CABLE INSTALLATION USING OPTICAL DETECTION
First Claim
1. A device for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, the device being suitable for confirming that the flow of air is exiting the second conduit end, the device comprising:
- a housing;
means to enable connection of the device to the second conduit end;
a light source;
a detector arranged to detect a presence or an absence of a light signal; and
a light shield,wherein in use, the flow of air entering the device causes the light shield and at least one of the light source or the detector to move to and to stay at a position relative to the other, permitting the detector to detect at least one detection comprising one or more of;
a presence or an absence of the light signal,an intensity level of the light signal,a change in the presence or the absence of the light signal, ora change in an intensity level of the light signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, the device being suitable for confirming that the flow of air is exiting the second conduit end, the device including a housing, means to enable connection of the device to the second conduit end, a light source, a detector arranged to detect a presence or absence of a light signal, and a light shield, wherein in use, the flow of air entering the device causes the light shield and at least one of the light source or the detector, to move to and to stay at a position relative to the other, permitting the detector to detect detections including one or more of a presence or absence of the light signal, an intensity level of the light signal, a change in the presence or absence of the light signal, or a change in the intensity level of the light signal.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A device for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, the device being suitable for confirming that the flow of air is exiting the second conduit end, the device comprising:
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a housing; means to enable connection of the device to the second conduit end; a light source; a detector arranged to detect a presence or an absence of a light signal; and a light shield, wherein in use, the flow of air entering the device causes the light shield and at least one of the light source or the detector to move to and to stay at a position relative to the other, permitting the detector to detect at least one detection comprising one or more of; a presence or an absence of the light signal, an intensity level of the light signal, a change in the presence or the absence of the light signal, or a change in an intensity level of the light signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15)
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13. A device for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, the device being suitable for confirming that the cable is exiting the second conduit end, the device comprising:
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a housing; means to enable connection of the device to the second conduit end; a light source; and a detector arranged to detect a change in a light signal, wherein in use, the cable entering the housing of the device interferes with detection by the detector of a light signal from the light source. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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16. A system for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, for confirming that the flow of air is exiting the second conduit end, comprising:
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a device comprising a housing, means to enable connection of the device to the second conduit end, a light source, a detector arranged to detect a presence or an absence of a light signal and comprising an optical receiver connected to a signal processor, a transmitter for transmitting a status signal comprising at least one detection, and a light shield, wherein in use, the flow of air entering the device causes the light shield and at least one of the light source or the detector to move to and to stay at a position relative to the other, permitting the detector to detect at least one detection comprising one or more of; a presence or an absence of the light signal, an intensity level of the light signal, a change in the presence or the absence of the light signal, or a change in an intensity level of the light signal; and an apparatus at the first conduit end configured to receive and to automatically respond to the transmitted status signal.
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17. A system for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, comprising:
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a device for confirming that the cable is exiting the second conduit end comprising a housing, means to enable connection of the device to the second conduit end, a light source, and a detector arranged to detect a change in a light signal and including a transmitter for transmitting a status signal comprising the detection, wherein in use, the cable entering the housing of the device interferes with detection by the detector of a light signal from the light source; and an apparatus at the first conduit end configured to receive and to automatically respond to the transmitted status signal. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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18. A system for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, for confirming that the flow of air and the cable are exiting the second conduit end, comprising:
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a device configured to confirm that the cable has exited the second conduit end, comprising a housing, means to enable connection of the device to the second conduit end, a light source, a detector arranged to detect a presence or an absence of a light signal and to detect a subsequent interference of the light signal from the light source, the detector including a transmitter for transmitting at least two status signals comprising at least two detections, and a light shield, wherein in use, the flow of air entering the device causes the light shield and at least one of the light source or the detector to move to and to stay at a position relative to the other, permitting the detector to detect at least one detection comprising one or more of; a presence or an absence of the light signal, an intensity level of the light signal, a change in the presence or the absence of the light signal, or a change in the an intensity level of the light signal; and an apparatus at the first conduit end configured to receive and to automatically respond to the transmitted status signals.
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19. A method for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, and to confirm that the flow of air is exiting the second conduit end, the method comprising:
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attaching a device to the second conduit end, the device comprising a housing, a light source, a detector arranged to detect a presence or an absence of a light signal, and a light shield; applying the flow of air into the first conduit end, causing the light shield of the device to move and to be retained relative to at least one of the light source or the detector of the device; and detecting detections comprising one or more of a presence or an absence of the light signal, an intensity level of the light signal, a change in the presence or the absence of the light signal, or a change in the intensity level of the light signal.
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20. A method for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, and to confirm that the cable is exiting the second conduit end, the method comprising:
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attaching a device to the second conduit end, the device comprising a housing, a light source, and a detector arranged to detect a change in a light signal, wherein in use, the cable entering the housing of the device interferes with detection by the detector of a light signal from the light source; applying the flow of air into the first conduit end; and detecting interference of a light signal from the light source. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 25)
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21. A method for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, and to confirm that the flow of air and the cable are exiting the second conduit end, the method comprising:
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attaching a device to the second conduit end, the device configured to confirm that the cable has exited the second conduit end and comprising a housing, means to enable connection of the device to the second conduit end, a light source, a detector arranged to detect a presence or an absence of a light signal and to detect a subsequent interference of the light signal from the light source, and a light shield; applying the flow of air into the first conduit end, causing the light shield of the device to move and to be retained relative to at least one of the light source or the detector of the device; detecting detections comprising one or more of a presence or absence of the light signal, an intensity level of the light signal, a change in the presence or absence of the light signal, or a change in the intensity level of the light signal; and detecting a subsequent interference of the light signal.
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Specification