Coaxial cable connector, system and method of use thereof

• US 8,604,936 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Ozbas, Murat
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US12/966,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20120146662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/572.7, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 324/654, 235/439, 235/440
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/14 influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage
• 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

Disclosed herein is a coaxial cable connector that includes a backscattering arrangement configured to receive an RF signal in a coaxial transmission line and produce a modulated backscattered response. The modulated backscattered response corresponds to a sensed condition in the coaxial cable connector.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector, the connector comprising:

a backscattering arrangement configured to receive an RF signal in a coaxial transmission line and produce a modulated backscattered response, the modulated backscattered response corresponding to a sensed condition in the coaxial cable connector.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, further comprising a modulator configured to modulate the impedance of the coaxial cable connector to create the modulated backscattered response.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, further comprising a sensing circuit configured to sense the sensed condition of the coaxial cable connector.

4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate the impedance of the coaxial cable connector to produce the modulated backscattered response with amplitude shift keying modulation.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate the impedance of the coaxial cable connector to produce the modulated backscattered response with phase shift keying modulation.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the backscattering arrangement further comprises an antenna that is configured to receive the RF signal in the coaxial transmission line.

7. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, further comprising a power harvester configured to harvest power from the coaxial transmission line for at least one component of the coaxial cable connector.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the power harvester is operable during data communication between the coaxial cable connector and another location.

9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein an impedance of the coaxial cable connector is modulated by the modulator between a first impedance state and a second impedance state, wherein the first impedance state produces at least one of:

very little reflection; and

no reflection; and

wherein the second impedance state produces a backscattered reflection.

10. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the backscattering arrangement further comprises a plurality of antennas.

11. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

means for receiving an RF signal in a coaxial transmission line and producing a modulated backscattered response, the modulated backscattered response corresponding to a sensed condition in the coaxial cable connector.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, further comprising a means for modulating the impedance of the coaxial cable connector to create the modulated backscattered response.

13. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, further comprising a means for sensing the sensed condition of the coaxial cable connector.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, wherein the means for modulating the backscattered signal is configured to modulate the impedance of the coaxial cable connector to produce the modulated backscattered response with amplitude shift keying modulation.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, wherein the means for modulating the backscattered signal is configured to modulate the impedance of the coaxial cable connector to produce the modulated backscattered response with phase shift keying modulation.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, wherein the backscattering arrangement further comprises an antenna that is configured to receive the RF signal in the coaxial transmission line.

17. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, further comprising a means for harvesting power from the coaxial transmission line for at least one component of the coaxial cable connector.

18. The coaxial cable connector of claim 17, wherein the means for harvesting power is operable during data communication between the coaxial cable connector and another location.

19. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, wherein an impedance of the coaxial cable connector is modulated by the modulator between a first impedance state and a second impedance state, wherein the first impedance state produces at least one of:

very little reflection; and

no reflection; and

wherein the second impedance state produces a backscattered reflection.

20. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, wherein the means for receiving an RF signal in a coaxial transmission line and producing a modulated backscattered response further comprises a plurality of antennas.

21. A coaxial cable system, the system comprising:

a remote device configured to send an RF signal through a coaxial transmission line; and

a coaxial cable connector connected to the RF port, the coaxial cable connector configured to receive the RF signal in a coaxial transmission line and produce a backscattered response, the backscattered response being modulated in response to a sensed condition of the coaxial cable connector.

22. The coaxial cable system of claim 21, wherein the remote device is a head end.

23. The coaxial cable system of claim 21, wherein the remote device is a device located in a control room at a cell tower.

24. The coaxial cable system of claim 21, wherein the modulated backscattered response is transmitted back through the coaxial transmission line.

25. The coaxial cable system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the remote device and a second remote device is configured to receive the modulated backscattered response.

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

sending an RF signal through a coaxial transmission line;

receiving an RF signal by a coaxial cable connector connected to an RF port;

producing a modulated backscattered response, by the coaxial cable connector, in response to the received RF signal, the modulated backscattered response corresponding to a sensed condition of the coaxial cable connector; and

transmitting the modulated backscattered response, by the coaxial cable connector, to another location.

27. The coaxial cable connector connection status ascertainment method of claim 26, further comprising sending the RF signal through a coaxial transmission line by a remote device.

28. The coaxial cable connector connection status ascertainment method of claim 27, further comprising receiving the modulated backscattered response by the remote device.

29. The coaxial cable connector connection status ascertainment method of claim 28, further comprising ascertaining the status of a connection from the received modulated backscattered response.

30. The coaxial cable connector connection status ascertainment method of claim 26, further comprising harvesting power, by the coaxial cable connector, from the coaxial transmission line.

31. The coaxial cable connector connection status ascertainment method of claim 26, further comprising harvesting power, by the coaxial cable connector, from the coaxial transmission line during the transmitting of the modulated backscattered response.

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

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

a signal generation component in operable communication with the sensing circuit, the signal generation component configured to generate a modulated signal that corresponds to a sensed condition by the sensing circuit; and

a power harvester configured to harvest power from the coaxial transmission line usable by at least one component of the coaxial cable connector, the power harvester being operable during generation of the modulated signal by the signal generation component.