Passive RFID elements having visual indicators

• US 20080220721A1
• 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: Taylor, Mark P., Downie, John D., Sutherland, James S., Wagner, Richard E., Whiting, Matthew S., Nederlof, Leo
• Granted Patent: US 7,965,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.3
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38 having fibre to fibre mating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3851 Ferrules having keying or coding means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/562 locatable, e.g. using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07705 the visual interface being a single light or small number of lights capable of being switched on or off, e.g. a series of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07707 the visual interface being a display, e.g. LCD or electronic ink
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07715 the interface being used to indicate that the record carrier is active, e.g. a blinking light to indicate that the record carrier is busy communicating with a secondary device or busy computing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/138 using RFID

Abstract

There are provided components, connectors, receptacles, cables, and systems wherein passive RFID functionality is incorporated. Also provided are passive RFID elements in general. The passive RFID elements power visual indicators based on receipt of external RF signals. Passive energy storage devices may be employed to provide electrical energy to the visual indicators. The passive energy storage devices may be charged by the external RF signals. The visual indicators may operate continuously or according to a predetermined flashing pattern.

Claims

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

an RFID element, the RFID element being a passive RFID element capable of receiving an external RF signal and generating an electrical signal in response; and

a visual indicator, the visual indicator having a first indication state and a second indication state, the visual indicator capable of changing between the first and second indication states depending upon electrical signals input into the visual indicator, the visual indicator being in electrical communication with and powerable by the RFID element, whereby when the RFID element receives the external RF signal the RFID element generates and communicates the electrical signal, thereby causing the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator is an LED, and the first indication state is one in which the LED does not emit light and the second indication state is one in which the LED does emit light.

3. The component of claim 1, further including a passive energy storage device in electrical communication with the RFID element and the visual indicator, the passive energy storage device being chargeable by the RFID element when the RFID element receives the external RF signal, the passive energy storage device being dischargeable to electrically power the visual indicator, thereby causing the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states.

4. The component of claim 3, wherein the passive energy storage device includes at least one of a capacitor and a trickle-fill battery.

5. The component of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal sent by the RFID element causes the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states according to a predetermined temporal pattern.

6. The component of claim 5, wherein the predetermined temporal pattern is adjustable to enable sufficient power to be captured to power the visual indicator with the signal strength of the external RF signal.

7. The component of claim 5, further including a capacitor in electrical communication with the RFID element, the capacitor being chargeable by the RFID element when the RFID element receives the external RF signal, the capacitor being dischargeable to electrically power the visual indicator, thereby causing the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states according to the predetermined temporal pattern.

8. The component of claim 1, wherein the RFID element includes an antenna for receiving the external RF signal and an integrated circuit in electrical communication with the antenna and the visual indicator, the integrated circuit receiving input from the antenna and providing the electrical signal to the visual indicator in response.

9. The component of claim 1, wherein the RFID element is a transponder capable of communicating an RF signal in response to receipt of the external RF signal.

10. A fiber optic cable including an optical fiber attached to the component of claim 1.

11. The fiber optic cable of claim 10, wherein the fiber optic cable is a pre-connectorized fiber optic cable.

12. The component of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a connector including a housing being connectable to an end of the optical fiber.

13. The component of claim 1, wherein the first indication state and the second indication state of the visual indicator comprises at least one of the group comprising states of different color and states of different flashing patterns.

14. A receptacle for connecting an optical fiber component capable of carrying an optical signal, the receptacle comprising:

an RFID element, the RFID element being a passive RFID element capable of receiving an external RF signal and generating an electrical signal in response; and

a visual indicator, the visual indicator having a first indication state and a second indication state, the visual indicator capable of changing between the first and second indication states depending upon electrical signals input into the visual indicator, the visual indicator being in electrical communication with and powerable by the RFID element, whereby when the RFID element receives the external RF signal the RFID element generates and communicates the electrical signal, thereby causing the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states.

15. The receptacle of claim 14, wherein the visual indicator is an LED, and the first indication state is one in which the LED does not emit light and the second indication state is one in which the LED does emit light.

16. The receptacle of claim 14, further including a passive energy storage device in electrical communication with the RFID element and the visual indicator, the passive energy storage device being chargeable by the RFID element when the RFID element receives the external RF signal, the passive energy storage device being dischargeable to electrically power the visual indicator, thereby causing the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states.

17. The receptacle of claim 16, wherein the passive energy storage device includes at least one of a capacitor and a trickle-fill battery.

18. The receptacle of claim 14, wherein the electrical signal sent by the RFID element causes the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states according to a predetermined temporal pattern.

19. The receptacle of claim 18, wherein the predetermined temporal pattern is adjustable to enable sufficient power to be captured to power the visual indicator with the signal strength of the external RF signal.

20. The receptacle of claim 18, further including a capacitor in electrical communication with the RFID element, the capacitor being chargeable by the RFID element when the RFID element receives the external RF signal, the capacitor being dischargeable to electrically power the visual indicator, thereby causing the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states according to the predetermined temporal pattern.

21. The receptacle of claim 14, wherein the RFID element includes an antenna for receiving the external RF signal and an integrated circuit in electrical communication with the antenna and the visual indicator, the integrated circuit receiving input from the antenna and providing the electrical signal to the visual indicator in response.

22. The receptacle of claim 14, wherein the RFID element is a transponder capable of communicating an RF signal in response to receipt of the external RF signal.

23. The receptacle of claim 14, wherein the component includes at least one of an adaptor, a receiver, a wavelength multiplexer, a splitter, a cable assembly, and a socket of a network device.

24. The receptacle of claim 14, wherein component has opening configured for receiving another component or a connector of a connectorized fiber optic cable.

25. The receptacle of claim 14, wherein the first indication state and the second indication state of the visual indicator comprises at least one of the group comprising states of different color and states of different flashing patterns.

26. A communications system providing identification of individual elements within the system based on transmission of RF signals, the system comprising:

a plurality of interconnected communications elements;

a plurality of RFID elements, the RFID elements attached to one of the plurality of interconnected communications elements, the RFID elements being passive RFID elements and including;

an antenna for receiving an RF signal,

an integrated circuit in electrical communication with the antenna for reading the RF signal to determine if the RF signal includes identification indicia related to the integrated circuit and to generate an electrical signal in response to detection of the identification indicia in the RF signal, and

a visual indicator in electrical communication with the integrated circuit and powerable by the RF signal collected by the antenna, the visual indicator having a first indication state and a second indication state, the visual indicator capable of changing between the first and second indication states upon receipt of the electrical signal from the integrated circuit; and

an RF transmitter for transmitting RF signals, the RF signals including identification indicia relating to at least one of the plurality of interconnected communications elements, whereby the RF transmitter sends an RF signal to the RFID elements and the respective integrated circuit determines whether the RF signal includes the identification indicia related to the respective integrated circuit and, if so, the respective integrated circuit communicates an electrical signal to the visual indicator in communication with the respective integrated circuit, thereby causing the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the visual indicators are LED'"'"'s, and the first indication state is one in which the LED does not emit light and the second indication state is one in which the LED does emit light.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the RFID elements further include a passive energy storage device in electrical communication with the respective integrated circuit and the respective visual indicator, the passive energy storage device being chargeable by the antenna when the respective antenna receives the external RF signal, the passive energy storage device being dischargeable to electrically power the respective visual indicator, thereby causing the respective visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the passive energy storage devices include at least one of a capacitor and a trickle-fill battery.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the electrical signal sent by the integrated circuits causes the respective visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states according to a predetermined temporal pattern.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the predetermined temporal pattern is adjustable to enable sufficient power to be captured to power the visual indicator with the signal strength of the external RF signal.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the RFID elements further include a capacitor in electrical communication with the respective integrated circuit, the capacitor being chargeable by the antenna when the respective antenna receives the RF signal, the capacitor being dischargeable to electrically power the respective visual indicator, thereby causing the respective visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states according to the predetermined temporal pattern.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the integrated circuit and the antenna of the RFID elements can function as a transponder capable of communicating an RF signal in response to receipt of the RF signal.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the first indication state and the second indication state of the visual indicator comprises at least one of the group comprising states of different color and states of different flashing patterns.

35. A passive RFID element with visual signaling capability, the passive RFID element comprising:

an antenna for receiving an external RF signal;

an integrated circuit in electrical communication with the antenna; and

a visual indicator in electrical communication with the integrated circuit and powerable by the RF power collected by the antenna, the visual indicator having a first indication state and a second indication state, the visual indicator capable of changing between the first and second indication states depending upon electrical signals input into the visual indicator, whereby when the antenna receives the external RF signal the integrated circuit generates and communicates the electrical signal, thereby causing the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states.

36. The passive RFID element of claim 35, wherein the visual indicator is an LED, and the first indication state is one in which the LED does not emit light and the second indication state is one in which the LED does emit light.

37. The passive RFID element of claim 35, further including a passive energy storage device in electrical communication with the integrated circuit and the visual indicator, the passive energy storage device being chargeable by the antenna when the antenna receives the external RF signal, the passive energy storage device being dischargeable to electrically power the visual indicator, thereby causing the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states.

38. The passive RFID element of claim 37, wherein the passive energy storage device includes at least one of a capacitor and a trickle-fill battery.

39. The passive RFID element of claim 35, wherein the electrical signal sent by the integrated circuit causes the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states according to a predetermined temporal pattern.

40. The passive RFID element of claim 39, wherein the predetermined temporal pattern is adjustable to enable sufficient power to be captured to power the visual indicator with the signal strength of the external RF signal.

41. The passive RFID element of claim 39, further including a capacitor in electrical communication with the integrated circuit, the capacitor being chargeable by the antenna when the antenna receives the external RF signal, the capacitor being dischargeable to electrically power the visual indicator, thereby causing the visual indicator to change between the first and second indication states according to the predetermined temporal pattern.

42. The passive RFID element of claim 35, wherein the integrated circuit and the antenna can function as a transponder capable of communicating an RF signal in response to receipt of the external RF signal.

43. The passive RFID element of claim 35, wherein the first indication state and the second indication state of the visual indicator comprises at least one of the group comprising states of different color and states of different flashing patterns.