Optical connector with memory function

An optical connector with memory function comprises memory function for storing respective identification information in order to readily and exactly perform separate control of respective control steps and further to obtain convenient handling of connectors. The optical connector with memory function 3 of the present invention is characterized by a memory function capable of untouchably performing, from outside thereof, writing-in and reading-out of necessary information. The memory function has a structure mounted on or mountable on the outer construction of a housing accommodating therein the optical connection portion of an optical connector plug in the optical connector with memory function.

This application claims priority from International Application No. PCT/JP03/00082, filed Jan. 8, 2003, which in turn claims priority from Japanese Application No. 005642/2002, filed Jan. 15, 2002.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an optical connector, and, especially, to an optical connector with memory function for control information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On many conventional optical connectors, a label or a tape, on which optional letters or bar codes are recorded, is pasted for individual control information. In other examples, grouped control information, such as lot numbers or manufactured dates, is recorded.

In case of controlling production steps or mounting and wiring steps of optical connectors in these conditions, such control operations are usually performed by the use of computers. In this case, mistake such as erroneous understanding or erroneous inputting of control information shall be occasionally occurred, if letters are employed as the control information, since an operator performs the inputting operations in reading of the letters of control information.

On the other hand, in a case where the control information of bar code is recorded, read-in operations are essential before and after a working operation step, while erroneous understanding or erroneous inputting of control information is especially reduced. Accordingly, if the read-in operation is overlooked at a working operation step, reliable control of this working operation step cannot be performed.

Moreover, when the control information is recorded on a label or a tape, each of the label and the tape has to have an appropriate size for recognizing the control information. In this case where optical connectors carrying control information of these label and tape are accumulated on a distributing board in a real application circumstance, the label itself becomes considerable obstacle for freely manipulation so that the convenience of operation using the control information of this type is disturbed.

Furthermore, if material of the label and the tape is of paper, the label and the tape may be damaged, so that the control information cannot be recognized and then controlled.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector with memory function, which comprises the memory function for storing respective identification information in order to readily and exactly perform separate control of respective control steps and further to obtain convenient handling of connectors.

To attain the above object and other objects of the present invention, the optical connector with memory function of the present invention comprises an optical connector plug and an adapter provided to be coupled to said optical connector plug. The optical connector with memory function further comprises memory function capable of untouchably performing writing-in and reading-out of necessary information from outside thereof.

The memory function has an integrated circuit formed into an electromagnetic induction system.

The memory function has a structure mounted on or mountable on the outer construction of a housing accommodating therein the optical connection portion of the optical connector plug.

An antenna is mounted on the adapter to electromagnetic-inductively couple to the integrated circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be more precisely described with reference to accompanying drawings.

An optical connector10with memory function of the present invention comprises, as illustrated inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B, an optical connector plug1including an optical connection portion, and a memory function3having an integrated circuit of non-contact type, which is formed into an electromagnetic induction system applied to IC cards and IC fixed-term tickets developed as RFID (Radio Frequency Information Distributor) systems. Moreover, a read-write device comprises, as shown inFIG. 2, an antenna4having electromagnetic induction coupling to the integrated circuit2of non-contact type, and a controller5provided for controlling the antenna4.

When the optical connector plug1is inserted into an adapter6as shown inFIG. 2, the controller5communicates to the memory function3of the side of the optical connector10by way of the antenna4positioned near the adapter6to perform the reading-out and writing-in of necessary information, so that the device operates as the optical connector10with memory function.

Into the memory function3of the optical connector10with memory function, peculiar identification information (hereinafter referred to “peculiar ID”) is previously stored. This identification information is a unique one so that there do not two of the same identification information.

The object of the present invention is attainable by providing the optical connector10with memory function as mentioned above. The followings are concrete application examples in correspondence to the objects of the present invention.

In an optional one of working steps for mounting an optical fiber7on the optical connector plug1, the peculiar ID is read in the memory function3of the optical connector plug1, while contents of the working steps and the working date and time are additionally applied to a computer16, such as a personal computer (referred to “PC”), so that unitary control of respective working steps can be performed. Therefore, each item of the working date and time, the worker and the working step name, etc. can be readily pursued from the peculiar ID to enhance the transmission quality of the optical connector plug1.

The peculiar ID is automatically read out from the memory function3of the optical connector plug1in each working step and then automatically read out by the antenna4to the controller5to supply the same to the computer16. In this application II, the above-mentioned erroneous inputting of the control information and overlook of read-in operation of the control information can be effectively eliminated.

The present invention can be effectively applicable to a measurement operation of insertion loss. In this application, a light source11, a master cable12, a master adapter13, a tested cable14to be measured and a light power meter15are employed as illustrated inFIG. 3andFIG. 4. The light power meter15has outer connection means in order to be readable the indicated information thereof by the computer16. Moreover, to the tested cable14is mounted the optical connector10with memory function according to the present invention, to the memory function3of which the peculiar ID is read in.

In this application III, a standard value is at first measured. To this end, the light source11, the master cable12and the light power meter15are mutually connected as illustrated inFIG. 3. The indication value of the light power meter15of this condition is stored, as the standard value, in the computer16through the outer connection means.

To measure the insertion loss, a series connection of the master adapter13and the tested cable14are inserted between the light power meter15and the master cable12. In this case, the antenna4of the controller5is mounted on the master adapter13for reading-out and writing-in control information in relation to the memory function3, and the optical connector10with memory function is connected to one end of the tested cable14. When the tested cable14is connected as illustrated inFIG. 4, the peculiar ID is read out from the memory function3of the optical connector10by the controller5through the antenna4and then stored to the computer16.

When the tested cable14is connected as illustrated inFIG. 4, the indication value of the light power meter15is read out to the computer16through the outer connection means. An insertion loss characteristic of the optical connector1can be obtained by subtracting the standard value from the indication value.

As mentioned above, the peculiar ID and the insertion loss of the tested cable14are stored in relation to each other, so that a characteristic of the tested cable14, to which the optical connector10is connected, can be effectively controlled.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described in details above, since the memory function and the connector is formed into unitary structure in accordance with the present invention, the optical connector provided in accordance with the present invention has a miniaturized formation which is readily operable without any troublesome. Moreover, readout means is directly connected to the computer to apply automatically the control information thereto, the control information can be reliably controlled without any human operation, which accompanies with miss inputting of the control information.