Cable tracing in a datacenter

• US 9,083,170 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cudak, Gary D., Hardee, Christopher J., Roberts, Adam, Suffern, Edward S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US13/887,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20140327539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 340/584, 340/581, 340/539.1, 340/651, 340/657, 340/596, 324/522, 324/713, 324/67, 324/533, 324/539, 324/543, 324/537, 324/233, 324/335, 324/508, 324/609, 324/66, 324/232, 702/85, 702/59, 702/58, 336/175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/16 Measuring impedance of element or network through which a current is passing from another source, e.g. cable, power line
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/67 Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/385 in modular floors, e.g. access floors

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a method of tracing cable through a datacenter. The method causes a cable to emit a radio frequency signal along the length of the cable. One or more structural members have a detection circuit that will illuminate in response to detecting the radio frequency signal with greater than a threshold signal strength, such that the one or more structural members are easy to identify when the detection circuit is illuminated. The one or more structural members may be removed to gain physical access to the cable.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

causing a cable to emit a radio frequency signal along a length of the cable by supplying power to a radio frequency signal generator and driver circuit having its output in communication with a transformer, wherein the transformer has a first output coupled to a cable shield of the cable and a second output coupled to a dedicated transmission wire extending lengthwise with the cable and exterior to the cable shield;

identifying one or more structural members having a detection circuit that has illuminated in response to detecting the radio frequency signal with greater than a threshold signal strength; and

removing the one or more structural members to gain physical access to the cable.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selectively positioning a handheld device in contact with a cable connector at one end of the cable in order to supply power to the radio frequency signal generator and driver circuit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling a first cable connector at a first end of the cable to a port of a first unit of information technology equipment, wherein the port supplies power to the radio frequency signal generator and driver circuit.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

securing one or more detection circuits to the structural members in a datacenter, wherein each detection circuit includes an electromagnetically-powered receiver coupled to a light emitting diode, and wherein the radio frequency signal emitted from the transmission wire activates the light emitting diode of each of the detection circuits within a detection distance of the cable.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pulling the cable under removable panels of an elevated floor;

in response to a lead end of the cable getting stuck under the elevated floor, identifying, from among the one or more structural members having detection circuits that have illuminated, a target structural member at an end of a path of the detection circuits that have illuminated; and

removing the target structural member to gain physical access to a lead end of the cable.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

each detection circuit generating a first color of light in response to detecting a first radio frequency signal and generating a second color of light in response to detecting a second radio frequency signal.