at least one component of telecommunications equipment from the group consisting of:

a fiber optic connector, a fiber optic adapter, a fiber optic patch panel, and a fiber optic equipment rack.

11. A transponder assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the integrated circuit chip and the antenna is associated with at least one component of telecommunications equipment from the group consisting of:

a copper connector, a copper adapter, and a copper cable.

12. A transponder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit chip is powered by an external power source.

13. A transponder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transponder assembly is further configured to selectively communicate identification information along with the condition relating to the component.

7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

14. A passive RFID transponder assembly associated with a component of telecommunications equipment, the RFID transponder assembly comprising:

an integrated circuit chip;

an antenna adapted for electrical connection with the integrated circuit chip; and

at least one condition responsive device in selective electrical connection with the integrated circuit chip, wherein the integrated circuit chip is adapted to read a condition relating to the component of telecommunications equipment detected by the at least one condition responsive device;

wherein the RFID transponder assembly is configured to selectively communicate the condition relating to the component of telecommunications equipment when the at least one condition responsive device is in electrical connection with the integrated circuit chip.

8. A transponder assembly according to claim 17 wherein the antenna of the RFID transponder assembly is associated within a mating component of telecommunications equipment, such that an electrical contact between the integrated circuit chip and the antenna defines the condition detected by the at least one condition responsive device.

15. A transponder assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a push button switch adapted for selective physical contact by a technician to selectively electrically connect the at least one condition responsive device to the integrated circuit chip.

16. A transponder assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a push button switch adapted for selective physical contact by a technician to selectively adjust a capacitance of the at least one condition responsive device.

17. A transponder assembly according to claim 14, wherein the condition responsive device comprises a switch adapted for selective physical contact by at least one of a technician and a mating component.

18. A transponder assembly according to claim 14, wherein the condition detected by the at least one condition responsive device relates to selective physical contact of the component of telecommunications equipment with a mating component of telecommunications equipment.

19. A transponder assembly according to claim 18, wherein the component of telecommunications equipment comprises a plug and the mating component of telecommunications equipment comprises a socket, and wherein the condition detected by the at least one condition responsive device relates to the selective insertion of the plug into the socket.

20. A transponder assembly according to claim 14, wherein the condition detected by the at least one condition responsive device relates to electrical connection of the integrated circuit chip with the antenna.

21. A transponder assembly according to claim 14, wherein the integrated circuit chip defines an identity and wherein the RFID transponder assembly is configured to selectively communicate the identity of the integrated circuit chip.

22. A passive RFID transponder assembly associated with a component of telecommunications equipment, the RFID transponder assembly comprising:

an integrated circuit chip;

an antenna adapted for electrical connection with the integrated circuit chip; and

at least one condition responsive device in selective electrical connection with the integrated circuit chip, wherein the integrated circuit chip is adapted to read a condition relating to the component of telecommunications equipment detected by the at least one condition responsive device;

wherein the condition detected by the at least one condition responsive device relates to actuation of the condition responsive device by at least one of a technician and a mating component of telecommunications equipment.

23. A transponder assembly according to claim 22, wherein the at least one condition responsive device comprises a push button switch adapted for selective physical contact by a technician to selectively electrically connect the antenna to the integrated circuit chip.

25. A transponder assembly according to claim 22, wherein the condition responsive device comprises a switch adapted for selective physical contact by at least one of a technician and a mating component of telecommunications equipment.

28. A transponder assembly according to claim 22, wherein the at least one condition responsive device comprises a variable impedance element, wherein the condition responsive device varies the impedance by changing at least one of the group of the resistance, inductance, and capacitance of the condition responsive device.

29. A transponder assembly according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the integrated circuit chip and the antenna is associated with at least one component of telecommunications equipment from the group consisting of:

a fiber optic connector, a fiber optic adapter, a fiber optic patch panel, and a fiber optic equipment rack.

30. A transponder assembly according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the integrated circuit chip and the antenna is associated with at least one component of telecommunications equipment from the group consisting of:

a copper connector, a copper adapter, and a copper adapter, and a copper cable.

24. (canceled)

26-27. -27. (canceled)