Embedded cable connection identification circuits
First Claim
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1. A system for identifying the ends of an interconnect cable, comprising:
- an interconnect cable having at least first and second ends, said interconnect cable including;
at least a first conductive element extending from about said first end to about said second end of said interconnect cable;
a second conductive element extending from about said first end to about said second end of said interconnect cable;
a first identifier interconnected to said first conductive element and to said second conductive element, wherein said first identifier emits an identification signal in response to an applied voltage;
a power source; and
at least a first switch, wherein in a closed position said switch interconnects said power source to said first identifier.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an interconnect cable having selectively activated identifiers in order to facilitate the locating and positive identification of ends of the interconnect cable. The identifiers may be activated by introducing or enabling a suitable activation signal at identifier activation points provided at an end of the interconnect cable opposite an end including an identifier. The activation signal may be provided by a detection probe tool.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A system for identifying the ends of an interconnect cable, comprising:
an interconnect cable having at least first and second ends, said interconnect cable including; at least a first conductive element extending from about said first end to about said second end of said interconnect cable; a second conductive element extending from about said first end to about said second end of said interconnect cable; a first identifier interconnected to said first conductive element and to said second conductive element, wherein said first identifier emits an identification signal in response to an applied voltage; a power source; and at least a first switch, wherein in a closed position said switch interconnects said power source to said first identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An interconnect cable, comprising:
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a first identifier activation point located proximate to a first end of said interconnect cable; a first identifier located proximate to a second end of said interconnect cable; a first identifier signal line electrically interconnecting said first identifier activation point to said first identifier; a first connector at said first end of said interconnect cable, wherein said first connector has at least a first interconnection point; a second connector at said second end of said interconnect cable, wherein said second connector has at least a first interconnection point; and a first interconnection signal line interconnected to said first interconnection point of said first connector at a first end and interconnected to said first interconnection point of said second connector at a second end, wherein said first interconnect signal line comprises one of said first identifier signal line and a first interconnect signal line; a second identifier activation point located proximate to said second end of said interconnect cable; a second identifier located proximate to said first end of said interconnect cable; a second identifier signal line electrically interconnecting said second identifier activation point to said second identifier, wherein said first identifier is not electrically interconnected to said second identifier activation point and wherein said second identifier is not electrically interconnected to said first identifier activation point. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for identifying the ends of an interconnect cable, comprising:
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first means for emitting a human perceptible signal located at a first end of said interconnect cable; first means for receiving an identification signal; means for interconnecting said first means for emitting to said means for receiving an identification signal; first means for interconnecting said interconnect cable to an interconnect signal source; second means for interconnecting said interconnect cable to an interconnect signal receiver; means for carrying an interconnect signal between said first means for interconnecting and said second means for interconnecting; and means for selectively energizing said first means for emitting a human perceptible signal, wherein said means for selectively energizing includes means for supplying power that is provided as part of said interconnect cable and switch means for selectively interconnecting said means for supplying power to at least said first means for emitting a human perceptible signal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An interconnect cable, comprising:
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a first end; a second end; a first identifier at said first end of said interconnect cable; a power source; a first switch at said second end of said interconnect cable operable to selectively interconnect said power source to said first identifier; a first identifier signal line, wherein said first identifier signal line interconnects said first identifier and said power source at least when said first switch is operated to interconnect said power source and said first identifier. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification