Coaxial cable connector and method of use thereof

• US 7,733,236 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Montena, Noah, Jackson, David
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/860,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20090081902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 3405681-5684, 340/572.7, 340/596, 3406863-6864, 439488-490, 439/578, 343/720, 343/894, 455/575.7, 455/97, 455/129
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/42 comprising impedance matching means or electrical components, e.g. filters or switches

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector is provided, the connector comprising: a connector body; a physical parameter sensing circuit, positioned within the connector body; and a status output component, configured to report an ascertained physical parameter status to a location outside of the connector body. A corresponding method of ascertaining a physical parameter status of a connector connection is disclosed.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector for connection to an RF port, the connector comprising:

a connector body;

a physical parameter status sensing circuit, positioned within the connector body, the physical parameter status sensing circuit configured to sense a condition of the connector when connected to the RF port; and

a status output component, in electrical communication with the sensing circuit, the status output component positioned within the connector body and configured to maintain the status of the physical parameter.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit includes a control logic unit.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit includes at least one sensor, wherein the sensor senses the condition of the connector when connected.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit is integrated onto an existing component of the connector.

5. The connector of claim 1 wherein the output component is configured to report the sensed physical parameter status to a location external to the connector body.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the output component reports the physical parameter status to an external reader via a signal conveyed through a physical electrical conduit.

7. The connector of claim 5, wherein the output component reports the physical parameter status via a wireless output signal transmission.

8. The connector of claim 3, where in the sensor is a mechanical connection tightness sensor for detecting mating forces of the connection with the RF port.

9. The connector of claim 3, where in the sensor is an electrical proximity connection tightness sensor for detecting tightness of the connection with the RF port.

10. The connector of claim 3, where in the sensor is an optical connection tightness sensor for detecting tightness of the connection with the RF port.

11. The connector of claim 3, where in the sensor is a strain connection tightness sensor for detecting mating forces of the connection with the RF port.

12. An RF port coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body;

means for monitoring a physical parameter status located within the connector body; and

means for reporting the physical parameter status of the connection of the connector to the RF port, the reporting means configured to provide the physical parameter status to a location outside of the connector body.

13. The connector of claim 12, wherein the means for monitoring a physical parameter status and the means for reporting the physical parameter status are integrated onto existing connector components.

14. The connector of claim 12, wherein the location outside of the connector body is a head end of a cable-line to which the connector is connected.

15. The connector of claim 12, wherein the location outside of the connector body is a handheld reader in physical electrical communication with the connector through a wire lead contacting the connector.

16. The connector of claim 12, wherein the location outside of the connector body is a handheld reader in wireless electromagnetic communication with the connector.

17. A coaxial cable connector connection system having an RF port, the system comprising:

a coaxial cable connector, the connector having an internal physical parameter sensing circuit configured to sense a physical parameter of the connection between the connector and an RF port, the connector further having a status output component;

a communications device, having the RF port to which the smart connector is coupled to form a connection therewith; and

a physical parameter status reader, located externally to the connector, the reader configured to receive, via the status output component, information, from the sensing circuit, about the connection between the connector and the RF port of the communications device.

18. The connector connection system of claim 17, wherein the connector further comprises an input component.

19. The connector connection system of claim 17, wherein the reader is configured to transmit a command signal to be received by the input device of the connector.

20. The connector connection system of claim 17 wherein the coaxial cable communications device has reader-like functionality and receives signal outputs from the connector communicating physical parameter status.

21. The connector connection system of claim 20 wherein the reader communicates with the communications device to obtain the outputted physical parameter status.

22. The connector connection system of claim 21, wherein the communication between the reader and the communications device is wireless.

23. The connector connection system of claim 17, wherein the sensing circuit includes a control logic unit operable according to governing protocol.

24. A coaxial cable connector connection status ascertainment method comprising:

providing a coaxial cable connector having a connector body;

providing a sensing circuit within the connector body, the sensing circuit having a sensor configured to sense a physical parameter of the connector when connected;

providing a status output component within the connector body, the status output component in communication with the sensing circuit to receive physical parameter status information;

connecting the connector to an RF port to form a connection; and

reporting the physical parameter status information, via the status output component, to facilitate conveyance of the physical parameter status of the connection to a location outside of the connector body.

25. The connection status ascertainment method of claim 24, wherein the connector further comprises an input component.

26. The connection status ascertainment method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting an input signal from a reader external to the input component of the connector to command the connector to report a physical parameter status.

27. The connection status ascertainment method of claim 26, wherein the input signal originates from a reader at a head end of a cable line to which the connector is connected.

28. The connection status ascertainment method of claim 26, wherein the input signal originates from a handheld reader operated by a service technician located onsite near where the connector is connected.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the reader utilizes the reported status to provide a user output viewable on a user interface.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the sensing circuit includes a control logic unit operable according to governing protocol.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the governing protocol directs the sensing circuit to determine a condition of the connector connection at regular intervals over a predetermined period of time.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the sensing circuit includes memory storage.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the governing protocol exists in the memory storage as a computer program.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the reader transmits a command signal to an input component of the connector so that the command signal triggers the governing protocol operable with the control logic unit to execute particular logic operations that control functionality of the connector.

35. A coaxial cable connector for connection to an RF port, the connector comprising:

a port connection end and a cable connection end;

a mating force sensor, located at the port connection end;

a humidity sensor, located within a cavity of the connector, the cavity extending from the cable connection end; and

a weather-proof encasement, housing a processor and a transmitter, the encasement operable with a body portion of the connector;

wherein the mating force sensor and the humidity sensor are connected via a sensing circuit to the processor and the output transmitter.

36. An RF port coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body;

a control logic unit and an output transmitter, the control logic unit and the output transmitter housed within an encasement located radially within a portion of the connector body; and

a sensing circuit, electrically linking a mating force sensor and a humidity sensor to the control logic unit and the output transmitter.