System and method for documenting and checking cable interconnections
First Claim
1. A method of documenting the terminal interconnections for each wire of a newly designed cable and for later checking the terminal interconnections for each wire of another cable that is to be used as a reference cable for checking subsequent cables so as to verify that the terminal interconnections of said cables are the same, said method comprising the steps of:
- electronically determining the terminal interconnections for said newly designed cable;
electronically generating a unique cable signature based on the terminal interconnections determined for said newly designed cable;
documenting said cable signature and the terminal interconnections for said newly designed cable;
electronically determining and storing the terminal interconnections for said reference cable;
electronically generating a unique cable signature based on the terminal interconnections determined for said reference cable;
comparing said cable signature of said reference cable to said cable signature documented for said newly designed cable so as to verify that said reference cable has the same signature as the newly designed cable; and
thereafter electronically determining and comparing the terminal interconnections for each said subsequent cable to the terminal interconnections stored from said verified reference cable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for documenting and checking the common connections provided by each wire of a cable between connector terminals located at opposite ends of the cable. The system includes a cable analyzer which is used to generate control information for quickly and reliably verifying standardization of each cable design, an optional printer or other suitable means of documenting the control information, and a binder or other appropriate means for organizing and filing the documentation which contains the control information. The analyzer automatically scans and records the common connections provided by each wire of the cable between the connector terminals at the ends of the cable. The terminal interconnections may then be printed so as to document the cable design for later reference. The analyzer also uses the terminal interconnections to automatically generate and record a unique alphanumeric or numeric code, called a "cable signature," which is also printed as part of the design documentation. Proper cable design can be quickly verified for subsequent cables by using the cable analyzer and the documented design information.
44 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of documenting the terminal interconnections for each wire of a newly designed cable and for later checking the terminal interconnections for each wire of another cable that is to be used as a reference cable for checking subsequent cables so as to verify that the terminal interconnections of said cables are the same, said method comprising the steps of:
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electronically determining the terminal interconnections for said newly designed cable; electronically generating a unique cable signature based on the terminal interconnections determined for said newly designed cable; documenting said cable signature and the terminal interconnections for said newly designed cable; electronically determining and storing the terminal interconnections for said reference cable; electronically generating a unique cable signature based on the terminal interconnections determined for said reference cable; comparing said cable signature of said reference cable to said cable signature documented for said newly designed cable so as to verify that said reference cable has the same signature as the newly designed cable; and thereafter electronically determining and comparing the terminal interconnections for each said subsequent cable to the terminal interconnections stored from said verified reference cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In an apparatus comprising detection means for electronically detecting the terminal interconnections for each wire of a cable, storage means for electronically storing data representing said terminal interconnections, processor means for electronically processing said data and output means for outputting information derived from said data, a method of documenting and comparing terminal interconnections for a plurality of cables, said method comprising the steps of:
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electrically connecting the ends of a newly designed first cable to the detection means of said apparatus; electronically detecting with said detection means the terminal interconnections for said first cable; electronically storing in said storage means data which represents a list of said terminal interconnections detected for said first cable; electronically processing with said processor means the data which represents said list of terminal interconnections for said first cable, whereby a unique cable signature is derived for said first cable; electronically storing in said storage means data which represents the cable signature derived for said first cable; documenting said list of terminal interconnections for said first cable with the cable signature derived for said first cable; electrically connecting the ends of a second cable selected as a reference cable to the detection means of said apparatus; electronically detecting with said detection means the terminal interconnections for said second cable; electronically storing in said storage means data which represents a list of said terminal interconnections determined for said second cable; electronically processing with said processor means the data which represents said list of terminal interconnections for said second cable, whereby a unique cable signature is derived for said second cable; electronically storing in said storage means data which represents the cable signature derived from said second cable displaying at said output means a visual indication of the cable signature derived for said second cable; and comparing the cable signature displayed for said second cable with the cable signature documented for said first cable so as to verify that the signatures match, thereby verifying said second cable as a valid reference cable. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of documenting the terminal interconnections for each wire of a newly designed first cable and of checking the interconnections for each wire of a subsequent cable so as to verify that the terminal interconnections of said first and subsequent cables are the same, said method comprising the steps of:
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electronically determining said terminal interconnections for said first cable; electronically storing data which represents a list describing the terminal interconnections detected for said first cable; electronically processing said data which describes the terminal interconnections detected for said first cable, whereby a unique cable signature is derived for said first cable; documenting said list of terminal interconnections and said cable signature derived from said first cable; electronically determining the terminal interconnections for a second cable that is to be used as a reference cable; electronically storing data which represents a list of said terminal interconnections for said second cable; electronically processing the data which represents said list of terminal interconnections for said second cable, whereby a unique cable signature is derived for said second cable; electronically storing data which represents said cable signature derived for said second cable; displaying a visual indication of said cable signature derived for said second cable; comparing the displayed cable signature derived for said second cable to said cable signature documented for said first cable so as to verify that said signatures are the same, thereby verifying the second cable as a valid reference cable against which subsequent cables can be checked; electronically determining the terminal interconnections for one or more subsequent cables to be checked against said reference cable; electronically storing data which represents a list describing each terminal interconnection detected for each said subsequent cable; electronically comparing the list of terminal interconnections stored for said verified reference cable with the list of terminal interconnections stored for each said subsequent cable; and displaying each interconnection for each said subsequent cable which differs from the list of interconnections stored for each verified reference cable. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for documenting the terminal interconnections for each wire of a newly designed first cable and checking the terminal interconnections for each wire of one or more subsequent cables so as to verify that the terminal interconnections of said first and subsequent cables are the same, said system comprising:
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(1) means for analyzing the terminal interconnections of each said cable, said means for analyzing said terminal interconnections comprising; (a) means for testing each terminal position at the ends of each cable to determine which terminal positions of each cable are connected in common; (b) means for connecting the ends of each said cable to said testing means; (c) means for generating a unique cable signature based on the common connections determined by said testing means; and (d) means for outputting said cable signature and terminal interconnections determined by said testing means; (2) means for documenting the cable signature and terminal interconnections output for said newly designed first cable; and (3) means for organizing the filing said documented cable signature and terminal interconnections of said first cable so as to permit later reference thereto when verifying the cable signature output for one of said subsequent cables. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A system for documenting the terminal interconnections for each wire of a first cable and checking the terminal interconnections for each wire of one or more subsequent cables so as to verify that the terminal interconnections of said first and subsequent cables are the same, said system comprising:
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(1) a cable analyzer comprising; (a) a housing; (b) a pair of cover plates removably secured to said housing; (c) an electronic circuit mounted to said cover plates so as to be enclosed by said housing when said cover plates are secured to the housing, said circuit comprising a plurality of cable connectors, means for determining the terminal interconnections of each cable plugged into said connectors, means for generating a unique cable signature based on the terminal interconnections determined for each cable and means for outputting said terminal interconnections and cable signature determined for each said cable; (d) means for displaying a visual indication of the cable signature and terminal interconnections determined by said electronic circuit, said means for displaying said visual indication being mounted to one of said cover plates; and (e) a pair of top plates removably secured to one of said cover plates and said housing, said top plates securing one of more cable adapters between said cover plate and said top plates; (2) a plurality of cable adapters for connecting the ends of each said cable to corresponding cable connectors of said electronic circuit, each said adapter comprising means for adapting the numerical sequence of the terminal positions at the ends of said cable to the numerical sequence of the terminal positions of said cable connectors so as to provide a compatible interconnection to said cable connectors; (3) a printer electrically connected to said means for outputting said terminal interconnections and cable signature determined for each said cable; and (4) means for organizing and filing documents output by said printer.
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27. In a system for documenting the terminal interconnections for each wire of a first cable and checking the terminal interconnections for each wire of one or more subsequent cables so as to verify that the terminal interconnections of said first and subsequent cables are the same, an apparatus for analyzing the terminal interconnections of each said cable comprising:
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means for testing each terminal position at the ends of each cable to determine which terminal positions of each cable are connected in common; means for connecting the ends of each said cable to said testing means; means for generating a unique cable signature based on the common connections determined by said testing means; and means for outputting said cable signature and terminal interconnections determined by said testing means. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification