Electricity: measuring and testing – Conductor identification or location
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-14
2003-07-08
Le, N. (Department: 2858)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Conductor identification or location
C324S067000, C324S512000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06590374
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a terminator unit for use in wiring networks. Plurality of said terminator units are connected to matching outlet connectors of a wiring network, performing an infrastructure for a scanning system for mapping the network and for identifying failures in the network. The said terminator unit and its corresponding scanning system are adapted for use in existing wiring networks without changing the wiring or connectors.
2. Description of the Related Art
The present invention will be described hereinafter as related to computer wiring networks, however computer network is only one example for its use wherein the same principal may be performed in a similar manner in any wiring network.
In large computer networks, the network configuration is often changed by users moving their computers (or other computer equipment) from place to place in the network. It is difficult to administrate such a network, to follow up its changing, and to control its use.
Furthermore, often changes of computer locations in the network, wear and damage the connectors and wiring, causing failures in the network.
Therefore, for the effective management of wiring networks of large computer systems, it is very important to have a recent configuration chart of the network, including data concerning the normality of each branch of the network. The effectiveness of management depends on the availability of an up-to-date network map. At present, mapping conventional computer network is done manually (i.e. checking separately each outlet connector). The present invention provides a convenient arrangement for automatically detecting and mapping (from a controlling center) the network structure and normality, and generating an up-to-date configuration chart (or map) of the network in an immediate availability.
Moreover, said automatic mapping arrangement improves the installation procedure of a new computer system on a wiring network, and may help in preventing unauthorized use of the network connections.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide means to:
(a) identify the location of connectors in a wiring network;
(b) verify the normality of each wiring branch of the network and the associate connectors;
(c) facilitate a controlled installation of a new system (e.g. computer net) on its wiring network.
(d) avoid antenna affect (of open-end wiring receiving and inducting Radio-Frequency interference) in vacant network branches.
(e) protect vacant connectors against harms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a series of terminator units for use in a scanning system for detecting the structure and normality (no short-circuit nor disruption in the connector and its associate wiring) of wiring networks and associate connectors.
The scanning system is comprised of a scanner located at a main branching point of the network, and plurality of terminator units are connected to matching outlet connectors of the network, providing a predetermined indication for each contact (pin) of the outlet connector, recognizable by said scanner.
In the context of the present invention:
The term “cold connection”—relates to the vacant connections of the network, which usually are wall connections ended by conventional outlet connectors.
The term “hot connection”—relates to those cold connections of the network which are presently occupied by connected equipment using the network.
The term “contact” relates to all types of electric conductor termination using in connectors for making the electrical contact with a matching connector.
The term “resistance element” relates to any type of element having recognizable impedance, such as a resistor, a diode (of other semi-conductor), a coil, a capacitor, or a combination thereof.
There are two types of terminator units: (a) terminator unit for use in cold connections (hereinafter called also “terminator”); (b) terminator unit for use in hot connections (hereinafter called also “outlet terminator”), which differs from the terminator by farther having an outlet for receiving a connector of an apparatus (for connecting it electrically to the wall outlet connector).
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the series of terminator units each having a predetermined unique identifying code, is for use in wiring networks for the fulfillment of at least part of the following functions: (a) naming wiring outlets, (b) verifying the normality of the wiring and associate connectors, and (c) avoiding antenna affect of the wiring, wherein each terminator unit of the series is comprised of a connector having plurality of contacts for a connection with contacts of a matching wiring outlet connector, and at least one of a first set and a second set of plurality of resistance elements, wherein;
in each terminator included in the series, the resistance elements of the first set are for naming the network outlets, and are connected each between one common point and a selected contact, such that a unique identifying code is determined according to the particular combination of resistance elements connected to selected contacts, and said code is useful for distinguishing between the plurality of terminator units within the series, each having its own particular code according to its particular combination of resistance elements of the first set connected to selected contacts, and wherein;
the resistance elements of the second set in each terminator in the series are connected respectively between one common point and each of the contacts of the terminator;
such that when the two matching connectors are joined together, the unique identifying code is recognizable remotely through the wiring by sensing the combination of resistance elements of the terminator, the antenna affect of the wiring is avoided by the connection of the resistance elements of the second set, and the continuity of the wiring and the absence of short-circuits are verified by measuring the resistance elements of the second set remotely through the wiring.
In the context of the present invention, the term “plurality” when relates to resistance elements, does not come to exclude the few terminators having only one resistance element, which is the case when performing some particular binary codes (e.g. “01000000”, “0000100” etc.)
It has to be noted that the present invention also relates to a series of terminator units each having a unique identifying code, for the fulfillment of only a part of the above mentioned functions, such as for use in wiring networks for naming wiring outlets (without verifying the normality of the network) comprising a connector having a plurality of contacts for a connection with contacts of a matching wiring outlet connector, and plurality of resistance elements wherein;
in each terminator included in the series, the resistance elements are connected each between one common point and a selected contact, such that a unique identifying code is determined according to the particular combination of resistance elements connected to selected contacts, and wherein;
said code is useful for distinguishing between the plurality of terminator units within the series, each having its own particular code according to its particular combination of resistance elements connected to selected contacts, such that;
when the two matching connectors are joined together, the unique identifying code is recognizable remotely through the wiring, by sensing the combination of resistance elements of the terminator.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the terminator unit for use in wiring network for naming wiring outlets, comprises a connector having plurality of contacts for a connection with contacts of a matching wiring outlet connector, and a plurality of resistance elements, wherein the resistance elements are connected each between one common point and a selected contact through an electrical switch allowing the resistance element to be switched on or switched off as selected by
Le N.
Lowe Hauptman & Gilman & Berner LLP
Teresinski John
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