| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080218355 | Optically addressed RFID elements - There are provided connectors, cables, cable assemblies, network components, and systems wherein optically addressed RFID functionality is incorporated. Also provided are optically addressed RFID elements in general. The RFID elements utilize an optical tap to direct a portion of the optical signal traveling through an optical fiber to a transducer. The transducer creates an electrical signal which may be used to write information to an integrated circuit of, transmit an RF signal to, and/or provide power to the RFID element. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080220721 | Passive RFID elements having visual indicators - There are provided components, connectors, receptacles, cables, and systems wherein passive RFID functionality is incorporated. Also provided are passive RFID elements in general. The passive RFID elements power visual indicators based on receipt of external RF signals. Passive energy storage devices may be employed to provide electrical energy to the visual indicators. The passive energy storage devices may be charged by the external RF signals. The visual indicators may operate continuously or according to a predetermined flashing pattern. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20100052863 | RFID-based systems and methods for collecting telecommunications network information - Radio-frequency identification—(RFID)-based systems and methods for collecting telecommunications information is disclosed. The methods include storing transceiver information in a transceiver and connector information in an optical fiber connector, and then operably connecting the connector to the transceiver. The connection results in an electrical connection that allows the transceiver information to be communicated to the connector. The connector has a RFID tag that generates a connector RFID-tag signal that includes the connector information and the transceiver information. When electronics equipment are connected to the transceiver, electronics-equipment information is passed through the transceiver to the connector so that the electronics-equipment information can be included in the connector RFID-tag signal. The transceiver may also include a transceiver RFID tag that can receive connector information and electronics-equipment information and generate a transceiver RFID-tag signal that includes connector, transceiver and/or electronics-equipment information. A Portable test device is also used to connect to the transceiver or the electronics equipment to effectuate the transfer of transceiver and/or electronics-equipment information. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100178058 | RFID SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTICAL FIBER NETWORK DEPLOYMENT AND MAINTENANCE - An optical-fiber-network (OFN) radio-frequency identification (RFID) system for deploying and/or maintaining an OFN. The system includes a plurality of OFN components, and at least one RFID tag that includes RFID tag data that has at least one property of the OFN component associated with the RFID tag. The RFID tag data is written to and read from the RFID tags prior, during or after deploying the OFN components. An OFN-component-data database unit is used to store and process the RFID tag data. This allows for different maps of the OFN to be made, such as an inventory map and a maintenance map. The OFN-RFID system allows for automated operations and management of OFN components by service personnel, and provides for faster and more accurate OFN system deployment and maintenance. | 07-15-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090045961 | Antenna systems for passive RFID tags - Antenna systems for passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. The antenna systems have a very small form factor with good power harvesting and good performance in proximity to other antennas. The antenna system includes at least one, and preferably two, parallel serpentine antenna elements formed on, or otherwise supported by, an antenna substrate so that a RFID-tag integrated circuit (IC) can be electrically contacted to the antenna system at one end of the antenna substrate. A conducting wire that runs in the same direction as the at least one serpentine antenna element is used to match impedance and enhance antenna performance and power flow between the antenna and the IC. An impedance-matching circuit may be employed in place of the conducting wire to facilitate impedance matching between the antenna and the IC. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090097846 | RFID Systems and Methods for Optical Fiber Network Deployment and Maintenance - An optical-fiber-network (OFN) radio-frequency identification (RFID) system for deploying and/or maintaining and/or provisioning service and/or locating faults in an OFN. The system includes a plurality of OFN components, and at least one RFID tag that includes RFID tag data that has at least one property of the OFN component associated with the RFID tag. The RFID tag data is written to and read from the RFID tags using one or more mobile RFID readers either prior to, during or after deploying the OFN components. An OFN-component-data database unit is used to store and process the RFID tag data and is automatically updated by the one or more mobile RFID readers. This allows for different maps of the OFN to be made, such as an inventory map and a maintenance map, and for the maps to be automatically updated. The OFN-RFID system allows for mobile automated operations and management of OFN components by service personnel, and provides for faster and more accurate OFN system deployment and maintenance. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090195363 | RFID SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING AND/OR DIRECTING THE PHYSICAL CONFIGURATION OF A COMPLEX SYSTEM - A radio-frequency identification (RFID)-based configuration detection system for automatically detecting, directing, and/or configuring the physical configuration of a complex system constituted by a set of one or more types of mateable components. The RFID configuration detection system utilizes a set of mateable RFID tags arranged so that each mateable component includes at least one mateable RFID tag. Each RFID tag includes information about its associated component and is arranged so that when the components are mated, their associated RFID tags also are mated. The system uses at least one RFID reader to read RFID tag signals from the RFID tags. The RFID tag signals provide information about mating status of the component, as well as information about components themselves. An information processing system operably connected to the RFID reader receives and process information concerning the number and type of mated connections and thus the configuration. Changes to the configuration, such as mated connections being unmated, can be tracked to provide real-time configuration information. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20100245057 | COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR ASSOCIATING SENSOR DATA WITH COMPONENT LOCATION - Components having one or more sensors adapted to provide sensor data relating to a condition(s) of the component are disclosed. The component is adapted to communicate with another mating component to associate sensor data with identity information of the mating component. The sensor and identity information can be communicated remotely including via radio-frequency communications employing RF identification devices (RFIDs). Location of the mating component can be determined using the identity information of the mating component. In this manner, the sensor data can be associated with the location of the mating component using the identity information in a “component-to-component” configuration to provide location-specific sensor data. Having the ability to localize sensor data to a specific location can assist in pinpointing areas where performance or other condition issues may exist in a component, a mating component, an article of manufacture associated with the components, and/or communication and/or transmissions lines coupled between components. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110140856 | RFID Condition Latching - A passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) system has an RFID reader that communicates with and provides power to an RFID tag. The RFID tag has an RFID integrated circuit chip that contains a memory device for storing information to be transmitted to the RFID reader, and energy storage device that stores energy for powering the integrated circuit chip. In the event that the RFID tag is activated during periods when the RFID integrated circuit chip is not receiving sufficient energy from the RFID reader, then either an energy storage device is provided to allow the activation event to be recorded at the RFID integrated circuit chip, or a memory device is provided that senses and records the activation event and communicates this activation event once power has been restored. | 06-16-2011 |
