Radio frequency identification (RFID) in communication connections, including fiber optic components
First Claim
1. A fiber optic component, comprising:
- a housing supporting at least one fiber optic component to establish an optical connection;
at least one recessed area disposed within the housing defining a geometry; and
an electrical circuit disposed in the at least one recessed area such that the geometry of the housing is maintained, the electrical circuit disposed in a substrate disposed in the at least one recessed area,wherein the substrate is further comprised of one or more electrical contacts coupled to the electrical circuit, and wherein the substrate is disposed in the at least one recessed area to expose the one or more electrical contacts on an outside of the housing, the one or more electrical contacts configured to establish an electrical contact with one or more electrical contacts provided in a compatible fiber optic component when connected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Radio frequency identification (RFID)-equipped communication components are disclosed. The communication components can include fiber optic components, such as fiber optic connectors and fiber optic adapters as examples. An RFID-equipped circuit is provided in the communication components to communicate information. In order that the electrical circuit be provided in the communication component without altering the communication component connection type, the circuit may be disposed in at least one recessed area of the communication component housing. In this manner, the communication component maintains its connection type such that it is compatible with a complementary communication component connection type for backwards compatibility while also being RFID-equipped. The circuit may also be provided in a substrate containing one or more electrical contacts coupled to the circuit such that a wired coupling is established with one or more electrical contacts provided in another communication component when connected.
150 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A fiber optic component, comprising:
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a housing supporting at least one fiber optic component to establish an optical connection; at least one recessed area disposed within the housing defining a geometry; and an electrical circuit disposed in the at least one recessed area such that the geometry of the housing is maintained, the electrical circuit disposed in a substrate disposed in the at least one recessed area, wherein the substrate is further comprised of one or more electrical contacts coupled to the electrical circuit, and wherein the substrate is disposed in the at least one recessed area to expose the one or more electrical contacts on an outside of the housing, the one or more electrical contacts configured to establish an electrical contact with one or more electrical contacts provided in a compatible fiber optic component when connected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for identifying a connection of at least two fiber optic components, comprising:
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a fiber optic connector comprising a first transponder and coupled to a first antenna located in a first plane; and a fiber optic adapter connected to the fiber optic connector, wherein the fiber optic adapter comprises a second transponder coupled to a second antenna located in a second plane non-parallel to the first plane, wherein the first transponder is disposed in a first substrate containing a first one or more electrical contacts coupled to a first electrical circuit, wherein the second transponder is disposed in a second substrate containing a second one or more electrical contacts coupled to a second electrical circuit, the second one or more electrical contacts configured to establish an electrical contact with the first one or more electrical contacts to establish an electrical connection between the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit when the fiber optic connector is connected to the fiber optic adapter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for identifying a connection of at least two fiber optic components, comprising:
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a fiber optic connector comprising a first transponder and coupled to a first antenna located in a first plane, the first transponder is disposed in a first substrate containing a first one or more electrical contacts coupled to a first electrical circuit; and a fiber optic adapter connected to the fiber optic connector, the fiber optic adapter comprises a second transponder coupled to a second antenna located in a second plane non-parallel to the first plane, the second transponder is disposed in a second substrate containing a second one or more electrical contacts coupled to a second electrical circuit, wherein the second transponder is configured to be activated when the second one or more electrical contacts abut against the first one or more electrical contacts.
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Specification