Power extracting device and method of use thereof

• US 8,376,774 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rochester Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Bowman, Robert, Delisle, Jean-Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US12/965,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20110080057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 439/489, 439/578, 439/913, 439/620.03, 340/635, 340/656, 340/687
• US Class Current: 439/489
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• 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 structure is provided. The structure includes a signal retrieval circuit formed within a disk located within a coaxial cable connector. The signal retrieval circuit is located in a position that is external to a signal path of an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector. The signal retrieval circuit is configured to extract an energy signal from the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector. The energy signal is configured to apply power to an electrical device located within the coaxial cable connector. The structure may additionally form a sensing circuit with a status output component. The sensor circuit may be configured to sense physical parameters such as those related to a condition of the electrical signal flowing through the connector or a presence of moisture within the connector.

Claims

1. A structure comprising:

a disk structure located within a coaxial cable connector; and

a signal retrieval circuit formed within the disk structure, wherein the signal retrieval circuit is located in a position that is external to a signal path of an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector, wherein the signal retrieval circuit is configured to extract an energy signal from the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector, and wherein the energy signal is configured to apply power to an electrical device located within the coaxial cable connector.

2. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a signal processing circuit mechanically attached to the disk structure, wherein the signal retrieval circuit is configured to sense an RF signal from the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector, and wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to report a sensed RF signal to a location external to the coaxial cable connector.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the energy signal is configured to apply power to the signal processing circuit.

4. The structure of claim 2, wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to report a level of the energy signal to said location external to the connector.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the electrical device located within the connector comprises a semiconductor device.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the semiconductor device is mechanically attached to the disk structure.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein the disk structure comprises a syndiotactic polystyrene structure comprising a laser direct structuring (LDS) catalyst.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein the signal retrieval circuit comprises a metallic structure formed within the disk structure.

9. The structure of claim 8, wherein the metallic structure is a loop coupling structure.

10. The structure of claim 9, wherein the loop coupling structure is an antenna.

11. The structure of claim 8, wherein the metallic structure comprises a first cylindrical structure and a second adjacent cylindrical extending from a bottom surface of the disk structure through a top surface of the disk structure, and wherein the first cylindrical structure in combination with the second cylindrical structure is configured to apply the power to the electrical device located within the coaxial cable connector.

12. The structure of claim 1, wherein the electrical device located within the connector comprises a sensor device configured to sense a condition of the coaxial cable connector when connected to an RF port.

13. The structure of claim 1, wherein the energy signal comprises a voltage signal.

14. A structure comprising:

a first metallic structure formed within a disk structure, wherein the disk structure is located within a coaxial cable connector, wherein the first metallic structure is located in a position that is external to a signal path of an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector; and

a second metallic structure formed within the disk structure, wherein the second metallic coupler structure is located in a position that is external to the signal path of the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector, and wherein the first metallic structure in combination with the second metallic structure is configured to extract an energy signal from the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector, and wherein the energy signal is configured to apply power to an electrical device located within the coaxial cable connector.

15. The structure of claim 14, wherein the first metallic structure comprises a first cylindrical structure extending from a bottom surface of the disk structure through a top surface of the disk structure, wherein the second metallic structure comprises a second cylindrical structure extending from the bottom surface of the disk structure through the top surface of the disk structure, and wherein the first cylindrical structure in combination with the second cylindrical structure is configured to apply the power to the electrical device located within the coaxial cable connector.

16. The structure of claim 14, wherein the first metallic structure in combination with the second metallic structure form a loop coupler.

17. The structure of claim 14, wherein the electrical device comprises a semiconductor device.

18. A structure comprising:

a metallic signal retrieval circuit formed within a disk structure located within a coaxial cable connector, wherein the metallic circuit is located in a position that is external to a signal path of an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector, wherein the metallic signal retrieval circuit is configured to extract an energy signal from the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector; and

an electrical device mechanically attached to the disk structure, wherein the energy signal is configured to apply power to the electrical device.

19. The structure of claim 18, wherein the metallic signal retrieval circuit comprises a first cylindrical structure extending from a bottom surface of the disk structure through a top surface of the disk structure and a second cylindrical structure extending from the bottom surface of the disk structure through the top surface of the disk structure, and wherein the first cylindrical structure in combination with the second cylindrical structure is configured to apply the power to the electrical device.

20. The structure of claim 18, wherein the metallic signal retrieval circuit is a loop coupler.

21. The structure of claim 18, wherein the electrical device comprises a semiconductor device.

22. A method comprising:

providing a signal retrieval circuit formed within the disk structure located within a coaxial cable connector, wherein the signal retrieval circuit is located in a position that is external to a signal path of an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector;

extracting, by the signal retrieval circuit, an energy signal from the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector; and

supplying, by the energy signal, power to an electrical device located within the coaxial cable connector.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising;

providing a signal processing circuit mechanically attached to the disk structure;

sensing, by the signal retrieval circuit, an RF signal from the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial cable connector; and

reporting, by the status output component, the sensed RF signal to a location external to the coaxial cable connector.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

applying, by the energy signal, power to the signal processing circuit.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

reporting, by the signal processing circuit, the sensed RF signal via a wireless output signal transmission.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

reporting, by the status output component, a level of the energy signal to the location external to the coaxial cable connector.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrical device located within the connector comprises a semiconductor device.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the signal retrieval circuit comprises a metallic structure formed within the disk structure.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the metallic structure is coupler.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the energy signal comprises a voltage signal.