Connector module with internal wireless communication device

• US 9,735,514 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2015
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mellanox Technologies Limited (NVIDIA Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mellanox Technologies Limited (NVIDIA Corporation)
• Inventors: Salloum, Sami, Loulou, Rabie, Moch, Wasim Abu
• Primary Examiner(s): Onamuti, Gbemileke J
• Application Number:
  US14/662,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20160276784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A connector module includes a signal interface, a wireless communication module and a connector housing. The signal interface is configured to exchange signals between a cable and a communication unit when the connector module is connected to the communication unit. The wireless communication module is configured to exchange information in a first mode between the communication unit and a wireless terminal when the connector module is connected to the communication unit, and, when the connector module is disconnected from the communication unit, to exchange information in a second between a memory internal to the connector module and the wireless terminal mode. The connector housing contains the signal interface and the wireless communication module.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

(i) a mechanical connector, which terminates a communication cable and comprises;

one or more communication wire lines for exchanging communication signals between the communication cable and a mating connector of a communication unit; and

one or more management wire lines for exchanging management signals between the communication unit and the mechanical connector;

(ii) an internal memory mounted inside the mechanical connector; and

(iii) a wireless communication module, which is mounted inside the mechanical connector and is configured to;

in a first mode, in which the mechanical connector is connected to the communication unit, to exchange first management information between a wireless terminal and the communication unit, via the management signals on the one or more management wire lines; and

in a second mode, in which the mechanical connector is detached from the mating connector of the communication unit, to exchange second management information between the wireless terminal and the internal memory inside the mechanical connector.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical connector is permanently connected to the communication cable.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical connector is detachable from the communication cable.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the mechanical connector is connected to the mating connector of the communication unit, the wireless communication module is configured to exchange both the first management information between the wireless terminal and the communication unit, and the second management information between the wireless terminal and the internal memory.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to receive electrical power from the communication unit when the mechanical connector is connected to the communication unit, and, when the mechanical connector is disconnected from the communication unit, to harvest the electrical power from electromagnetic energy transmitted by the wireless terminal.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first management information is different from the second management information.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to automatically select the first or the second mode by detecting whether the mechanical connector is connected to the communication unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical connector and the communication cable are part of an active optical cable.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical connector and the communication cable are part of an active electrical cable.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical connector and the communication cable are part of a passive electrical cable.

11. A method, comprising:

when a mechanical connector, which terminates a communication cable, is connected to a mating connector of a communication unit, exchanging communication signals between the communication unit and the communication cable via one or more communication wire lines of the mechanical connector, and exchanging first management information in a first mode between the communication unit and a wireless terminal via one or more management wire lines of the mechanical connector; and

when the mechanical connector is detached from the communication unit, exchanging second management information in a second mode between an internal memory mounted inside the mechanical connector and the wireless terminal.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the mechanical connector is permanently connected to the communication cable.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the mechanical connector is detachable from the communication cable.

14. The method according to claim 11, and comprising, in the first mode, exchanging both the first management information between the wireless terminal and the communication unit, and the second management information between the wireless terminal and the internal memory.

15. The method according to claim 11, and comprising receiving electrical power from the communication unit when the mechanical connector is connected to the communication unit, and, when the mechanical connector is detached from the communication unit, harvesting the electrical power from electromagnetic energy transmitted by the wireless terminal.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second management information is different from the first management information.

17. The method according to claim 11, and comprising automatically selecting the first or the second mode by detecting whether the mechanical connector is connected to the communication unit.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the mechanical connector and the communication cable are part of an active optical cable.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the mechanical connector and the communication cable are part of an active electrical cable.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the mechanical connector and the communication cable are part of a passive electrical cable.

21. A communication cable assembly, comprising:

a communication cable; and

a mechanical connector, which terminates the communication cable and is configured;

when the mechanical connector is connected to a mating connector of a communication unit, to exchange communication signals between the communication cable and the communication unit via one or more communication wire lines of the mechanical connector, and to exchange first management information in a first mode between the communication unit and a wireless terminal via one or more management wire lines of the mechanical connector; and

when the mechanical connector is detached from the communication unit, to exchange second management information in a second mode between an internal memory mounted inside the mechanical connector and the wireless terminal.

22. The communication cable assembly according to claim 21, wherein the mechanical connector is permanently connected to the communication cable.

23. The communication cable assembly according to claim 21, wherein the mechanical connector is detachable from the communication cable.