Optically addressed RFID elements

• US 20080218355A1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiber Mountain, Inc. (Green Lambda Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Downie, John D., Sutherland, James S., Wagner, Richard E., Whiting, Matthew S., Nederiof, Leo
• Granted Patent: US 7,547,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/42 Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2575 Radio-over-fibre, e.g. radio frequency signal modulated onto an optical carrier

Abstract

There are provided connectors, cables, cable assemblies, network components, and systems wherein optically addressed RFID functionality is incorporated. Also provided are optically addressed RFID elements in general. The RFID elements utilize an optical tap to direct a portion of the optical signal traveling through an optical fiber to a transducer. The transducer creates an electrical signal which may be used to write information to an integrated circuit of, transmit an RF signal to, and/or provide power to the RFID element.

Claims

1. A component for use with an optical fiber capable of carrying an optical signal, the connector comprising:

a housing, the housing being connectable to an end of the optical fiber;

an optical tap attached to the housing, the optical tap directing a portion of the optical signal out of the optical fiber;

a transducer attached to the housing in communication with the optical tap, the transducer generating an electrical signal responsive to the portion of the optical signal; and

an RFID element attached to the housing, the RFID element including an integrated circuit in electrical communication with the transducer, whereby when the optical fiber carries the optical signal the optical tap directs the portion of the optical signal out of the optical fiber and the transducer generates and transmits the electrical signal to the integrated circuit of the RFID element.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the transducer includes a photodiode device.

3. The component of claim 2, wherein the transducer includes a transducer circuit.

4. The component of claim 1, wherein the transducer includes a photovoltaic device.

5. The component of claim 1, wherein the portion of the optical signal separated by the optical tap has an optical power sufficient to be detected by the integrated circuit of the RFID element.

6. The component of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device in electrical communication with the transducer.

7. The component of claim 6, wherein the transducer is adapted to provide an indication of the presence of optical signals carried in the optical fiber.

8. The component of claim 1, wherein transducer is configured so that the electrical signal generated by the transducer at least partially provides power to the RFID element.

9. The component of claim 1, wherein the transducer is configured so that the electrical signal generated by the transducer writes data to the integrated circuit.

10. The component of claim 9, wherein the data written to the integrated circuit is RF signal data encoded in the optical signal from which the transducer generated the electrical signal.

11. The component of claim 1, wherein the optical signal can be carried in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the optical tap comprises a directional coupler adapted to direct to the transducer a portion of the optical signal carried in both the first direction and the second direction.

12. The component of claim 1, wherein the optical signal can be carried in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the optical tap comprises a first optical tap adapted to direct to the transducer a portion of the optical signal carried in the first direction and wherein the optical tap comprises a second optical tap adapted to direct to the transducer a portion of the optical signal carried in the second direction.

13. A fiber optic cable with detection capability comprising:

an optical fiber for carrying an optical signal, and;

a detection structure including;

an optical tap disposed along the optical fiber for directing a portion of the optical signal out of the optical fiber and allowing a majority of the optical signal to pass;

a transducer in communication with the optical tap, the transducer generating an electrical signal responsive to the portion of the optical signal directed out of the optical fiber by the optical tap; and

an RFID element including an integrated circuit in electrical communication with the transducer, whereby when the optical fiber carries the optical signal the optical tap directs the portion of the optical signal out of the optical fiber and the transducer generates and transmits the electrical signal to the integrated circuit of the RFID element.

14. The cable of claim 13, wherein the transducer includes a photodiode device.

15. The cable of claim 14, wherein the transducer includes a transducer circuit.

16. The cable of claim 13, wherein the transducer includes a photovoltaic device.

17. The cable of claim 13, wherein the portion of the optical signal separated by the optical tap has an optical power sufficient to be detected by the integrated circuit of the RFID element.

18. The cable of claim 13, further comprising an energy storage device in electrical communication with the transducer.

19. The cable of claim 18, wherein the transducer is adapted to provide an indication of the presence of optical signals carried in the optical fiber.

20. The cable of claim 13, wherein the transducer is configured so that electrical signal generated by the transducer at least partially provides power to the RFID element.

21. The cable of claim 13, wherein the transducer is configured so that the electrical signal generated by the transducer writes data to the integrated circuit.

22. The cable of claim 21, wherein the data written to the integrated circuit is RF signal data encoded in the optical signal from which the transducer generated the electrical signal.

23. The cable of claim 13, further including a plurality of the detection structures disposed along the optical fiber at spaced intervals.

24. The cable of claim 23, wherein the detection structures generate electrical signals to their respective integrated circuits indicative of the transmission state of the optical fiber at the spaced intervals.

25. The cable of claim 13, wherein the optical signal can be carried in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the optical tap comprises a directional coupler adapted to direct to the transducer a portion of the optical signal carried in both the first direction and the second direction.

26. The cable of claim 13, wherein the optical signal can be carried in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the optical tap comprises a first optical tap adapted to direct to the transducer a portion of the optical signal carried in the first direction and wherein the optical tap comprises a second optical tap adapted to direct to the transducer a portion of the optical signal carried in the second direction.

27. An optically addressed RFID element for use with an optical fiber capable of carrying an optical signal, the RFID element comprising:

an optical tap disposable along the optical fiber for directing a portion of the optical signal out of the optical fiber and allowing a majority of the optical signal to pass;

a transducer in communication with the optical tap, the transducer generating an electrical signal responsive to the portion of the optical signal directed out of the optical fiber by the optical tap;

an integrated circuit configured for RFID function and in electrical communication with the transducer;

whereby when the optical fiber carries the optical signal the optical tap directs the portion of the optical signal out of the optical fiber and the transducer generates and transmits the electrical signal to the integrated circuit, and

an antenna in electrical communication with the integrated circuit for communication with an RFID reader.

28. The optically addressed RFID element of claim 27, wherein the transducer includes a photodiode device.

29. The optically addressed RFID element of claim 28, wherein the transducer includes a transducer circuit.

30. The optically addressed RFID element of claim 27, wherein the transducer includes a photovoltaic device.

31. The optically addressed RFID element of claim 27, wherein the portion of the optical signal separable by the optical tap has an optical power sufficient to be detected by the integrated circuit of the RFID element.

32. The optically addressed RFID element of claim 27, wherein transducer is configured so that the electrical signal generated by the transducer at least partially provides power to the integrated circuit and antenna for communicating an RF signal.

33. The optically addressed RFID element of claim 27, wherein the transducer is configured so that electrical signal generated by the transducer writes data to the integrated circuit.

34. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of interconnected communications components and a plurality of optical fibers;

a plurality of RFID elements, the RFID elements attached to one or more of the plurality of interconnected communications components proximate the optical fibers, the RFID elements being optically addressed RFID elements and including;

an optical tap disposable along one of the optical fibers for directing a portion of the optical signal out of the optical fiber and allowing a majority of the optical signal to pass,

a transducer in communication with the optical tap, the transducer generating an electrical signal responsive to the portion of the optical signal directed out of the optical fiber by the optical tap,

an integrated circuit configured for RFID function and in electrical communication with the transducer, whereby when the optical fiber carries the optical signal the optical tap directs the portion of the optical signal out of the optical fiber and the transducer generates and transmits the electrical signal to the integrated circuit;

an antenna in electrical communication with the integrated circuit, and an RF receiver for receiving RF signals from the antennas.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the transducers are configured so that the electrical signals generated by the transducers at least partially provide power to the respective integrated circuits for communicating RF signals to the RF receiver.

36. The system of claim 34, further comprising an energy storage device in electrical communication with the transducer.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the transducer is adapted to provide an indication of the presence of optical signals carried in the optical fiber.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the transducers are configured so that electrical signals generated by the transducers at least partially provide for writing data to the respective integrated circuits.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the RF receiver comprises a transceiver that provides power to the respective integrated circuits and antennas for communicating responsive RF signals to the RF receiver including the data.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the optical signal can be carried in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the optical tap comprises a directional coupler adapted to direct to the transducer a portion of the optical signal carried in both the first direction and the second direction.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein the optical signal can be carried in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the optical tap comprises a first optical tap adapted to direct to the transducer a portion of the optical signal carried in the first direction and wherein the optical tap comprises a second optical tap adapted to direct to the transducer a portion of the optical signal carried in the second direction.