US5488304A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for judging active/dead status of communication cable
Assignee: NTT Inc
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Filing: 1994-06-02
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Granted: 1996-01-30
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Expires: 2014-06-02
Abstract
Abstract A scheme for judging an active/dead status of a communication cable, which is capable of making an accurate judgement quickly for each cable laid at a working site. In this scheme, data representing a frequency spectrum of signals on a communication cable measured in a state in which the communication cable is known to be active/dead is stored in advance, and the data representing the frequency spectrum of the signals on a communication cable to be judged is measured by detecting signals on the communication cable to be judged while electromagnetically coupling a probe to the communication cable to be judged. Then, the active/dead status of the communication cable to be judged is judged according to a result of comparing a prescribed threshold with a difference of the data representing the frequency spectrum stored in advance and the data representing the frequency spectrum measured by the probe.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiharu Hamade
- 👤 Masaichi Shiotani
- 👤 Yukio Shimo
- 👤 Munehiko Higashikata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/20; G01R1/22; G01R19/00; G01R19/145; G01R19/15; G01R15/00; G01R15/14; G01R15/18; G01R15/186; G01R19/25; G01R23/00; G01R23/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for judging an active/dead status of a communication cable, comprising the steps of: storing in advance data representing a frequency spectrum of signals on a communication cable measured in a state in which the communication cable is known to be active/dead; measuring the data representing the frequency spectrum of the signals on a communication cable to be judged by detecting signals on the communication cable to be judged while electromagnetically coupling a probe to the communication cable to be judged; and judging the active/dead status of the communication cable to be judged according to a result of comparing a prescribed threshold with a difference of the data representing the frequency spectrum stored at the storing step and the data representing the frequency spectrum measured at the measuring step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for judging an active/dead status of a communication cable, comprising the steps of: storing in advance data representing a frequency spectrum of signals on a communication cable measured in a state in which the communication cable is known to be active/dead; measuring the data representing the frequency spectrum of the signals on a communication cable to be judged by detecting signals on the communication cable to be judged while electromagnetically coupling a probe to the communication cable to be judged; and judging the active/dead status of the communication cable to be judged according to a result of comparing a prescribed threshold with a difference of the data representing the frequency spectrum stored at the storing step and the data representing the frequency spectrum measured at the measuring step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum is an average electric power level of the frequency spectrum In a prescribed bandwidth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the prescribed bandwidth corresponds to a bandwidth in which main components of noises for the signals on the communication cable to be judged are distributed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum Is that of a switching noise due to a switching type power supply equipment having a constant load, and the prescribed bandwidth Is a generation frequency of the switching noise.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum is a distribution of the frequency spectrum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the distribution of the frequency spectrum is a distribution in a plurality of prescribed bandwidths.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the distribution of the frequency spectrum is a distribution in a bandwidth other than a transmission bandwidth of the signals on the communication cable to be judged.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum is a waveform of the frequency spectrum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum stored at the storing step is a predetermined constant electric power level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum stored at the storing step is that of noises detected in vicinity of the communication cable to be judged without electromagnetically coupling the probe to the communication cable to be judged.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for judging an active/dead status of a communication cable, comprising: memory means for storing in advance data representing a frequency spectrum of signals on a communication cable measured in a state in which the communication cable is known to be active/dead; measurement means having a probe for measuring the data representing the frequency spectrum of the signals on a communication cable to be judged by detecting signals on the communication cable to be judged while electromagnetically coupling the probe to the communication cable to be judged; and judgement means for judging the active/dead status of the communication cable to be judged according to a result of comparing a prescribed threshold with a difference of the data representing the frequency spectrum stored by the memory means and the data representing the frequency spectrum measured by the measurement means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for judging an active/dead status of a communication cable, comprising: memory means for storing in advance data representing a frequency spectrum of signals on a communication cable measured in a state in which the communication cable is known to be active/dead; measurement means having a probe for measuring the data representing the frequency spectrum of the signals on a communication cable to be judged by detecting signals on the communication cable to be judged while electromagnetically coupling the probe to the communication cable to be judged; and judgement means for judging the active/dead status of the communication cable to be judged according to a result of comparing a prescribed threshold with a difference of the data representing the frequency spectrum stored by the memory means and the data representing the frequency spectrum measured by the measurement means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum is an average electric power level of the frequency spectrum In a prescribed bandwidth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the prescribed bandwidth corresponds to a bandwidth in which main components of noises for the signals on the communication cable to be judged are distributed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum is that of a switching noise due to a switching type power supply equipment having a constant load, and the prescribed bandwidth is a generation frequency of the switching noise.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum is a distribution of the frequency spectrum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the distribution of the frequency spectrum is a distribution in a plurality of prescribed bandwidths.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the distribution of the frequency spectrum is a distribution in a bandwidth other than a transmission bandwidth of the signals on the communication cable to be judged.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum is a waveform of the frequency spectrum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum stored by the memory means is a predetermined constant electric power level.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data representing the frequency spectrum stored by the memory means is that of noises detected in vicinity of the communication cable to be judged without electromagnetically coupling the probe to the communication cable to be judged.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-29 | 1999-07-31 | 2000-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-29 | 2003-07-31 | 2004-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-29 | 2007-07-31 | 2008-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |