System for power delivery over data communication cabling infrastructure

• US 20040049321A1
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PowerDsine Limited (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Atias, Ilan, Lehr, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 6,909,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/323 in the physical layer [OSI layer 1]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system for generating, delivering and distributing electrical power to network elements over a data communication network infrastructure within a building, campus or enterprise. Consolidating power distribution and data communications over a single network simplifies and reduces the cost of network element installation and provides a means of supplying uninterrupted or backup power to critical network devices in the event of a power failure. The invention includes power/data combiners that combine a data communication signal with a low frequency power signal. The combined signal is transported over the LAN infrastructure where a power/data splitter extracts the data signal and the power signal and generates two separate outputs. The power over LAN system of the present invention operates with high bandwidth data communication networks, i.e., 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 1000 Mbps. The electrical power distributed over the LAN can be delivered as DC or low frequency AC voltages which in either case will not interfere with data communications signals. The electrical power delivered over data communications cable can be transmitted using one or more spare pairs in the cable or over the receive and transmit wires.

Claims

1. A system for distributing electrical power over a data communication cabling infrastructure to one or more electrical power consuming network devices, comprising:

a data communications cabling network;

a source of electrical power;

at least one power/data combiner coupled to said source of electrical power and to said data communications cabling network, said at least one power/data combiner operative to generate and inject a low frequency power signal onto a data communications signal received from said data communications cabling network so as to yield a combined power/data signal which is subsequently output onto said data communications cabling network; and

at least one power/data splitter adapted to receive said combined power/data signal and to extract and separate therefrom said original data communication signal and said low frequency power signal.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said data communications network comprises an Ethernet based Local Area Network (LAN).

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner is implemented as a standalone unit.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner is integrated into a Local Area Network (LAN) hub.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner is integrated into a Local Area Network (LAN) switch.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner comprises a plurality of data only input ports and a plurality of data plus power output ports, each data in port and data plus power output port forming a separate channel.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner is adapted to receive electrical from an AC mains power receptacle.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner is adapted to receive electrical from an uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner is adapted to receive electrical from an another power/data combiner.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner comprises means for filtering high frequency noise and ripple.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner comprises means for sensing the current in said low frequency power signal.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner comprises means for connecting and disconnecting said low frequency power signal to and from said combined output power/data signal.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner comprises means for detecting no-load and overload conditions on said combined output power/data signal.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a management unit for monitoring and provisioning, via said data communications cabling network, the power/data combiners and power/data splitters located in said data communications cabling network.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data splitter is implemented as a standalone unit.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner is integrated into a network device.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner comprises an AC/DC power converter for converting said extracted low frequency power signal into one or more output voltages.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein said power/data combiner comprises an DC/DC power converter for converting said extracted low frequency power signal into one or more output voltages.

19. A method for distributing electrical power over a data communication cabling infrastructure to one or more electrical power consuming network devices, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a low frequency power signal from a source of electrical power;

injecting said low frequency power signal into a data communications signal being carried over said data communications cabling network so as to generate a combined power/data signal;

transmitting said combined power/data signal onto said data communications cabling network;

receiving said combined power/data signal carried over said data communication cabling network; and

splitting said combined power/data signal so as to yield said data communication signal separated from said low frequency power signal.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said data communications network comprises an Ethernet based Local Area Network (LAN).

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein said source of electrical power comprises an AC mains power receptacle.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein said source of electrical power comprises an uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).

23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of filtering high frequency noise and ripple from said low frequency power signal.

24. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of sensing the current in said low frequency power signal.

25. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of connecting and disconnecting said low frequency power signal to and from said combined output power/data signal.

26. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of detecting no-load and overload conditions on said combined output power/data signal.

27. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of converting said extracted low frequency power signal into one or more output voltages.

28. A system for distributing electrical power over a data communication cabling infrastructure to one or more electrical power consuming network devices, comprising:

a data communications cabling network;

a source of electrical power;

power supply means for generating a low frequency power signal from said source of electrical power;

combiner means coupled to said data communications cabling network, said combiner means for injecting said low frequency power signal onto a data communications signal being carried over said data communications cabling network so as to yield a combined power/data signal;

regulator means for regulating the injection of said low frequency power signal onto said data communications signal, said regulation including, but not limited to, ceasing the injection of said low frequency power signal and limiting its current;

extraction means for extracting said low frequency power signal from said combined power/data signal and for outputting said original data communication signal and said low frequency power signal.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said data communications network comprises an Ethernet based Local Area Network (LAN).

30. The system according to claim 28, wherein said power supply means is adapted to receive electrical from an AC mains power receptacle.

31. The system according to claim 28, wherein said power supply means is adapted to receive electrical from an uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).

32. The system according to claim 28, wherein said combiner means comprises means for filtering high frequency noise and ripple.

33. The system according to claim 28, wherein said regulator means comprises means for sensing the current in said low frequency power signal.

34. The system according to claim 28, wherein said regulator means comprises means for detecting no-load and overload conditions on said combined output power/data signal.

35. The system according to claim 28, further comprising a management unit for monitoring and provisioning, via said data communications cabling network, the power/data combiners and power/data splitters located in said data communications cabling network.

36. The system according to claim 28, wherein said extraction means comprises an AC/DC power converter for converting said extracted low frequency power signal into one or more output voltages.

37. The system according to claim 28, wherein said extraction means comprises an DC/DC power converter for converting said extracted low frequency power signal into one or more output voltages.