1. An out of band communications apparatus comprising:
first and second data lines arranged in a differential pair and conveying high speed data within a first frequency range and out of band data within a second frequency range that differs from said first frequency range;
a band pass filter coupled to said first and second data lines only passing said out of band data and blocking said high speed data; and
a device coupled to said band pass filter configured to at least one of transmit and receive out of band data.
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second data lines simultaneously convey power.
3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a transformer having a center power tap for one of adding and removing power from said first and second data lines.
4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said filter is configured to pass frequencies below 100 kilohertz.
5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second frequency range is between 100 hertz and 100 kilohertz.
6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second frequency range is between 100 hertz and 20 kilohertz.
7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second data lines are configured to convey multiple out of band data signals within the second frequency range.
8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said filter comprises a circuit including at least one inductor and a capacitor, wherein said inductor has a predetermined impedance.
9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said filter comprises a circuit including a resistor, at least one inductor and a capacitor, wherein said inductor has a predetermined impedance.
10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to be coupled to an out of band communications electronic device.
11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said filter comprises a digital signal processor configured to pass the out of band data between said apparatus and the out of band communications electronic device.
12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said filter comprises a digital signal processor and at least one analog to digital converter configured to convert the out of band data to a digital signal.
13. A method for managing a structured cabling infrastructure using an out of band communications apparatus, wherein the infrastructure includes at least one apparatus, each apparatus includes first and second data lines arranged in a differential pair and conveying high speed data within a first frequency range and out of band data within a second frequency range that differs from the first frequency range, said method comprising:
coupling the data lines to an identification indicator, wherein the identification indicator is positioned within the infrastructure;
coupling a band pass filter to the first and second data lines, wherein the band pass filter is configured to pass out of band data and block high speed data;
providing an out of band communications electronic device, wherein the out of band communications electronic device is configured to generate and interpret out of band data; and
transmitting an out of band data signal from the identification indicator to the out of band communications electronic device via the data lines, wherein the out of band data signal relates to the status of the identification indicator.
14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the electronic identification indicator is coupled to a wall outlet, said coupling the data lines comprises ending the data lines at the wall outlet.
15. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein filtering the out of band data comprises passing the out of band data within the second frequency range to the out of band communications electronic device.
16. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising generating an infrastructure map based on the out of band data signal transmitted from the identification indicator.
17. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising polling the identification indicator with a signal from the out of band communications electronic device.
18. A method for indicating the transmission status of an out of band communications apparatus, wherein the out of band communications apparatus includes first and second data lines arranged in a differential pair and conveying high speed data within a first frequency range and out of band data within a second frequency range that differs from the first frequency range, the out of band communications apparatus is also configured to transmit power along the data lines, said method comprising:
coupling the data lines to at least one illumination source;
coupling a band pass filter to the first and second data lines, wherein the band pass filter is configured to pass out of band data and block high speed data;
providing an out of band communications electronic device, wherein the out of band communications electronic device is configured to generate and interpret out of band data;
transmitting an out of band data signal from the out of band communications electronic device to the illumination source via the data lines, wherein the out of band data signal relates to the transmission status of the out of band communications apparatus.
19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the illumination source is an LED indicator.
20. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the transmission status relates to the transmission of data on the data lines.
21. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the transmission status relates to the transmission of power on the data lines.
22. A method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising coupling the illumination source to one of a wall outlet, a patch panel, a switch, and a patch cord such that the transmission status of the out of band communications apparatus is indicated at the corresponding wall outlet, patch panel, switch, and patch cord to which the illumination source is coupled.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A flex endurant composite comprising:
an elastomeric layer and a fluoroplastic layer bonded to said elastomeric layer;
said fluoroplastic layer consisting of a plurality of expanded PTFE films and fluoroplastic films adhered together.
2. The flex endurant composite of claim 1 wherein the ratio of said elastomeric layer thickness to said fluoroplastic layer thickness is 3:1 or greater.
3. The flex endurant composite of claim 1 wherein said fluoroplastic layer comprises no fewer than about 2 layers of said fluoroplastic film and not more than about 100 layers of said fluoroplastic film.
4. The flex endurant composite of claim 1 wherein said fluoroplastic layer consists essentially of expanded PTFE films and fluoroplastic films selected from the group consisting essentially of PTFE, PFA, FEP, PVDF and THV.
5. The flex endurant composite of claim 1 wherein said fluoroplastic layer further comprises an electrically conductive or semi-conductive filler.
6. The flex endurant composite of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric layer is selected from the group consisting essentially of natural rubber, silicone, urethane, polyethylene, chloroprene, EPDM, blends of EPDM and PP, FKM, FFKM, perfluoropolyether elastomer, and nitrile rubber, or combinations thereof.
7. The flex endurant composite of claim 1 wherein said flex endurant composite has an inner surface and an outer surface with said fluoroplastic layer is located on said inner surface of said tube.
8. The flex endurant composite tube of claim 7 wherein the ratio of elastomeric layer thickness to fluoroplastic layer thickness is 3:1 or greater.
9. The flex endurant composite tube of claim 7 wherein said fluoroplastic layer comprises no fewer than about 2 layers of fluoroplastic film and comprises fewer than about 100 layers of fluoroplastic film.
10. The flex endurant composite tube of claim 7 wherein said inner diameter of the tube not less than about 0.5 mm and not more than about 100 mm.
11. The flex endurant composite tube of claim 7 wherein said fluoroplastic layer consists essentially of expanded PTFE films and fluoroplastic films selected from the group consisting essentially of PTFE, PFA, FEP, PVDF and THV.
12. The flex endurant composite tube of claim 7 wherein said elastomeric layer is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, silicone, urethane, polyethylene, chloroprene, EPDM, blends of EPDM and PP, FKM, FFKM, perfluoropolyether elastomer, and nitrile rubber, or combinations thereof.
13. The flex endurant composite tube of claim 7 wherein said fluoroplastic layer further comprises a conductive or semi-conductive filler.
14. A flex endurant composite tube comprising an elastomeric cover bonded to an inner liner;
the elastomeric cover having a thickness between 0.5 and 50 mm;
the liner comprising a plurality of expanded PTFE films and fluoroplastic films adhered together having a total thickness of between 0.02 and 1 mm.
15. The flex endurant composite tube of claim 14 wherein said flex endurant composite tube is used for pumping fluids by means of a peristaltic pump.
16. The peristaltic pump tube of claim 15, wherein said tube has an inside diameter of about 25.4 mm or less.
17. The peristaltic pump tube of claim 15, wherein said tube has an inside diameter of about 6.4 mm or less.
18. The flex endurant composite tube of claim 14 wherein said flex endurant composite tube is used for controlling fluid flow by means of pinching in a pinch valve.
19. The pinch tube of claim 18, wherein said pinch tube has an inside diameter of about 1.6 mm or greater.
20. A diaphragm made from the flex endurant composite of claim 1.
21. An expansion joint made from the flex endurant composite of claim 1.
22. A gasket made from the flex endurant composite of claim 1.
23. A transfer hose from the flex endurant composite of claim 1.
24. The flex endurant composite tube of claim 7 with PFA fittings welded or molded onto its ends.
25. The flex endurant composite tube of claim 7 with PP fittings welded or molded onto its ends.
26. A method of making a flex endurant composite tube comprising the steps:
(a) wrapping a plurality of expanded PTFE films and fluoroplastic films onto a mandrel
(b) heating said plurality of films to affect adhesion to one another to produce said liner
(c) etching the outer surface of said liner to prepare outer surface of said liner for bonding
(d) bonding an elastomeric cover to said outer surfarface of said liner
27. The method of claim 26 wherein said liner consists essentially of expanded PTFE films and fluoroplastic films selected from the group consisting essentially of PTFE, PFA, FEP, PVDF and THV.
28. The method of claim 26 wherein said liner is formed from no fewer than about 2 layers of film and not more than about 100 layers of film.
29. The method of claim 26 wherein the elastomeric layer is selected from the group consisting essentially of natural rubber, silicone, urethane, polyethylene, chloroprene, EPDM, blends of EPDM and PP, FKM, FFKM, perfluoropolyether elastomer, and nitrile rubber, or combinations thereof.
30. The method of conveying fluids with a peristaltic pump using the flex endurant composite tube of claim 14.