COMBINED ACTIVITY AND INTENSITY CATEGORY INDICATOR DEVICE FOR DATA TRANSMISSION CABLE

Abstract

This indicator device for a data transmission cable (16) connected to a connection port (18) includes a measuring system (20) adapted to detect the presence of an electric current flowing in the cable (16) and to measure the intensity of this electric current, and at least one luminous element (22) connected to the measuring system (20). The on or off state of the at least one luminous element (22) corresponds to the active or inactive state of the connection port (18), and the position and / or color of the at least one luminous element (22) corresponds to a category to which the intensity belongs. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: COMBINED ACTIVITY AND CURRENT CATEGORY INDICATOR DEVICE FOR DATA TRANSMISSION CABLE

[0001] The present invention relates to a combined activity and intensity category indication device for data transmission cable.

[0002] The invention belongs to the field of accessories for electrical cables. It is particularly applicable to data transmission cables.

[0003] The invention will be described here in the context of a PoE (Power over Ethernet) installation for transmitting power superimposed on data in local area networks (LANs). However, this example is not limiting, as the invention is applicable in different contexts, at any electrical cable connection point, whether it be, for example, a patch panel, an electrical outlet, or a consolidation point.

[0004] In PoE installations, current connection cabinets generally contain patch panels that bring together a large number of data transmission cables.

[0005] A permanent label may be present on the front of a patch panel to indicate the category or current intensity level of the cables to be connected in that patch panel, in the form of an indication of the type "RPx", where x is an integer from 1 to 3 which corresponds to a current intensity category.

[0006] If the cables contained in the patch panel are replaced by cables supporting a different current level, this labeling becomes invalid and can therefore lead to cable assignment errors, i.e. to the connection of cables supporting a current lower than that indicated on the labeling.

[0007] Furthermore, information on the activity present on the data transmission cables may be available in a separate box from the patch panels, typically in the form of lights that light up when there is traffic on the cables and are off when there is no traffic.

[0008] With this type of information on cable activity, given the large number of cables contained in the cabinet, it is difficult to quickly determine which cable corresponds to which traffic.

[0009] Furthermore, the operator does not have readily accessible information on the intensity category and on the activity of the cables in the same place.

[0010] The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0011] To this end, the present invention proposes an indicator device for a data transmission cable connected to a connection port, the device being notable in that it comprises a measurement system adapted to detect the presence of an electric current flowing in the cable and to measure the intensity of this electric current and at least one luminous element connected to the measurement system, the on or off state of the at least one luminous element corresponding to the active or inactive state of the connection port and the position and / or color of the at least one luminous element corresponding to a category to which the intensity belongs.

[0012] Thus, the present invention makes it possible to simultaneously, in a combined and centralized manner, obtain up-to-date information on the category to which the current flowing in the cable belongs and information on the current activity of the cable's connection port. This also makes it possible not only to avoid errors in connecting cables whose current category is not suitable for the intended connection port, but also to avoid inadvertently disconnecting cables connected to an active connection port.

[0013] In a particular embodiment, the measuring system includes a collar adapted to be positioned around the cable.

[0014] This allows for non-intrusive measurement of the current flowing through the cable. Furthermore, the clamp can serve an additional function as a means of securing the cable in its environment. For example, the clamp can act as a mounting bracket for the cable, such as on an infrastructure element like a patch panel.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, the collar includes an ammeter clamp.

[0016] This constitutes a simple and reliable means of measuring the intensity of the current flowing in the cable around which the ammeter clamp is arranged.

[0017] In a particular embodiment, at least one luminous element is a light-emitting diode.

[0018] This type of light element is compact and inexpensive.

[0019] In a particular embodiment, the device comprises a plurality of luminous elements, each having a position and / or a color corresponding to a category to which the intensity belongs.

[0020] Alternatively, the device comprises a single luminous element whose colour varies according to the category to which the intensity belongs.

[0021] In a particular embodiment, the device is included in a patch panel.

[0022] In a particular embodiment, at least one luminous element is located on the front face of the patch panel, thus offering the operator a particularly easy visualization of intensity and activity information.

[0023] For the same purpose as indicated above, the present invention also proposes a patch panel, remarkable in that it includes an indicator device as succinctly described above.

[0024] Since the special features and advantages of the patch panel are similar to those of the indicator device, they are not repeated here. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of particular embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] is a schematic perspective representation of a patch panel equipped with an indicator device according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment. Description of method(s) of implementation

[0027] Figure 1 illustrates a particular embodiment of an indicator device according to the present invention, in the non-limiting example where the invention is used in a patch panel 10, of which only the top plate 12 and the front face 14 are shown. In this particular embodiment, the indicator device is contained within the patch panel 10.

[0028] One or more electrical data transmission cables 16 can be arranged on the tray 12. In the illustrated example, two cables 16 are shown.

[0029] Each cable 16 is connected to a connection port 18. The connection ports 18 are, for example, RJ45 type ports well known to those skilled in the art.

[0030] The indicator device comprises one or more measuring systems 20, each measuring system 20 being adapted to detect the presence of an electric current flowing in one of the cables 16 and to measure the intensity of this electric current.

[0031] In the particular embodiment of [Fig. 1], each measuring system 20 comprises a clamp adapted to be positioned around the cable 16 and includes a current clamp. If the patch panel 10 has twenty-four connection ports 18, it thus comprises twenty-four clamps. Each clamp can be fixed to the patch panel 10 and can be in the form of two half-rings joined by a hinge, adapted to close around the cable 16, as shown by the two clamps on the left in the closed position and the two clamps on the right in the open position in [Fig. 1]. However, this embodiment is not limiting: the The measurement system can take any other form, such as a current sensor placed on or near cable 16.

[0032] The indicator device further comprises at least one luminous element 22 connected to the measuring system 20. This connection can be made, for example, via an electronic board adapted to process the measurement and convert it into light information.

[0033] According to the invention, the lit or off state of at least one light element 22 corresponds to the active or inactive state of the connection port 18, and the color of at least one light element 22 corresponds to a category to which the intensity of the current flowing in the cable 16 belongs, for example RP1, RP2, or RP3. In the non-limiting example illustrated in [Fig. 1], the leftmost light element 22 is lit, indicating that the leftmost connection port 18 is active and that the cable 16 connected to this connection port 18 carries a current whose intensity belongs to a first category, for example RP1.

[0034] In the particular embodiment of [Fig.1], at least one light element 22 is located on the front face of the patch panel 10. Advantageously, the light element(s) 22 reporting the activity and intensity on a given cable 16 are placed in the region of the patch panel 10 located in alignment with this cable 16.

[0035] The light element 22 may, for example, be a light-emitting diode. This example is not limiting, however, and the light element may take any other form, such as an optical fiber carrying the light information to the front face of the patch panel 10.

[0036] In the particular embodiment illustrated, the indicator device comprises several luminous elements 22, each having a position and / or a color corresponding to a category to which the intensity of the current flowing through the cable 16 belongs. In [Fig. 1], three luminous elements 22 are placed side by side horizontally opposite each cable 16. They could also be placed side by side vertically. They may have the same color and may correspond respectively to category RP1, category RP2, and category RP3. Alternatively, the three luminous elements may each have a different color, namely, a first color corresponding to category RP1 (for example, green), a second color corresponding to category RP2 (for example, blue), and a third color corresponding to category RP3 (for example, red).In both embodiments, a marking redundant with the light information may be provided on the patch panel 10 next to each light element 22, to recall the intensity category indicated by the position and / or color of each light element 22. This marking may be made directly on the surface of the . patch panel 10, or may appear on a label affixed by any means of attachment to patch panel 10.

[0037] In another variant, the indicator device may include a single light element whose colour varies according to the category to which the intensity of the current passing through the cable 16 belongs, the colour code being moreover known to the operator or being able to be recalled on a notice, or by a marking on the patch panel 10.

Claims

Demands

1. Indicator device for a data transmission cable (16) connected to a connection port (18), said device being characterized in that it comprises a measuring system (20) adapted to detect the presence of an electric current flowing in said cable (16) and to measure the intensity of said electric current and at least one light element connected (22) to said measuring system (20), the on or off state of said at least one light element (22) corresponding to the active or inactive state of said connection port (18) and the position and / or color of said at least one light element (22) corresponding to a category to which said intensity belongs.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said measuring system (20) comprises a collar adapted to be positioned around said cable (16).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said collar comprises an ammeter clamp.

4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said at least one luminous element (22) is a light-emitting diode.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of luminous elements (22) each having a position and / or a colour corresponding to a category to which said intensity belongs.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a single luminous element (22) whose colour varies according to the category to which said intensity belongs.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is included in a patch panel (10).

8. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one light element (22) is located on the front face (14) of the patch panel (10).

9. Patch panel (10), characterized in that it comprises an indicator device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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