The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 11, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2000
David Warren Kline, Cedar Park, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A cable suitable for use in a data processing network is disclosed. The cable includes an electrically insulating shielding, a signal carrying element enclosed by the shielding, and an identifying element embedded in the shielding. The identifying element is suitable for transporting light from a first end of the cable to a second end and for externally emitting the light at the second end. The signal carrying element be implemented as a twisted wire pair, a coaxial cable, or an optical fiber. The identifying element may include an optical fiber that is connected to a lens embedded in the shield at the second end of the cable. The first end of the optical fiber may be connected to another lens that is embedded in the shielding at the first end of the cable. Alternatively, the first end of the optical fiber may be connected to an LED, which is connected to a circuit including a battery aid a contact switch. The identifying element may include a light pipe connected between the optical fiber and the lens embedded in the surface of the cable at the second end. The cable may further include a second light pipe and connected to a lens embedded in the surface of the cable at the first end.