ILLUMINATED TRACER CABLE

• US 20180348459A1
• Filed: 05/31/2018
• Published: 12/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated), Mertek Industries, LLC
• Original Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Marrapode, Thomas R., Scherer, Chris, Sholtis, Jon K.
• Granted Patent: US 10,649,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/20 Electroluminescent [EL] light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0003 the light guides being doped with fluorescent agents
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4415 Cables for special applications G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/562 locatable, e.g. using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/00 Communication cables or conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements

Abstract

An illuminated tracer cable system includes a signal carrying cable comprising a signal connector on each end of the signal carrying cable, an electroluminescent (EL) wire coupled to the signal carrying cable, and a magnetic power connector coupled to an end of the EL wire configured to provide power to the EL wire.

Claims

1. An illuminated tracer cable system comprising:

a signal carrying cable comprising a signal connector on each end of the signal carrying cable;

an electroluminescent (EL) wire coupled to the signal carrying cable; and

a magnetic power connector coupled to an end of the EL wire configured to provide power to the EL wire.

2. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 1, further comprising a transparent outer jacket surrounding the signal carrying cable and the EL wire.

3. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 2, further comprising at least one strength member inside the transparent outer jacket.

4. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 1, further comprising a button.

5. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 4, further comprising a light emitting diode (LED) and an internal battery electrically coupled to the LED, wherein the button is configured to power on or off the LED.

6. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic power connector comprises recessed electrical leads.

7. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 1, further comprising a data connector body and a power dongle body separate from the data connector body, wherein the signal connector is located on the data connector body and the magnetic power connector is located on the dongle body.

8. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 1, further comprising a body enclosure which houses the signal connector and the magnetic power connector.

9. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 1, further comprising a cable power module with a power connector lead, wherein the magnetic power connector is configured to magnetically couple to the power connector lead.

10. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 9, wherein the cable power module further comprises an inverter, a power module battery, and a controller.

11. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to supplying power only if the magnetic power connector is connected to the cable power module.

12. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to stop supplying power only if the magnetic power connector is detected to become disconnected from the cable power module.

13. The illuminated tracer cable system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to measure a capacitance of the EL wire to determine a length measurement of the EL wire.