Telecommunications patching system that facilitates detection and identification of patch cords

• US 8,116,434 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: German, Michael G., Choudhury, Golam M., Macauley, Daniel W., Satterthwaite, Danny L., Tucker, Peter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US11/605,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20080122579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 379/32.01, 379/326, 379/438, 340/101, 340/10.42, 340/825.36, 340/540, 340/135
• US Class Current: 379/32.01
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/138 using RFID

Abstract

A telecommunications patching system includes a patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports and a plurality of patch cords configured to selectively interconnect pairs of the connector ports. Each patch cord has opposite ends and a respective connector secured to each end that is configured to be removably secured within a connector port. The connectors of a respective patch cord have the same unique identifier associated therewith. A first sensor is located at each connector port and detects when a patch cord connector is inserted within, and removed from, a respective connector port. A second sensor is located at each connector port and reads the identifier of a patch cord connector inserted within a respective connector port. The first and second sensors are in communication with a controller that monitors and logs patch cord interconnections with the connector ports.

Claims

1. A telecommunications patching system, comprising:

a patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports;

a plurality of patch cords configured to selectively interconnect pairs of the connector ports, wherein each patch cord comprises opposite ends and a respective connector secured to each end, wherein each connector is configured to be removably secured within a connector port, and wherein the connectors of a respective patch cord have the same unique identifier associated therewith;

a first sensor located outside of each connector port, wherein each first sensor detects when a patch cord connector is inserted within, and removed from, a respective connector port;

a second sensor located within each connector port, wherein each second sensor reads the identifier of a patch cord connector inserted within a respective connector port; and

a controller electrically coupled to the first and second sensors that monitors and logs patch cord interconnections with the connector ports.

2. The telecommunications patching system of claim 1, wherein each first sensor comprises an emitter that emits electro-magnetic energy.

3. The telecommunications patching system of claim 1, wherein each first sensor comprises an emitter selected from a group consisting of light emitters, infrared light emitters, ultraviolet light emitters and ultrasonic emitters.

4. The telecommunications patching system of claim 2, wherein each first sensor comprises an electromagnetic energy detector that detects reflections of electromagnetic energy emitted by a respective emitter.

5. The telecommunications patching system of claim 1, wherein each first sensor comprises a magnetic field detector.

6. The telecommunications patching system of claim 1, wherein each first sensor comprises a mechanical switch that detects insertion and removal of a patch cord connector within and from a respective connector port.

7. The telecommunications patching system of claim 5, wherein each patch cord connector comprises a magnetized element.

8. The telecommunications patching system of claim 1, wherein the identifier associated with each patch cord connector is selected from a group consisting of bar codes, Data Matrix codes, recorded magnetic media, recorded optical media, and electronic circuitry.

9. The telecommunications patching system of claim 8, wherein the second sensors are selected from a group consisting of bar code readers, Data Matrix code readers, magnetic medium readers, optical medium readers and electronic circuit interfaces.

10. The telecommunications patching system of claim 1, wherein each connector of a respective patch cord comprises a first transducer that transmits a signal containing the connector identifier, and wherein each second sensor comprises a second transducer that receives the signal containing the connector identifier.

11. The telecommunications patching system of claim 1, wherein each patch cord connector comprises an RFID tag, wherein each second sensor comprises an RF antenna that emits RF signals configured to cause a patch cord connector RFID tag to transmit an identifier associated with the patch cord connector when excited by emitted RF signals, wherein the RF antenna detects a transmitted identifier when a patch cord connector is inserted within one of the connector ports, and wherein the RF antenna transmits detected RFID tag identifiers to an RFID reader.

12. A telecommunications patching system, comprising:

a patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports;

a plurality of patch cords configured to selectively interconnect pairs of the connector ports, wherein each patch cord comprises opposite ends and a respective connector secured to each end, wherein each connector is configured to be removably secured within a connector port, wherein the connectors of a respective patch cord have the same unique identifier associated therewith, and wherein the identifier associated with each patch cord connector is selected from a group consisting of bar codes, Data Matrix codes, recorded magnetic media, recorded optical media, and electronic circuitry;

a first sensor located at each connector port, wherein each first sensor comprises a mechanical switch that detects when a patch cord connector is inserted within, and removed from, a respective connector port;

a second sensor located at each connector port, wherein each second sensor reads the identifier of a patch cord connector inserted within a respective connector port, and wherein each second sensor is selected from a group consisting of bar code readers, Data Matrix code readers, magnetic medium readers, optical medium readers and electronic circuit interfaces; and

a controller electrically coupled to the sensors that monitors and logs patch cord interconnections with the connector ports.

13. A telecommunications patching system, comprising:

a patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports;

a plurality of patch cords configured to selectively interconnect pairs of the connector ports, wherein each patch cord comprises opposite ends and a respective connector secured to each end, wherein each connector is configured to be removably secured within a connector port, and wherein each patch cord comprises a sensing circuit that is completed when both connectors of a patch cord are secured within respective connector ports;

a sensor located at each connector port, wherein each sensor detects when a patch cord connector is inserted within, and removed from, a respective connector port; and

a controller electrically coupled to each sensor and to each connector port that detects when a sensing circuit of a patch cord is completed, and that monitors and logs patch cord interconnections with the connector ports.

14. The telecommunications patching system of claim 13, wherein each sensor comprises an emitter that emits electro-magnetic energy.

15. The telecommunications patching system of claim 14, wherein each sensor comprises an electromagnetic energy detector that detects reflections of electromagnetic energy emitted by a respective emitter.

16. The telecommunications patching system of claim 13, wherein each sensor comprises an emitter selected from a group consisting of light emitters, infrared light emitters, ultraviolet light emitters and ultrasonic emitters.

17. The telecommunications patching system of claim 13, wherein each sensor comprises a magnetic field detector.

18. The telecommunications patching system of claim 13, wherein each sensor comprises a mechanical switch that detects insertion and removal of a patch cord connector within and from a respective connector port.

19. The telecommunications patching system of claim 17, wherein each patch cord connector comprises a magnetized element.

20. The telecommunications patching system of claim 13, wherein the sensing circuit in each patch cord comprises a conductive wire.

21. The telecommunications patching system of claim 13, wherein the sensing circuit in each patch cord comprises an optical fiber.

22. A telecommunications patching system, comprising:

a patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports;

sensing circuitry at each connector port;

a plurality of patch cords configured to selectively interconnect pairs of the connector ports, wherein each patch cord comprises opposite ends and a respective connector secured to each end, wherein each connector is configured to be removably secured within a connector port;

a sensor located at each connector port, wherein each sensor detects when a patch cord connector is inserted within, and removed from, a respective connector port; and

a controller electrically coupled to each sensor and to the sensing circuitry at each connector port that monitors and logs patch cord interconnections with the connector ports, and that automatically identifies which ports are interconnected by a patch cord when sensing circuitry of two connector ports is completed when the connectors of a patch cord are secured within the two connector ports, wherein the sensing circuitry at each connector port is configured to send out of band signals through a patch cord.

23. The telecommunications patching system of claim 22, wherein the sensing circuitry is configured to send out of band signals through conductive wire in a patch cord.

24. The telecommunications patching system of claim 22, wherein each patch cord comprises an additional conductive wire, and wherein the sensing circuitry is configured to send out of band signals through the additional conductive wire of a patch cord.

25. The telecommunications patching system of claim 22, wherein each patch cord comprises an optical fiber, and wherein the sensing circuitry is configured to send out of band signals through the optical fiber of a patch cord.