Detecting network power connection status using AC signals
First Claim
1. A power supply subsystem for use in a local area network (LAN), which includes a plurality of LAN nodes coupled to a LAN switch by communication cabling, the cabling including multiple twisted wire pairs connecting the plurality of nodes to the switch for providing data communication among the nodes, the power supply subsystem comprising:
- a direct current (DC) power source, which is operative to supply DC power to at least one of the nodes via the communication cabling over at least one of the wire pairs substantially without interfering with the data communication;
a signal generator, which is operative to generate a periodic time-varying signal and to couple the time-varying signal into the at least one of the wire pairs; and
a control unit, which is operative to sense a time-varying voltage on the at least one of the wire pairs due to the time-varying signal generated by the signal generator, and which is further operative, responsive to the sensed time-varying voltage, to control the DC power supplied to the at least one of the nodes by the DC power source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power supply subsystem for use in a local area network (LAN) includes a direct current (DC) power source, which supplies DC power to at least one of the nodes via at least one of the wire pairs used in communication cabling of the LAN, substantially without interfering with data communications. A signal generator generates a periodic time-varying signal and couples the time-varying signal into the at least one of the wire pairs. A control unit senses a time-varying voltage on the at least one of the wire pairs due to the time-varying signal generated by the signal generator, and responsive to the sensed time-varying voltage, controls the DC power supplied to the at least one of the nodes by the DC power source.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A power supply subsystem for use in a local area network (LAN), which includes a plurality of LAN nodes coupled to a LAN switch by communication cabling, the cabling including multiple twisted wire pairs connecting the plurality of nodes to the switch for providing data communication among the nodes, the power supply subsystem comprising:
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a direct current (DC) power source, which is operative to supply DC power to at least one of the nodes via the communication cabling over at least one of the wire pairs substantially without interfering with the data communication;
a signal generator, which is operative to generate a periodic time-varying signal and to couple the time-varying signal into the at least one of the wire pairs; and
a control unit, which is operative to sense a time-varying voltage on the at least one of the wire pairs due to the time-varying signal generated by the signal generator, and which is further operative, responsive to the sensed time-varying voltage, to control the DC power supplied to the at least one of the nodes by the DC power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A local area network (LAN), comprising:
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a plurality of LAN nodes;
a LAN switch;
communication cabling comprising multiple twisted wire pairs connecting the plurality of nodes to the switch for providing data communication among the nodes; and
a power supply subsystem, which is operative to supply DC power to at least one of the nodes via the communication cabling over at least one of the wire pairs, substantially without interfering with the data communication, while coupling a periodic time-varying signal into the at least one of the wire pairs, and which is further operative to sense a time-varying voltage on the at least one of the wire pairs due to the time-varying signal and, responsive to the sensed time-varying voltage, to control the DC power supplied to the at least one of the nodes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for supplying power over a local area network (LAN), in which a plurality of LAN nodes are coupled to a LAN switch by communication cabling, the cabling including multiple twisted wire pairs connecting the plurality of nodes to the switch for providing data communication among the nodes, the method comprising:
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supplying DC power to at least one of the nodes via the communication cabling over at least one of the wire pairs substantially without interfering with the data communication;
coupling a time-varying signal into the at least one of the wire pairs;
sensing a time-varying voltage on the at least one of the wire pairs due to the time-varying signal generated by the signal generator; and
responsive to the sensed time-varying voltage, controlling the DC power supplied to the at least one of the nodes. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A control unit for a power supply subsystem for use in a local area network (LAN), the LAN including a plurality of LAN nodes coupled to a LAN switch by communication cabling, the cabling including multiple twisted wire pairs connecting the plurality of nodes to the switch for providing data communication among the nodes, the power supply subsystem including a direct current (DC) power source, which is operative to supply DC power to at least one of the nodes via the communication cabling over at least one of the wire pairs substantially without interfering with the data communication, and a signal generator, which is operative to generate a periodic time-varying signal and to couple the time-varying signal into the at least one of the wire pairs,
wherein the control unit is operative to sense a time-varying voltage on the at least one of the wire pairs due to the time-varying signal generated by the signal generator, and is further operative, responsive to the sensed time-varying voltage, to control the DC power supplied to the at least one of the nodes by the DC power source.
Specification