Corning Cable Systems

Corning Incorporated

Fiber Mountain, Inc.

Corning Optical Communications LLC

Matthew Scott Whiting

James Scott Sutherland

John David Downie

Richard Edward Wagner

Dale Alan Webb

Leo Nederlof

Mark P Taylor

Aravind Chamarti

Bradley Richard Thurow

James G Renfro, Jr

David Robert Kozischek

Brewster R Hemenway

James Patrick Trice

Donald J Sobiski

Keith Allen Hoover

Leo Nederiof

Mark Peter Taylor

Excess radio-frequency (RF) power storage in RF identification (RFID) tags, and related systems and methods are disclosed. The RFID tag is configured to operate with RF power received in wireless RF signals from a RFID tag antenna if received RF power meets or exceeds an operational threshold power for the RFID tag. The RFID tag is also configured to store excess energy derived from excess received RF power in an energy storage device if the received RF power exceeds the operational threshold power for the RFID tag. Thus, when RF power received by the RFID tag is not sufficient for operation, the RFID tag can operate from power provided by previously stored excess energy in the energy storage device.

Excess radio-frequency (RF) power storage in RF identification (RFID) tags, and related systems and methods

Protocols, systems, and methods are disclosed for two or more RFID tags to communicate with each other and a device using direct connections. A disclosed system includes a first RFID tag, a second RFID tag, and a device. The first and second RFID tags are configured to mate to each other and directly exchange information. The second RFID tag is further configured to directly exchange information with the device such that information received directly at the second RFID tag from the first RFID tag may then be directly exchanged with the device. The first RFID tag may send a first tag identification directly from the first RFID tag to the second RFID tag. The second RFID tag may then send a first acknowledgement to the first RFID tag if the first tag identification was correctly received by the second RFID tag.

Communications between multiple radio frequency identification (RFID) connected tags and one or more devices, and related systems and methods

Protocols, systems, and methods are disclosed for at least one RFID tag and a device, to communicate with each other using direct connections, wherein the at least one RFID tag and the device are configured to mate and directly exchange identification information. A message comprising a tag identification may be sent directly from the RFID tag to the device, and the RFID tag may receive a first acknowledgement from the device if the first tag identification was correctly received. A connection may be detected between the RFID tag and the device prior to directly exchanging information. The exchange of information may include sending data from the device to the RFID tag.

Protocol for communications between a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a connected device, and related systems and methods

Protocols, systems, and methods are disclosed for two or more RFID tags to communicate with each other using direct connections, wherein the two or more RFID tags are configured to mate and directly exchange identification information. A disclosed method includes detecting that a first RFID tag is connected to a second RFID tag. A first message comprising a first tag identification is sent directly from the first RFID tag to the second RFID tag, and the first RFID tag receives a first acknowledgement from the second RFID tag if the first tag identification was correctly received. A second message comprising a second tag identification may be sent directly from the second RFID tag to the first RFID tag and a second acknowledgement may be received from the first RFID tag if the second tag identification was correctly received.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) connected tag communications protocol and related systems and methods

Excess radio-frequency (RF) power storage and power sharing RF Identification (RFID) tags, and related RFID tag connection systems and methods are disclosed. The excess RF power storage and power sharing RFID tags and related RFID tag connection systems and methods in embodiments disclosed herein allow connected RFID tags to store excess energy derived from excess received RF power in a shared energy storage device. In this manner, an individual RFID tag or a group of connected RFID tags in the RFID tag connection system can continue operation during temporary times when sufficient RF power is not being received from a RFID reader. Sharing stored energy derived from excess received RF power in a shared energy storage device among connected RFID tags in a RFID tag connection system can significantly mitigate problems of RF power interruption.

Excess radio-frequency (RF) power storage and power sharing RF identification (RFID) tags, and related connection systems and methods

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.

RFID condition latching

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.

RFID-based systems and methods for collecting telecommunications network information

Radio-frequency identification&#x2014;(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.

There is provided a passive RFID transponder assembly that includes a condition responsive device adapted to read a condition relating to the component that is associated with the RFID transponder assembly. The condition that is read by the condition responsive device relates to physical contact with a field technician or a mating component, relates to electrical connection between an integrated circuit chip and an antenna, relates to one or more environmental conditions, or the like. The components with which the RFID transponder assemblies are associated include components of telecommunications equipment, such as fiber optic connectors, fiber optic adapters, fiber optic patch panels, copper connectors, and copper adapters to list some non-limiting examples.

Radio frequency identification transponder for communicating condition of a component

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.

Components, systems, and methods for associating sensor data with component location

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.

RFID systems and methods for optical fiber network deployment and maintenance

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.

RFID systems and methods for automatically detecting and/or directing the physical configuration of a complex system

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.

Passive RFID elements having visual indicators

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.

Antenna systems for passive RFID tags

There is provided a system for identifying a connection of two or more components in which one or more RFID transponders are associated with the two or more components. A plug is associated with the first component, such as a fiber optic connector, and a socket is associated with the second component, such as a fiber optic adapter. An RFID transponder is associated with each component and at least one of the RFID transponders is activatable when the plug is received by the socket to enable the activated RFID transponder to communicate with the RFID reader. The antennas and integrated circuit chips that define the RFID transponders are positioned relative to the plug and socket to enable the one or more RFID transponders to activate when the plug is received by the socket. In addition, the RFID transponders may communicate with one another to identify other RFID transponders in order to communicate identities of two or more RFID transponders.

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Lawrenceville, PA, United States of America

Matthew Scott Whiting