Device for remote power feeding a terninal in a telecommunication network, and a concentrator and a repreater including the device

• US 20020091951A1
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wi-LAN Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Guntz, Vincent, Jaeger, Remy, Medlicott, Mark, Vergnaud, Gerard
• Granted Patent: US 6,973,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04

Abstract

A remote power feed device for supplying a remote power feed to a terminal in a telecommunication network includes a first resistor and a second resistor in parallel with the first resistor and having a lower resistance than the first resistor. It compares the voltage at the terminal of the first resistor with a first threshold voltage and the voltage at the terminals of the second resistor with a second threshold voltage. It further includes a switching device for either connecting the first resistor in series in the remote power feed circuit if the switching device detects that the remote power feed current is less than a third threshold current that is between the first and second threshold currents or connecting the second resistor and the first resistor connected in parallel in series in the remote power feed circuit if the switching device detects that the remote power feed current is greater than the third threshold current. Applications include repeaters and concentrators for local area networks.

Claims

1. A remote power feed device for supplying a remote power feed to a terminal in a telecommunication network, said device including a measuring device for determining at least if the remote power feed current is greater than a first threshold current, said remote power feed current being able to assume a value very much greater than said first threshold current, and said measuring device including a resistive circuit through which said remote power feed current flows and which has a resistance that varies as a function of the current flowing through it, said resistance being lower if said current is very much greater than said first threshold current, and means for comparing the voltage across said resistive circuit with a first threshold voltage.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 including a current-measuring device for determining if said remote power feed current is greater than a first threshold current and for determining if said remote power feed current is greater than a second threshold current which is higher than said first threshold current, said current-measuring device including means for comparing the voltage across said resistive circuit with a second threshold voltage and said resistive circuit having a resistance that varies as a function of the current flowing through it, said resistance being lower if said current is close to said second threshold current than if it is in the vicinity of said first threshold current.

3. The device claimed in claim 2 wherein said resistive circuit includes a first resistor, a second resistor in parallel with said first resistor and having a lower resistance than said first resistor, and a switching device for either connecting said first resistor in series in said remote power feed circuit if said switching device detects that said remote power feed current is less than a third threshold current that is between said first and second threshold currents or connecting said second resistor and said first resistor connected in parallel in series in said remote power feed circuit if said switching device detects that said remote power feed current is greater than said third threshold current.

4. A repeater including a remote power feed device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3.

5. A concentrator including a remote power feed device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3.