Automatic power over ethernet pulse width signaling correction

• US 10,432,413 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Picard, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Taningco, Alexander H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luque, Renan
• Application Number:
  US15/594,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20180227132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/02 using a single network for simultaneous distribution of power at different frequencies; using a single network for simultaneous distribution of ac power and of dc power
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/32 Pulse-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

In a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, a Powered Device (PD) having circuitry to measure the load current from a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) in the PD. Circuitry compares the measured load current with a first threshold. Circuitry automatically generates load pulses for signaling the PSE. The pulse widths of the load pulses are measured and the widths are automatically adjusted, that power to the PD should be maintained.

Claims

1. A circuit, comprising:

a first comparator for measuring a load current in a powered device (PD) and for comparing the load current to a reference and generating an output signal;

a timing logic circuit responsive to the output signal for generating an enable signal;

a pulse generator responsive to the enable signal to generate a current pulse having an amplitude determined in response to a difference between a total load current on the PD and a minimum current required by a standard when coupled to a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) to automatically signal the PSE to maintain power supplied to the PD; and

a correction circuit for measuring the amplitude of the generated current pulse to determine when the measured amplitude exceeds an active level and for generating a corrected reference signal for maintaining the measured pulse at a current level above the active level for a predetermined period of time for signaling the PSE to maintain power to the PD.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first comparator is arranged to measure the load current responsive to a first voltage drop across a first resistor, and wherein the pulse generator is arranged to couple the generated current pulse through a second resistor for developing a second voltage drop.

3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the first resistor is a low valued shunt and the second resistor has a resistance of at least an order of a magnitude higher than the first resistor.

4. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the correction circuit is arranged to measure the amplitude of the generated current pulse responsive to the second voltage drop.

5. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the generated current pulse is coupled through the first resistor.

6. The circuit of claim 2, comprising an error amplifier for controlling the amplitude of the generated current pulse responsive to the second voltage drop and responsive to the correction reference signal.

7. The circuit of claim 2, comprising a differential amplifier for generating a waveform responsive to the second voltage drop, wherein the correction circuit is arranged to measure the amplitude of the generated current by comparing the generated waveform with a fixed voltage reference.

8. The circuit of claim 7, comprising a second comparator for comparing the generated waveform to the voltage reference to determine when the measured amplitude of the generated current pulse exceeds the active level.

9. The circuit of claim 8, comprising a timer for determining when to terminate the generation of the generated current pulse.

10. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the generation of the generated current pulse is terminated responsive to the determination when the measured amplitude of the generated current pulse exceeds the active level.

11. A PD including the circuit of claim 1.

12. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the standard is a Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard.

13. An interface, comprising;

a pulse generator for generating a current pulse having an amplitude determined in response to a difference between a total load current on a powered device (PD) and the minimum current required by a standard from the PD coupled to a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) to automatically signal the PSE to provide power to the PD;

a pulse corrector for determining when the generated current pulse reaches an active level for indicating that power to the PD from the PSE is to be maintained and for generating a corrected reference signal for maintaining the generated current pulse at a current above the active level for a predetermined period of time for indicating that power to the PD is to be maintained; and

an error amplifier for controlling the amplitude of the generated current pulse responsive to the corrected reference signal and responsive to a PD load current measurement.

14. The interface of claim 13, wherein the error amplifier is arranged to control the amplitude of the generated current pulse responsive to a waveform generated responsive to the generated current pulse.

15. A PD including the interface of claim 13, wherein the interface is arranged to provide power over Ethernet for one or more circuitry for backup power, LED lighting, IP (Internet protocol) phones, cameras, and wireless access points.

16. A method, comprising:

generating a current pulse having an amplitude determined in response to a difference between a total load current on a powered device (PD) and the minimum current required by a standard from a PD coupled to a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) to automatically signal the PSE to provide power to the PD;

determining when the generated current pulse reaches an active level for indicating that power to the PD from the PSE is to be maintained;

responsive to a PD load current measurement, maintaining the generated current pulse at a current level above the active level for a predetermined period of time for indicating that power to the PD is to be maintained; and

controlling the amplitude of the generated current pulse responsive to a correction reference signal generated in response to the determination of when the generated current pulse reaches the active level.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising controlling control the amplitude of the generated current pulse responsive to a waveform generated responsive to the generated current pulse.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the generated current pulses are MPS (maintain power signature) pulses having a predetermined duration and spacing.