In-line power tap device for ethernet data signal
First Claim
1. An in-line power tap device for a data communication network, comprising:
- a plurality of signal ports coupled to communicating nodes of the data communication network, wherein each signal port has a plurality of pins;
at least one tap port coupled to a plurality of signal ports for monitoring data signals, wherein each tap port has a plurality of pins; and
means for transmitting the data signals between communicating nodes, wherein the data signals are transmitted between the pins of the plurality of the signal ports and monitored on the pins of at least one tap port; and
means for passing in-line power between the communicating nodes of the data communication network.
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Abstract
An in-line power tap device that can be deployed in a data communication network in which two ports of the in-line power tap device are interchangeably coupled between any two communicating nodes to pass in-line power and data signals. The in-line power tap device also has a pair of tap ports that are coupled to external analyzers to monitor the quality of data signals without interrupting the on-going communication between the two communicating nodes.
The present invention allows one to tap into an Ethernet unshielded twisted pair data transmission line, or other source of data transmission, without disturbing the in-line power transmission and to maintain the integrity of data transmitted.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An in-line power tap device for a data communication network, comprising:
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a plurality of signal ports coupled to communicating nodes of the data communication network, wherein each signal port has a plurality of pins;
at least one tap port coupled to a plurality of signal ports for monitoring data signals, wherein each tap port has a plurality of pins; and
means for transmitting the data signals between communicating nodes, wherein the data signals are transmitted between the pins of the plurality of the signal ports and monitored on the pins of at least one tap port; and
means for passing in-line power between the communicating nodes of the data communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17)
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9. An in-line power tap device for a data communication network, comprising:
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a first signal port having a plurality of pins coupled to a first node of the data communication network;
a second signal port having a plurality of pins coupled to a second node of the data communication network;
a tap port having a plurality of pins coupled to the second signal port; and
means for transmitting data signals between the first signal port and the second signal port;
wherein the data signals are transmitted between the first signal port and the second signal port and the data signals are monitored at the tap port; and
means for passing in-line power between the first signal port and a second signal port. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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15. An in-line power tap device for monitoring data signals and for passing a in-line power to a data communication network, comprising:
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a first signal connector;
a first signal transformer having an input, a center-tapped terminal and a primary terminal, wherein the primary terminal is coupled to the first signal connector;
a first amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the input terminal of the amplifier is coupled to the output of the first relay;
a first tap transformer having an primary terminal and a secondary terminal, wherein the input terminal of the first output tap transformer is coupled to the output of the first amplifier;
a first tap connector coupled to secondary terminal of the first tap transformer;
a second signal connector;
a second signal transformer having an primary terminal, a center-tapped terminal and a secondary terminal, wherein the primary terminal is coupled to the second signal connector;
a first relay having two single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switches connecting to the first signal transformers and the second signal transformers so that the data signals bypass the first amplifier when a power source to the amplifier is cutoff;
a second relay having two single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switches connecting to the first signal transformers and the second signal transformers so that the data signals can bypass the first amplifier when the power source to the amplifier is cutoff;
a second amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the input terminal of the amplifier is coupled to the output of the second relay;
a second tap transformer having an primary terminal and a secondary terminal, wherein the primary terminal of the second tap transformer is coupled to the output terminal of the second amplifier; and
a second tap connector coupled to the secondary terminal of the second tap transformer; and
a power line connect the center-tapped terminal of the first signal transformer to the center-tapped terminal of the second signal transformer.
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Specification