CABLES AND CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES EMPLOYING A FURCATION TUBE(S) FOR RADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)-EQUIPPED CONNECTORS, AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A connector assembly, comprising:
- a cable comprising a cable end, an interior area, at least one communication line, and at least one furcation tube disposed in the interior area;
a connector operably connected to the cable end; and
at least one antenna wire configured to be electrically connected to at least one radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag to serve as at least a portion of an RFID antenna for the at least one RFID tag;
wherein at least a portion of the at least one antenna wire is disposed inside the at least one furcation tube.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include cables and connector assemblies employing a furcation tube(s) for radio-frequency identification (RFID)-equipped connectors, and related systems and methods. In one embodiment, a connector assembly is provided that comprises a cable comprising a cable end, an interior area, at least one communication line, and at least one furcation tube disposed in the interior area. The connector assembly also comprises a connector operably connected to the cable end. At least one antenna wire is configured to be electrically connected to at least one RFID tag to serve as at least a portion of an RFID antenna for at least one RFID tag. At least a portion of the at least one antenna wire is disposed inside the furcation tube in the cable. In this manner, the antenna wire is secured inside the rugged packaging of the cable to protect the antenna wire.
42 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A connector assembly, comprising:
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a cable comprising a cable end, an interior area, at least one communication line, and at least one furcation tube disposed in the interior area; a connector operably connected to the cable end; and at least one antenna wire configured to be electrically connected to at least one radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag to serve as at least a portion of an RFID antenna for the at least one RFID tag; wherein at least a portion of the at least one antenna wire is disposed inside the at least one furcation tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A telecommunications assembly, comprising:
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a plurality of connector assemblies each comprising; a cable comprising a cable end, an interior area, at least one communication line, and at least one furcation tube disposed in the interior area; a connector operably connected to the cable end; and at least one antenna wire configured to be electrically connected to at least one radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag to serve as at least a portion of an RFID antenna for the at least one RFID tag; wherein at least a portion of the at least one antenna wire is disposed inside the at least one furcation tube; a plurality of adapters having respective RFID tags and that are operably engaged with the plurality of connector assemblies so that the RFID tags are respectively electrically connected to the respective RFID tags of the corresponding connector assemblies; and at least one RFID reader arranged in relation to the antenna wires so as to operably communicate with the plurality of RFID tags. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of providing a connector assembly, comprising:
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providing a connectorized cable comprising a cable comprising a cable end, an interior area, at least one communication line, at least one furcation tube disposed in the interior area, and a connector operably connected to the cable end; disposing at least a portion of at least one antenna wire run from the at least one radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag inside the at least one furcation tube; and electrically connecting the at least one antenna wire to an integrated circuit (IC) chip of the at least one RFID tag so as to serve as at least a portion of an RFID antenna for the at least one RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification