Self-diagnosing sensor to detect telecom equipment failure

SAN FRANCISCO--Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology and PPC Corp. have developed a “Smart Connector” sensor to automatically detect equipment damage and pinpoint its exact location using self-diagnostics.

The researchers, led by professor of electrical and microelectronic engineering Robert Bowman, said that deterioration and damage to cellular telecommunications cables cost organizations and customers millions in lost revenue every year and that it was hoped the sensor could alleviate some of the impact.

The sensor slots into the connecting units of coaxial cables, where it monitors the primary failure modes in RF cables.

Each sensor-disc incorporates a unique site identifier, monitors critical conditions and reports back the sensor status using a technique called back scatter telemetry. Additionally, each smart connector is capable of activating or powering-down its energy capacity by extracting miniscule amounts of radio frequency energy from the coaxial cables themselves.



Self-diagnosing sensor to detect telecom equipment failure