1. A physical layer device including a first port and a second port comprising:
a cable tester that communicates with the first and second ports and that tests cable to determine a cable status, which includes an open status, a short status, and a normal status, wherein opposite ends of a cable selectively communicate with said first and second ports and wherein said cable tester includes:
a test module that transmits a test pulse on the cable, measures a reflection amplitude, calculates a cable length, and determines said cable status based on said measured amplitude and said calculated cable length;
a frequency synthesizer that communicates with the cable and that selectively outputs a plurality of signals at a plurality of frequencies on the first port; and
an insertion loss calculator that receives said signals on the second port and that estimates insertion loss.
2. The physical layer device of claim 1 further comprising a comparing circuit that compares said estimated insertion loss to a predetermined threshold.
3. The physical layer device of claim 1 further comprising an indicator for displaying at least one of said status, said estimated insertion loss, said calculated cable length and said measured reflection amplitude.
4. The physical layer device of claim 1 wherein said physical layer is implemented in a network device.
5. The physical layer device of claim 1 wherein said cable tester is integrated with said physical layer device in a single integrated circuit.
6. The physical layer device of claim 1 wherein said physical layer device is implemented in an Ethernet device that is 802.3ab compliant.
7. A physical layer device including a first port and a second port comprising:
cable testing means, that communicates with the first and second ports, for testing cable to determine a cable status, which includes an open status, a short status, and a normal status, wherein opposite ends of a cable selectively communicate with said first and second ports and wherein said cable testing means includes:
test means for transmitting a test pulse on the cable, for measuring a reflection amplitude, for calculating a cable length, and for determines said cable status based on said measured amplitude and said calculated cable length;
frequency synthesizing means for selectively generating a plurality of signals at a plurality of frequencies on the first port; and
insertion loss calculating means that receives said signals on the second port and that estimates insertion loss therefrom.
8. The physical layer device of claim 7 further comprising comparing means that compares said estimated insertion loss to a predetermined threshold.
9. The physical layer device of claim 7 further comprising indicating means for displaying at least one of said status, said estimated insertion loss, said calculated cable length and said measured reflection amplitude.
10. The physical layer device of claim 7 wherein said physical layer is implemented in a network device.
11. The physical layer device of claim 7 wherein said cable testing means is integrated with said physical layer device in a single integrated circuit.
12. The physical layer device of claim 7 wherein said physical layer device is implemented in an Ethernet device that is 802.3ab compliant.
13. A method for operating physical layer device including a first port and a second port comprising:
transmitting a test pulse;
measuring a reflection amplitude;
calculating a cable length;
determining a cable status based on said measured amplitude and said calculated cable length;
selectively connecting opposite ends of a cable to said first and second ports;
selectively outputting a plurality of signals on the first port at a plurality of frequencies on the cable;
receiving said signals at the second port; and
estimating insertion loss using said received signals.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising comparing said estimated insertion loss to a predetermined threshold.
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising displaying at least one of said status, said estimated insertion loss, said calculated cable length and said measured reflection amplitude.
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 device for detecting andor monitoring optically invisible objects, this device being intended to be mounted on said objects and disposed substantially parallel to a general direction of said objects, this device including:
at least one electrically or optically conductive linear element, the at least one linear element extending longitudinally,
an insulating sheath covering the at least one linear element, the insulating sheath including at least a first face intended to be mounted on said objects, the first face extending substantially along a plane and including a first substantially flat portion, wherein the insulating sheath includes at least a second face opposite to the first face, the first and second faces being substantially parallel, wherein the second face includes a second substantially flat portion substantially parallel to the first substantially flat portion, wherein the at least one linear element extends between the first and second substantially flat portions, and is disposed substantially equidistant relative to the first and second substantially flat portions, and
first attachment means arranged on the first face of the insulating sheath and arranged to cooperate with an outer surface of said objects, the first attachment means comprising a first series of longitudinal ridges and a second series of longitudinal ridges disposed respectively on either side of the first substantially flat portion.
2. The device according to claim 1, which comprises second attachment means arranged on the second face of the insulating sheath, the second attachment means including a first series of longitudinal ridges and a second series of longitudinal ridges disposed respectively on either side of the second substantially flat portion.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first andor second attachment means are arranged near side edges of the insulating sheath.
4. The device according to claim 1, which comprises fastening means arranged to secure the insulating sheath on the outer surface of said objects.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the fastening means include adhesive means disposed on at least the first face of the insulating sheath.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive means comprise an adhesive mass disposed on the first face of the insulating sheath, and a protective film detachably disposed on the adhesive mass.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the insulating sheath comprises at least a first portion on which the first face of the insulating sheath is arranged, the first portion being formed from a first material capable to promote adhesion of the insulating sheath on the associated optically invisible object.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the insulating sheath comprises a second portion on which the second face of the insulating sheath is arranged, the second portion being formed from a second material different from the first material.
9. The device according to claim 1, which comprises at least one electrically conductive linear element.
10. The device according to claim 1, which comprises at least one optically conductive linear element.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least the first andor second face of the insulating sheath comprises a marking area arranged to receive inscriptions.
12. An assembly including a plurality of detection andor monitoring devices according to claim 1, and at least one connection box wherein connecting means, arranged to connect the linear elements of at least two adjacent detection andor monitoring devices, are housed.