Optical distribution device and light waveguide connector cable

• US 7,027,704 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CCS Technology Inc. (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CCS Technology Inc. (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frohlich, Franz-Friedrich, Spende, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peace, Rhonda S.
• Application Number:
  US10/478,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20040240807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/134, 385/135
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds

Abstract

An optical distribution device has first connector points for the connection of incoming light waveguide cables, second connector points for the connection of outgoing light waveguide cables and at least one light waveguide connector cable having at least one connecting device on one or both ends for connecting at least one of the first connector points to at least one of the second connector points. Each connection device is provided with an electrical code memory device for storing an identification code and each of the first and second connector points are provided with an electrical code reader device connected to the associated code memory device for reading the identification code when the associated connector device is connected to one of the connector points. A controller is connected to the code reader device for evaluating the identification code to identify the optical connection effected by the light waveguide connector cable.

Claims

1. An optical distribution device comprising:

first connecting points for connecting incoming light waveguide cables;

second connecting points for connecting outgoing light waveguide cables; and

at least one light waveguide connector cable via which at least one of the first connecting points is connected to at least one of the second connecting points, each light waveguide connector cable having opposed ends and at least one connecting device on at least one of the ends for connecting to the first connecting points or to the second connecting points, each connecting device being provided with an electrical code memory device in which an identification code is stored and the first connecting points or the second connecting points being provided with an electrical code reading device that is connected to the associated code memory device for reading the identification code, the code memory device being formed by an electronic memory chip that is electrically connected to the associated code reading device when the connecting device is connected to the first connecting points or to the second connecting points; and

a control device connected to the code reading device for evaluating the identification code to identify an optical connection effected by the light waveguide connector cable;

wherein the code reading device comprises a printed circuit board on which there are provided one or more reading contact points that make contact with one or more mating contact components of the code memory device when the connecting device is connected to the first connecting points or to the second connecting points.

2. An optical distribution device comprising:

first connecting points for connecting incoming light waveguide cables;

second connecting points for connecting outgoing light waveguide cables; and

at least one light waveguide connector cable via which at least one of the first connecting points is connected to at least one of the second connecting points, each light waveguide connector cable having opposed ends and at least one connecting device on at least one of the ends for connecting to the first connecting points or to the second connecting points, each connecting device being provided with an electrical code memory device in which an identification code is stored and the first connecting points or the second connecting paints being provided with an electrical code reading device that is connected to the associated code memory device for reading the identification code, the code memory device being formed by an electronic memory chip that is electrically connected to the associated code reading device when the connecting device is connected to the first connecting points or to the second connecting points; and

a control device connected to the code reading device for evaluating the identification code to identify an optical connection effected by the light waveguide connector cable;

wherein the identification code is fanned by a multidigit code number, the last numeral of the code number defining the type of the light waveguide connector cable and the preceding numerals defining the light waveguide connector cable and the connecting devices.

3. The optical distribution device of claim 2, wherein the light waveguide connector cable is provided with a multifiber connecting device at one end and with a plurality of single fiber connecting devices at the other end and wherein the multidigit code number of each associated identification code is provided in the form of a serial enumeration, with the exception of the last numeral defining the type of the light waveguide connector cable.

4. The optical distribution device of claim 2, wherein the light waveguide connector cable is provided with a connecting device at both ends and wherein the associated identification codes are identical to one another.

5. The optical distribution device of claim 2, wherein the numerals preceding the last numeral of the code number are determined from the formula:

CZF(n,x)=Z_Max*n+Z(n,x),

CZF(n,x) being the code numerical sequence of the connecting device x of the light waveguide connector cable n, Z_Max being the number of connecting devices of the light waveguide connector cable which has the most connecting devices of the light waveguide connector cables used, and Z(n,x) being a serial numeral from 0 up to the number of connecting devices x of the associated light waveguide connector cable n minus one, which numeral is assigned to the respective connecting device x.

6. A light waveguide connector cable having opposed ends for use in an optical distribution device comprising:

one or more optical fibers for transmitting light signals; and

one or more connecting devices at each end of the light waveguide connector cable that are provided with an electrical code memory device for storing an identification code that identifies the associated connecting device and each optical fiber connected to the associated connecting device, the code memory device being formed by an electronic memory chip that has connecting elements for electrical coupling to a code reading device to transmit the stored identification code to the code reading device;

wherein the code reading device comprises a printed circuit board on which there are provided one or more reading contact points that make contact with one or more mating contact components of the code memory device when the connecting device is connected to the first connecting points or to the second connecting points.

7. A light waveguide connector cable having opposed ends for use in an optical distribution device comprising:

one or more optical fibers for transmitting light signals; and

one or more connecting devices at each end of the light waveguide connector cable that are provided with an electrical code memory device for storing an identification code that identifies the associated connecting device and each optical fiber connected to the associated connecting device, the code memory device being formed by an electronic memory chip that has connecting elements for electrical coupling to a code reading device to transmit the stored identification code to the code reading device;

wherein the associated connecting device comprises a housing and wherein the code memory device is attached to the outside of the housing such that the code memory device is connected to the associated code reading device by connecting the connecting device.

8. A light waveguide connector cable having opposed ends for use in an optical distribution device comprising:

one or more optical fibers for transmitting light signals; and

at least one connecting device on at least one end of the light waveguide connector cable, each connecting device connected to an electrical code memory device that stores an identification code for identifying the associated connecting device and each optical fiber connected to the associated connecting device; and

wherein each optical fiber connected to the associated connecting device is provided with an externally visible marking assigned to the identification code.

9. The light waveguide connector cable of claim 8, wherein the code memory device is formed by an electronic memory chip that has connecting elements for electrically coupling to a code reading device to transmit the stored identification code to the code reading device.

10. A light waveguide connector cable having opposed ends for use in an optical distribution device comprising:

one or more optical fibers for transmitting light signals; and

one or more connecting devices at each end of the light waveguide connector cable that are provided with an electrical code memory device for storing an identification code that identifies the associated connecting device and each optical fiber connected to the associated connecting device, the code memory device being formed by an electronic memory chip that has connecting elements for electrical coupling to a code reading device to transmit the stored identification code to the code reading device;

wherein the identification code is formed by a multidigit code number, the last numeral of the code number defining the type of the light waveguide connector cable and the preceding numerals defining the light waveguide connector cable and the connecting devices.