Electroluminescent patch cable
AssigneeAvaya Technology Corp.
InventorsAlexander John Gray Beck, Jonathan R. Yee-Hang Choy, Alexander Martin Scholte, David Preshan Thambiratnam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides an interconnect cable having an electroluminescent element disposed therein in order to facilitate locating the interconnect cable. The electroluminescent element is activated by a driver that may be selectively applied to specified driver ports located on end connectors of the cable. The electroluminescent element may be incorporated within the entire length of the cable, or only along selected sections of the cable.
Claims38
A system for identifying ends of an interconnect cable, said system comprising:
- an interconnect cable having a first end connector attached at one end of said cable, a second end connector attached at an opposite end of said cable, an outer sheath, and at least one signal conductor disposed within said sheath;
- an electroluminescent fiber encapsulated within said sheath of said cable;
- a driver communicating with said electroluminescent fiber for selectively activating said electroluminescent fiber thereby providing illumination to identify a path of the interconnect cable;
- and
- said first and second end connectors each include (i) a plurality of connector pins, (ii) a driver port for receiving said driver, said driver port being positioned remote from said pins and outside of said sheath, and (iii) a driver conductor mounted in said end connector and interconnecting said driver to said fiber.
An interconnect cable comprising:
- a first end connector attached at one end of said cable;
- a second end connector attached at an opposite end of said cable;
- an outer sheath;
- at least one signal conductor disposed in said sheath;
- an electroluminescent fiber partially encapsulated within said outer sheath, said electroluminescent fiber producing light when activated by a power source;
- and
- said first and second end connectors each include (i) a plurality of connector pins, (ii) a driver port for receiving said power source said driver port being position remote from said pins and outside of said outer sheath;
- and (iii) and a driver conductor mounted in said end connector and interconnecting said power source to said fiber.
A system for identifying ends of an interconnect cable, said system comprising:
- an interconnect cable having a first end connector attached at one end of said cable, a second end connector attached at an opposite end of said cable, an outer sheath, and a plurality of signal conductors disposed within said sheath;
- an electroluminescent fiber mounted to said outer sheath;
- means for selectively activating the fiber placed in electrical communication with said electroluminescent fiber that provides illumination to identify a path of the interconnect cable;
- and
- said end conductors each having a plurality of connection pins and a driver port positioned remote from the connection pins and mounted exteriorly of the sheath for receiving the means for selectively driving the fiber.
A method of identifying a location of an interconnect cable, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an interconnect cable having an outer sheath, first end connector attached at one end of the cable, and a second end connector attached at an opposite end of said cable;
- said first and second end connectors each include (i) a plurality of connection pins;
- (ii) a driver port for receiving said driver, and (iii) a driver conductor
- interconnecting said driver to said fiber, said driver port being positioned remote from said connection pins and mounted externally of said sheath;
- providing an electroluminescent fiber integral with the sheath of the interconnect cable;
- providing a driver for activating the electroluminescent fiber;
- and
- applying said driver to the driver port thereby illuminating the interconnect cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.