Reader/writer, optical transceiver module, and cable system
View Patent ↗A reader/writer is provided which is capable of speedily recognizing a correspondence between one end and the other end of a fiber-optic cable when a plurality of fiber-optic cables is laid. The reader/writer according to the present invention reads, on receiving through the fiber-optic cable a signal that is an instruction to read data from a RF tag mounted to an end of the fiber-optic cable, data from the RF tag through radio communication, and transmits the read data through the fiber-optic cable. Also, on receiving through the fiber-optic cable a signal that is an instruction to write data into the RF tag and a signal indicating the write data, the reader/writer writes the write instruction and the write data into the RF tag through radio communication.
1. A reader/writer, which writes data into an RF tag mounted to an end of a fiber-optic cable and reads data from the RF tag, through radio communication, the reader/writer comprising:
an optical receiver which converts an optical signal received through the fiber-optic cable into an electric signal;
an optical transmitter which converts an electric signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal to the fiber-optic cable;
a radio communication unit which performs radio communication with the RF tag; and
an RF tag control unit which reads, on receiving through the optical receiver a signal that is an instruction to read data, data from the RF tag through the radio communication unit and transmits the read data to the fiber-optic cable through the optical transmitter, and writes, on receiving through the optical receiver a signal that is an instruction to write data and a signal indicating the write data, the write data thus received into the RF tag through the radio communication unit.
2. A reader/writer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an input unit which receives an input from a user and supplies the input to the RF tag control unit; and
a display unit which displays data received from the RF tag control unit; wherein:
the reader/writer is connected to an end of the fiber-optic cable which is provided with an RF tag at both ends thereof; and
the RF tag control unit transmits, on receiving an instruction through the input unit to read data stored in an RF tag mounted to the other end of the fiber-optic cable, a signal, that is the read instruction, to the fiber-optic cable through the optical transmitter, and instructs, on receiving in response to the signal that is the read instruction, a signal indicating the data stored in the RF tag mounted to the other end of the fiber-optic cable, the display unit to display information indicating the data thus received.
3. A cable system, comprising:
a fiber-optic cable which has an RF tag mounted on both ends thereof; and
the reader/writer according to claim 2 , which is connected to both ends of the fiber-optic cable.
4. A cable system according to claim 3 , wherein:
the fiber-optic cable includes connectors at both ends thereof; and
each connector includes:
a ferrule;
an urging unit which is made of a conductive material and urges the ferrule against the reader/writer when the connector is connected to the reader/writer; and
an IC chip which is connected to the urging unit and constitutes an RF tag together with the urging unit, the urging unit being used as an antenna.
5. A cable system, comprising:
a fiber-optic cable which has an RF tag mounted on both ends thereof; and
the optical transceiver module according to claim 3 , which is connected to both ends of the fiber-optic cable.
6. A cable system according to claim 5 , wherein:
the fiber-optic cable includes connectors at both the ends thereof; and
each connector includes:
a ferrule;
an urging unit which is made of a conductive material and urges the ferrule against the optical transceiver module when the connector is connected to the optical transceiver module; and
an IC chip which is connected to the urging unit and constitutes an RF tag together with the urging unit, the urging unit being used as an antenna.
7. An optical transceiver module, comprising:
an optical receiver which converts an optical signal received through a fiber-optic cable into an electric signal;
an optical transmitter which converts an electric signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal to the fiber-optic cable;
a radio communication unit which performs radio communication with an RF tag mounted to an end of the fiber-optic cable; and
an RF tag control unit which reads, on receiving through the optical receiver a signal that is an instruction to read data, data from the RF tag through the radio communication unit, and transmits the read data to the fiber-optic cable through the optical transmitter, and writes, on receiving through the optical receiver a signal that is an instruction to write data and a signal indicating the write data, the write data thus received into the RF tag through the radio communication unit.
8. A reader/writer which writes data into an RF tag, the RF tag being mounted to an end of a cable which transmits an electric signal, and reads data from the RF tag, through radio communication, the reader/writer comprising:
a receiver which receives an electric signal received through the cable;
a transmitter which transmits an electric signal to the cable;
a radio communication unit which performs radio communication with the RF tag; and
an RF tag control unit which reads, on receiving through the receiver a signal that is an instruction to read data, data from the RF tag through the radio communication unit and transmits the read data to the cable through the transmitter, and writes, on receiving through the receiver a signal that is an instruction to write data and a signal indicating the write data, the write data thus received into the RF tag through the radio communication unit.
9. A reader/writer according to claim 8 , further comprising:
an input unit which receives an input from a user and supplies the input to the RF tag control unit; and
a display unit which displays data received from the RF tag control unit; wherein:
the reader/writer is connected to an end of the cable which is provided with an RF tag at both ends thereof; and
the RF tag control unit transmits, on receiving an instruction through the input unit to read data stored in an RF tag mounted to the other end of the cable, a signal that is the read instruction, to the cable, through the transmitter, and instructs, on receiving, in response to the signal that is the read instruction, a signal indicating the data stored in the RF tag mounted to the other end of the cable, the display unit to display information indicating the data thus received.
10. A cable system, comprising:
a cable which transmits an electric signal, and has an RF tag mounted on both ends thereof; and
the reader/writer according to claim 9 , which is connected to both ends of the cable.