Telecom Apparatus Lighting for Passive Subrack Visual Status
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telecommunications devices, especially passive sub-racks, lack means to provide visual information due to the absence of electrical power, leading to increased risk of misconnection and inefficient troubleshooting, and existing LED solutions are inflexible and costly.
Innovation Solution
A telecommunications apparatus with controllable light sources powered by a plug-connected circuitry that receives control signals from an active telecommunications device, enabling visual indications on passive sub-racks and customizable LED layouts for improved installation and troubleshooting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If fixed color LEDs are used in telecommunications devices, then visual information can be provided, but passive sub-racks cannot provide visual information due to lack of electrical power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (portable troubleshooting device with light source) that mediates between the active equipment and passive sub-rack. The light source is positioned at the passive sub-rack location and controlled remotely via optical fiber connection to active equipment, enabling visual information display without requiring electrical power at the passive sub-rack itself.
2Loss of information
If LEDs are used to provide visual information, then status monitoring is enabled, but the installation and cabling becomes more complex increasing risk of misconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The portable troubleshooting device enables field engineers to perform self-service troubleshooting by providing visual status information directly at the passive sub-rack location. The device displays status information locally, eliminating the need for engineers to trace cables or interpret remote indicator patterns, thereby simplifying the troubleshooting process and reducing installation complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed LED layout is used in equipment design, then manufacturing is simplified, but customer requirements for specific visual information layouts cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic and reconfigurable visual information system. The portable troubleshooting device can be positioned flexibly at different locations, and the light source illumination patterns can be dynamically controlled to display different status information. This allows the system to adapt to various customer requirements without requiring custom manufacturing of equipment with fixed LED layouts.
4Ease of manufacture
If equipment layout is simplified to reduce cost, then equipment cost is reduced, but visual information capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the visual information provision function from the main equipment structure. Instead of integrating LEDs into every piece of equipment (which would increase cost), the visual information capability is segmented into a separate portable troubleshooting device that can be deployed as needed. This allows cost-effective equipment manufacturing while preserving visual information capability through the portable device.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides easy installation and troubleshooting by offering visual information to field engineers, reducing the risk of erroneous connections and enhancing diagnostic capabilities, while being cost-effective and adaptable to various implementation scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of light sources, an illumination state of the light sources being controllable according to control signals
Data Source
AI summary
A telecommunications apparatus including a lighting apparatus, the lighting apparatus having: a plurality of light sources, an illumination state of the light sources being controllable according to control signals; circuitry connected to the plurality of light sources, wherein the circuity is configured to provide control signals to the light sources; and a plug connected to the circuitry, wherein the plug is configured to connect to an external port of a first telecommunications device, and configured as an interface for control signals from the first telecommunications device to the circuitry. The plurality of light sources are arranged such that a change in illumination state of the plurality of light sources provides a visual indication on a subject telecommunications device. The telecommunications apparatus is configured to receive control signals from the first telecommunications device which correspond to an indication, by the plurality of light sources, relating to the subject telecommunications device.