Method and apparatus for tracing remote ends of networking cables

• US 7,327,278 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan J. Brown
• Original Assignee: Alan J. Brown
• Inventors: Helgerson, Ronald, Dannenmann, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US11/207,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20060057876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 340/815.47, 340/596, 340/816.47
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/67 Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors

Abstract

A method and a circuit is disclosed that facilitates identifying a remote end and optionally an intermediate location of an installed cable, such as a cable for carrying data, without the need to disconnect the cable. One or more circuits may be connected across two wires along the length of a cable. Each circuit includes a power connector, a switching circuit and an indicator, such as a light emitting diode (LED), connected across the two wires included in a cable. The circuit is configured such that the indicator in each circuit connected to the two wires is illuminated in responsive to a nominal DC voltage applied to the power connector in any circuits connected across the two wires without disrupting any data being carried thereby. In one embodiment of the invention, the circuit is directly into a cable connector. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the circuit is configured to be retrofit in the field for use with existing cables.

Claims

1. A circuit for facilitating the identification of a remote end of an installed electrical cable having at least one pair of wires, the circuit comprising:

an indicator;

a switching circuit electrically coupled to said indicator; and

a power connector for enabling an external DC voltage to be connected to said indicator and said switching circuit to cause said indicator to illuminate when the DC voltage applied to said power connector exceeds a nominal value and said switching circuit and said indicator are electrically coupled to said at least one pair of wires.

2. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said circuit is configured to be integrated into a cable connector.

3. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said circuit is configured to be retrofit into an existing cable.