Method and device for detecting the presence of a patch cord connector in a telecommunications patch system using passive detection sensors

• US 6,424,710 B1
• Filed: 02/10/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Choudhury, Golam Mabud, Ensz, Lyndon D., Macauley, Daniel Warren, Paul, Lawrence Marc, Bartolutti, Stephen Craig, German, Michael Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US09/247,237
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 379/438, 379/326, 439/490, 439/344, 439/910, 340/540, 340/815.45, 340/539
• US Class Current: 379/326
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements

Abstract

A patch cord tracing system for tracing patch cords in a telecommunications patching system. The system includes a plurality of tracing interface modules that attach to the patch panels in a telecommunications closet. On the patch panels in a telecommunications closet are located a plurality of connector ports that receive the terminated ends of patch cords. The tracing interface modules mount to the patch panels and provide a passive sensor that can detect when a patch cord connector has been added to, or removed from, a connector port within the telecommunications closet. Accordingly, by connecting a computer controller to the various passive sensors, the computer can monitor and log all changes to the patch cord interconnections in an automated fashion. In alternate embodiments, the passive sensors can be built into the structure of the patch port assemblies that contain the various connector ports. Such alternate embodiments are for newly manufactured telecommunication patch systems and are not readily adapted to existing systems.

Claims

1. A patch cord tracing module assembly adapted to be affixed to a patch panel having a plurality of connector ports provided in patch cord port assemblies forming a front planar surface in the patch panel, said patch cord tracing module adapted to detect the presence of patch cords having connectors that are connected to the connector ports in a telecommunications system, comprising:

a printed circuitboard containing a plurality of sensors thereon, each of said sensors being mounted and electrically connected to said circuitboard so as to align in close proximity to each of the plurality of connector ports wherein said sensors are capable of detecting the presence of a patch cord a predetermined distance away from said sensor without physically engaging that patch cord,

said printed circuitboard generally forming a plane that is parallel to the front planar surface of a patch panel.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said sensors contains an emitter that emits electro-magnetic energy.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sensors contain an emitter selected from a group consisting of light emitters, infrared light emitters, ultraviolet light emitters and ultrasonic emitters.

4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said sensors includes an electromagnetic energy detector that is capable of detected reflections of the electromagnetic energy emitted by said emitter, provided said reflections surpass a predetermined threshold energy level.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is capable of detecting a magnetic field.

6. A telecommunications patching system having point-to-point tracing capabilities for patch cords, comprising:

a patch panel having a plurality of connector ports formed in a first plane adapted to receive patch cords having connectors that are connected to the connector ports;

a tracing module mounted to said patch panel proximate said connector ports, said tracing module having a printed circuitboard having affixed thereto a plurality of sensors electrically connected to said circuitboard, said tracing module being in a second plane generally parallel to said first plane wherein said tracing module contains sensors that detect the presence of a patch cord in each connector port without physically contacting that patch cord.

7. The system according to claim 6, further including a controller on each said rack structure that is coupled to each of said sensor in said tracing modules.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein said sensors contains an emitter that emits electromagnetic energy.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein said sensors contain an emitter selected from a group consisting of light emitters, infrared light emitters, ultraviolet light emitters and ultrasonic emitters.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein each of said sensors includes an electromagnetic energy detector that is capable of detected reflections of the electromagnetic energy emitted by said emitter, provided said reflections surpass a predetermined threshold energy level.

11. The system according to claim 6, wherein said sensor is capable of detecting a magnetic field.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein each said patch cord has terminated ends that contain magnetized elements.

13. A telecommunications patching system having point-to-point tracing capabilities, comprising:

a patch panel having a front surface having a plurality of connector ports formed in said front surface, said connector ports adapted to receive patch cords to interconnect pairs of said connector ports,

a tracing module mounted to said patch panels proximate said connector ports, said tracing module including a member having a rear surface facing said front surface of said patch panel when said tracing module is mounted to said patch panel, and a plurality of sensors mounted to the rear surface of said member so as to position said sensors between said member and said front surface of said patch panel so that said member provides a protective environment for said sensors, each sensor adapted to detect the presence of a patch cord in a connector port without physically contacting that patch cord.

14. A telecommunications patching system as defined in claim 13 wherein said member is a printed circuitboard.

15. A telecommunications patching system as defined in claim 14 wherein said printed circuitboard further has a front surface and a graphics overlay overlying said front surface of said printed circuitboard.

16. A telecommunications patching system as defined in claim 13 wherein said patch panel is in a first plane and said tracing module is in a second plane generally parallel to said first plane.

17. A telecommunications patching system as defined in claim 14 wherein said printed circuitboard has opposite outer edges and a member mounts said printed circuitboard along one outer edge thereof and said sensors are mounted near the other outer edge of said printed circuitboard.

18. A telecommunications patching system as defined in claim 16 wherein said sensors are recessed from the other outer edge of said printed circuitboard.