Radio frequency identification for transfer of component information in fiber optic testing

• US 7,165,728 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stratos International Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Stratos International Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Durrant, Richard C. E., Krowiak, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A.
• Application Number:
  US11/012,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20050220426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 385/53, 385/60, 385/88, 382/100, 340/687, 356/73.1
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3807 Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/381 of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/385 Accessories for testing or observation of connectors means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, measuring position, eccentricity G02B6/3843; mechanical features associated with the optical testing of optical fibres G01M11/088
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3851 Ferrules having keying or coding means
• 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 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25758 between a central unit and a single remote unit by means of an optical fibre

Abstract

The device includes a connector, a transponder, an optical test unit, an antenna, and a transceiver. The transponder is attached to the connector. The antenna is attached to the optical test unit. The transceiver is electrically connected to the antenna. When the connector is attached to the optical test unit and the optical test unit performs diagnostic testing on the connector and its associated optical fiber, the results or data of the diagnostic testing are stored in the optical test unit for later downloading from the optical test unit to the transponder. The test data can include attenuation loss, insertion loss, and back reflection test data. Once the connector is connected to a host device, the data associated with the specific connector can uploaded from the transponder to the host device.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an optical connector;

a transponder attached to said optical connector;

an optical test unit including;

an antenna attached to the optical test unit; and

a transceiver electrically connected to the antenna so as to form a reader / writer which is capable of activating and imparting information to the transponder from the optical test unit

wherein said optical connector is attachable to said optical test unit and said optical test unit is configured to, during attachment,

perform at least one diagnostic test to measure at least one optical property of said optical connector or an optical device connected through said connector;

store measured optical performance information; and

impart at least a portion of said optical performance information onto said transponder.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the connector is a fiber optic connector.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the information imparted to the transponder includes insertion loss data of the fiber optic connector.

4. A device according to claim 2 wherein the information imparted to the transponder includes attenuation loss data of an optical fiber associated with the fiber optic connector.

5. A device according to claim 2 wherein the information imparted to the transponder includes back reflection data associated with the fiber optic connector.