Status sensing and reporting interface

• US 8,773,255 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Montena, Noah
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/077,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20110237125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 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: 340/535
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• 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 24/44 comprising impedance matching means

Abstract

A status sensing and reporting interface is provided. The interface includes one of an interface port or an adapter. Each of the interface port and adapter include: a body; a coupling circuit positioned within the body and configured to sense an electrical signal flowing through the status sensing interface; and an electrical parameter sensing circuit positioned within the body and configured to sense a parameter of the electrical signal flowing through the status sensing interface and a physical condition of the connection between the status sensing interface and a connector to which the status sensing interface is operatively coupled.

Claims

1. A coaxial interface comprising:

an interface body;

a sensing circuit positioned within the interface body,

wherein the sensing circuit is configured to sense a condition of a connection between the interface body and a connected component functionally coupled to the interface body.

2. The coaxial interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a status output component, the status output component being positioned within the interface body and electrically coupled to the sensing circuit, the status output component being configured to communicate a status of the condition to a location external to the interface body.

3. The coaxial interface of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit further comprises a sensor, wherein the sensor senses the condition.

4. The coaxial interface of claim 3, wherein the sensor is a mechanical connection tightness sensor for detecting mating forces of the coaxial interface with the connected component.

5. The coaxial interface of claim 3, wherein the sensor is an electrical proximity connection tightness sensor for detecting tightness of the connection of the coaxial interface with the connected component.

6. The coaxial interface of claim 3, wherein the sensor is an optical connection tightness sensor for detecting tightness of the connection of the coaxial interface with the connected component.

7. The coaxial interface of claim 3, wherein the sensor is a strain connection tightness sensor for detecting mating forces of the coaxial interface with the connected component.

8. The coaxial interface of claim 1, wherein the connected component comprises male or female coaxial cable connectors or male or female coaxial cable ports.

9. The coaxial interface of claim 1, wherein the coaxial interface facilitates daisy chaining of coaxial components.

10. A coaxial interface comprising:

an interface body;

a coupling circuit, the coupling circuit being positioned within the interface body and configured to sense an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial interface under a condition that the interface body is functionally coupled to a connected component;

a sensing circuit positioned within the interface body and electrically coupled to the coupling circuit,

wherein the sensing circuit is configured to sense a parameter of the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial interface.

11. The coaxial interface of claim 10, wherein the coupling circuit is configured to communicate the parameter of the electrical signal to a location external to the interface body.

12. The coaxial interface of claim 10, wherein the parameter comprises a signal level of the electrical signal, and the sensing circuit comprises a signal power level sensor that is configured to sense the parameter.

13. The coaxial interface of claim 10, wherein the coupling circuit comprises a coupling device, wherein the coupling device is an antenna.

14. The coaxial interface of claim 10, wherein the coupling circuit comprises a coupling device, wherein the coupling device is coupled to a center conductor of the coaxial interface.

15. The coaxial interface of claim 10, wherein the coupling circuit comprises a directional coupling device and a diplexer.

16. The coaxial interface of claim 10, wherein the connected component comprises male or female coaxial cable connectors or male or female coaxial cable ports.

17. The coaxial interface of claim 10, wherein the coaxial interface facilitates daisy chaining of coaxial components.

18. A coaxial interface, the coaxial interface comprising:

an interface body;

means for sensing a physical parameter status condition of a connection between the interface body and a connected component under a condition that the interface body is coupled to the connected component, the means for monitoring the physical parameter status condition being located within the interface body;

means for sensing an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial interface, the means for sensing the electrical signal being positioned within the interface body; and

means for sensing a parameter of the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial interface, the means for sensing the parameter of the electrical signal being located within the interface body.

19. The coaxial interface of claim 18, the interface further comprising means for communicating the physical parameter status condition and the parameter of the electrical signal to a location outside of the interface body.

20. The coaxial interface of claim 18, wherein the location outside of the interface body is a handheld reader in either physical or wireless communication with the coaxial interface, wherein the handheld reader conveys the sensed physical parameter status condition and the sensed parameter of the electrical signal.

21. The coaxial interface of claim 18, wherein the connected component comprises male or female coaxial cable connectors or male or female coaxial cable ports.

22. The coaxial interface of claim 18, wherein the coaxial interface facilitates daisy chaining of coaxial components.

23. A coaxial interface connection system, the system comprising:

a connector;

a coaxial interface comprising an interface body, a coupling circuit within the interface body, a status output component within the interface body, and a sensing circuit electrically coupled to the coupling circuit within the interface body,

wherein the coupling circuit is configured to sense an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial interface, and

wherein, in a state that the connector is coupled to the coaxial interface, the sensing circuit is configured to sense a parameter of the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial interface and to sense a condition of the connection between the coaxial interface and the connector,

a communications device, the coaxial interface being coupled to the communications device, and the connector being coupled to the coaxial interface to establish an operative connection between the connector and the communications device; and

a reading device located externally to the coaxial interface, wherein the reading device is configured to receive, via the coupling circuit or the status output component, a signal comprising a reading associated with the parameter of the electrical signal or the condition of the operative connection, respectively.

24. The coaxial interface connection system of claim 23, wherein the coaxial interface further comprises an input component.

25. The coaxial interface connection system of claim 24, wherein the reading device is configured to transmit a command signal to be received by the input component.

26. The coaxial interface connection system of claim 23, wherein the communications device receives signal outputs from the coaxial interface communicating the parameter or condition.

27. The coaxial interface connection system of claim 23, wherein the reading device communicates with the communications device to obtain the sensed parameter or condition.

28. The coaxial interface connection system of claim 23, wherein the coaxial interface connection system facilitates daisy chaining of coaxial components.

29. A coaxial adapter, the adapter comprising:

an adapter body;

a coupling circuit, the coupling circuit being positioned within the adapter body and configured to sense an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial adapter in a state that the coaxial adapter is functionally coupled to a connected component;

a sensing circuit positioned within the adapter body and electrically coupled to the coupling circuit,

wherein, under the condition that the adapter body is coupled to the connected component, the sensing circuit is configured to sense a parameter of the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial adapter and to sense a condition of the connection between the adapter body and the connected component.

30. The adapter of claim 29, further comprising:

a status output component, the status output component being positioned within the adapter body and electrically coupled to the sensing circuit, the status output component being configured to communicate the status of the condition to a location external to the adapter, and

wherein the coupling circuit is configured to communicate the parameter to the location external to the adapter.

31. The adapter of claim 29, wherein the sensing circuit further comprises a sensor, wherein the sensor senses the condition.

32. The adapter of claim 31, wherein the sensor is a mechanical connection tightness sensor for detecting mating forces of the adapter body with the connected component.

33. The adapter of claim 31, wherein the sensor is an electrical proximity connection tightness sensor for detecting tightness of the connection of the adapter body with the connected component.

34. The adapter of claim 31, wherein the sensor is an optical connection tightness sensor for detecting tightness of the connection of the adapter body with the connected component.

35. The adapter of claim 31, wherein the sensor is a strain connection tightness sensor for detecting mating forces of the adapter body with the connected component.

36. The adapter of claim 29, wherein the parameter comprises a signal level of the electrical signal, and the sensing circuit comprises a signal power level sensor that is configured to sense the parameter.

37. The adapter of claim 29, wherein the coupling circuit comprises a coupling device, wherein the coupling device is an antenna.

38. The adapter of claim 29, wherein the coupling circuit comprises a coupling device, wherein the coupling device is coupled to a center conductor of the adapter body.

39. The adapter of claim 29, wherein the coupling circuit comprises a directional coupling device and a diplexer.

40. The adapter of claim 29, wherein the connected component comprises male or female coaxial cable connectors or male or female coaxial cable ports.

41. The adapter of claim 29, wherein the coaxial adapter is configured to be inserted between existing connected components, the existing connected components having been operatively coupled together prior to the insertion of the coaxial adapter there between.

42. The adapter of claim 41, wherein the existing connected parts comprise any combination of male ports and female connectors, female ports and male connectors, male and female connectors, or male and female ports coupled together.

43. A coaxial interface connection method comprising:

providing a coaxial interface comprising an interface body, a coupling circuit positioned within the interface body, a sensing circuit electrically connected to the coupling circuit, and an output component positioned within the interface body, wherein the sensing circuit is positioned within the interface body, wherein the coupling circuit is configured to sense an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial interface in a state that the interface body is connected to a connected component, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to sense a parameter of the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial interface and a condition of the connection between the interface body and the connected component, and wherein the output component is in communication with the sensing circuit to receive a reading associated with the parameter or the condition;

connecting the interface body to the connected component to form an operative connection; and

reporting the reading associated with the parameter or the condition, via the output component, to communicate the reading to a location external to the coaxial interface.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the parameter of the electrical signal and the condition of the connection is communicated wirelessly to the location external to the coaxial interface.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the parameter comprises a signal level of the electrical signal.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the condition comprises a mating force between the interface body and the connected component.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the condition comprises a tightness between the interface body and the connected component.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the coupling circuit comprises a coupling device.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the coupling device is an antenna.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the coupling device is coupled to a center conductor of the coaxial interface.

51. The method of claim 43, wherein the coaxial interface further comprises an input component.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising transmitting an input signal from a reader external to the input component to command the coaxial interface to report the parameter or the condition.

53. A coaxial adapter connection method, the method comprising:

providing an adapter comprising an adapter body, a coupling circuit positioned within the adapter body, a sensing circuit electrically connected to the coupling circuit, and an output component positioned within the adapter body, wherein the sensing circuit is positioned within the adapter body, wherein the coupling circuit is configured to sense an electrical signal flowing through the coaxial adapter in a state that the adapter body is connected between components, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to sense a parameter of the electrical signal flowing through the coaxial adapter and a condition of the connection between the adapter body and the components, and wherein the output component is in communication with the sensing circuit to receive a reading associated with the parameter or the condition;

disconnecting the components from one another;

connecting each of the components to opposing ends of the coaxial adapter, such that the coaxial adapter is operatively coupled between the components to form an operative connection; and

reporting the reading associated with the parameter or the condition, via the output component, to communicate the reading to a location external to the adapter.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the parameter of the electrical signal and the condition of the connection is communicated wirelessly to the location external to the coaxial adapter.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the parameter comprises a signal level of the electrical signal.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the condition comprises a mating force between the adapter body and at least one of the components.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein the condition comprises a tightness between the adapter body and at least one of the components.

58. The method of claim 53, wherein the coupling circuit comprises a coupling device.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the coupling device is an antenna.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the coupling device is coupled to a center conductor of the coaxial adapter.

61. The method of claim 53, wherein the coaxial adapter further comprises an input component.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising transmitting an input signal from a reader external to the input component to command the coaxial adapter to report the parameter or the condition.