JP2005203278A - Cable and information recognition method and information management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cable in which numerous information can be retained with a high reliability for a long period irrespective of cable species and in which external damage resistance is superior irrespective of species of the cable, and provide an information recognition method and information management method for the cable. <P>SOLUTION: At this cable 10, an information recording IC chip 12 enabling non-contact transmission and reception of electronic information is embedded into the envelope 11. Electronic information such as the species of the cable 10, the number and species of the conductive wire and optical fiber included in the cable core 18, the product history of the cable 10 and the use sections where the cable is laid in the IC chip 12 is recorded. Non-contact electronic information is read from and written to the IC chip 12 of the laid cable 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to various cables, an information recognition method, and an information management method.

  Conventionally, information such as the type of cable, the number and type of conductive wires and optical fibers included in the cable, the manufacturing history of the cable, or the use section in which the cable is laid is attached to various cables such as optical cables and power cables. To be done.

  By assigning various information to the cable, for example, when an operation such as an intermediate branch is performed from a cable once laid, an appropriate operation can be performed based on the information.

  In addition, as a technology for giving information to the cable, a tag is directly attached to the cable, or a mark layer containing a magnetic material is provided on a surface layer portion of the outer cover of the cable, and various information is magnetically applied to the mark layer. Is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-21799

  By the way, when attaching information to a cable by attaching a tag, a complicated work in which an operator writes information at a cable laying site is required. Also, recent cables tend to have a huge amount of information to be recorded, and it has been difficult to record all desired information on a tag.

  Further, since a third party sees the attached tag, the laying form of the cable is easily known, which is not preferable in terms of cable security.

  Also, depending on the cable laying environment, the tag may be damaged or may be lost from the cable.

  In addition, the above-described technique for magnetically recording information cannot be applied to a cable that generates a magnetic field such as a power cable. Further, even if an optical cable is used, a magnetic field is generated in a cable having a composite form with a feeder line, and thus cannot be applied.

In addition, since the magnetic material is embedded in the cable surface layer due to the relationship with the magnetic information reading device, it is easily damaged during cable laying and construction, and the reliability of data retention is low.
Although it is conceivable to embed a magnetic material in the cable in consideration of trauma, the magnetic data recording method cannot read and write information in a non-contact manner, and the internal embedded type is not practical.

In addition, since many cables have a long life of, for example, 20 years or more, and are highly likely to be affected by external magnetic influences in the usage environment, the reliability of data retention is still low.
Furthermore, recording of magnetic information on a magnetic material has a small recording capacity, and for example, it has been difficult to sufficiently record various kinds of detailed information such as the manufacturing history and types of cables.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable, an information recognition method for the cable, and an information management method that can hold a large amount of information with high reliability for a long period of time regardless of the type of cable, and also have excellent damage resistance. It is aimed.

The cable of the present invention capable of achieving the above object is characterized by comprising an information recording IC chip.
In the cable of the present invention, the IC chip is preferably an IC chip with a built-in antenna.
Furthermore, in the cable of the present invention, it is preferable that the IC chip is disposed inside the cable.
In the cable of the present invention, in the slot type optical fiber cable, the IC chip is preferably disposed in a slot groove of the cable.

In the cable of the present invention, it is preferable that the IC chip is disposed on a protrusion formed on the jacket of the cable.
In the cable of the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of the IC chips are provided along the longitudinal direction of the cable, and the adjacent IC chips are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction of the cable.
The IC chip is preferably arranged in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction of the cable.

The information recognition method of the present invention is characterized in that electronic information recorded on a cable is read in a non-contact manner.
Furthermore, the information management method of the present invention is characterized in that electronic information recorded on the cable is updated in a non-contact manner.

  According to the cable of the present invention, the type of cable without depending on the type of cable, the number and type of conductive wires and optical fibers included in the cable, the manufacturing history of the cable, or the use section where the cable is laid, etc. The electronic information can be read and written. Further, since it is not affected by the surrounding magnetic field as compared with the magnetic recording method, for example, electronic information can be retained with high reliability for a long period of time even after the cable is laid in the ground.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a cable showing a schematic structure of the cable of the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the outer peripheral side of the cable 10 is covered with a jacket 11. The cable 10 includes a cable core 18 in which various conductors and optical fibers are appropriately arranged inside the jacket 11.
The outer cover 11 of the cable 10 is made of synthetic resin, and is formed so as to be integrally covered around the cable core 18 by die extrusion.

  An information recording IC (integrated circuit) chip 12 is embedded in the outer cover 11. The IC chip 12 is a chip with a built-in antenna formed, for example, with a thickness of about 0.4 mm square and a thickness of about 60 μm, and is a non-contact type capable of recognizing data by an external radio wave. The IC chip 12 incorporates a 245 GHz high-frequency circuit and a 128-bit ROM, and can store a maximum of 38 digits.

  The IC chip 12 is embedded in the jacket 11 of the cable 10 when the die is pushed out. A plurality of IC chips 12 are preferably embedded in the longitudinal direction of the cable 10. In that case, the IC chip 12 can be accessed from any location in the longitudinal direction of the cable 10.

The IC chip 12 embedded in the jacket 11 of the cable 10 stores various electronic information related to the cable 10 in the ROM.
Here, the electronic information stored in the IC chip 12 includes, for example, the type of the cable 10, the number and type of conductive wires and optical fibers included in the cable core 18, the manufacturing history of the cable 10, or the cable 10. For example, when the cable 10 is an optical cable with a built-in optical fiber, the transmission characteristic data of the optical fiber is also included.
The electronic information recorded on the IC chip 12 can be written after the cable 10 is laid.

  Thus, according to the cable 10 of the first embodiment, various electronic information can be read and written without depending on the type of the cable 10. In addition, compared with the magnetic recording method, the recording data is not affected by the magnetism generated due to the configuration of the cable 10 and the surrounding magnetism, so that the recorded data is more reliable even after the cable 10 is laid in the ground. Can be held for a long time.

  Since the IC chip 12 is an IC chip with a built-in antenna, data can be transmitted and received in a non-contact manner, and electronic information on the cable 10 can be read and written even after the cable 10 is laid in the ground. Can do. Moreover, since the IC chip 12 is embedded in the jacket 11, the cable 10 has a structure excellent in the damage resistance of the IC chip 12.

  Then, according to the information recognition method for reading electronic information from the IC chip 12 or the information management method for updating the electronic information, both are performed in a non-contact manner, so that even after the cable 10 is laid in the ground, the laying is performed. Electronic information can be read or updated easily and reliably without being affected by the state or the like.

The IC chip 12 is preferably one that can be rewritten without rewriting the stored electronic information. Then, by embedding the IC chip 12 that can be added in this way in the outer jacket 11 of the cable 10, for example, the history information of the construction of the cable 10 can be updated and stored.
Further, when there is no risk of the cable 10 being damaged, the IC chip 12 may be provided on the surface of the jacket 11.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the cable showing a schematic structure of the cable according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the cable shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cable 20 is provided with a slot 14 having a tension member 13 at the center inside an outer jacket 11 on the outer peripheral side thereof. This slot 14 has a plurality of slot grooves 15 formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. In these slot grooves 15, optical fibers are arranged in parallel and integrated with resin. The fiber ribbon 16 is stacked and stored.

In the cable 20, the IC chip 12 is accommodated in the slot groove 15 of the slot 14.
The IC chip 12 is disposed between the optical fiber ribbons 16 in the slot groove 15 and is sandwiched and held by the optical fiber ribbons 16.
As the optical fiber ribbon 16 that holds the IC chip 12, it is preferable to use a dummy that is not used for communication.

  According to the cable 20 of the second embodiment, since the IC chip 12 is housed in the slot groove 15 formed in the slot 14, it is possible to receive from the outside when it is embedded in the outer cover 11. The influence of side pressure can be eliminated. Thereby, the further excellent damage resistance of the IC chip 12 can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a cable showing a schematic structure of the cable of the third embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the cable 30, a plurality of IC chips 12 are embedded in the jacket 11 at intervals in the longitudinal direction.
The arrangement interval of the IC chips 12 is determined according to an accessible distance, that is, a distance that can be read by a reader that reads electronic information stored in the IC chip 12. That is, the IC chips 12 adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the cable 30 are provided at a distance at which electronic information can be read at any location in the longitudinal direction of the cable 30.

In the plurality of IC chips 12, the IC chips 12 adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the cable 30 are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction of the cable 30. Moreover, since the arrangement pattern is spiral along the longitudinal direction of the cable 30, it is easier to access from any direction.
Note that the displacement angle in the circumferential direction between the IC chips 12 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the cable 30 is preferably about 30 ° to 60 °, for example, 45 °.

  According to the cable 30 of the third embodiment, the IC chip 12 is arranged in a spiral shape, and the IC chips 12 adjacent in the longitudinal direction are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, it is possible to easily and reliably access the IC chip 12 without rotating.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a cable showing a schematic structure of the cable of the fourth embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 5, the cable 40 has a protrusion 17 formed on the outer cover 11 in the longitudinal direction. This protrusion 17 is formed integrally when the outer cover 11 is extruded as a mark for allowing the user to identify the type of the cable 40.
In the cable 40, a plurality of IC chips 12 are embedded in a protrusion 17 formed on the outer cover 11 at a desired interval in the longitudinal direction.

  As described above, according to the cable 40 of the fourth embodiment, since the IC chip 12 is disposed on the protrusion 17 formed on the jacket 11, it is possible to easily identify the position of the IC chip 12. . Thereby, the access to the IC chip 12 can be easily and reliably performed.

  In addition, the cable which concerns on this invention should just be the structure which can apply what kind and form, and can record electronic information.

It is a schematic perspective view of the cable which shows the schematic structure of the cable of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic perspective view of the cable which shows the schematic structure of the cable of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the cable shown in FIG. 2 which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic perspective view of the cable which shows the schematic structure of the cable of 3rd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic perspective view of the cable which shows the schematic structure of the cable of 4th Embodiment which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20, 30, 40 Cable 12 IC chip for information recording 15 Slot groove 17 Projection

Claims (9)

  A cable comprising an IC chip for recording information. The cable according to claim 1,
The cable, wherein the IC chip is an IC chip with a built-in antenna. The cable according to claim 2,
The cable, wherein the IC chip is disposed inside the cable. The cable according to claim 2 or 3,
The IC chip is disposed in a slot groove of the cable. The cable according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The IC chip is disposed on a protrusion formed on an outer jacket of the cable. A cable according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A plurality of the IC chips are provided along the longitudinal direction of the cable, and the adjacent IC chips are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction of the cable. The cable according to claim 6,
The IC chip is arranged in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction of the cable.   An information recognition method for reading electronic information recorded on a cable in a non-contact manner.   An information management method for updating electronic information recorded on a cable in a non-contact manner.