Power supply subsystem for powering a node over communication cabling

• US 20040266492A1
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsemi Corp. - Analog Mixed Signal Group, Ltd. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pincu, David, Korcharz, Dror, Lehr, Amir, Atias, Ilan
• Granted Patent: US 7,421,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04

Abstract

A power supply subsystem configured for connection between a LAN switch and at least one node, the power supply subsystem providing electrical power to the at least node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising: a management and control unit; at least one port for connection to a LAN switch; a combiner combining power into the communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication between the LAN switch and the at least one node; and current limiting circuitry controlling current of the power delivered into the communication cabling via the combiner, wherein the management and control unit is operative to interrogate the at least one node to which it is intended to transmit power over the communication cabling in order to determine whether the node'"'"'s characteristics allow it to receive power over the communication cabling.

Claims

1. A power supply subsystem configured for connection between a LAN switch and at least one node, the power supply subsystem providing electrical power to the at least node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising:

a management and control unit;

at least one port for connection to a LAN switch;

a combiner combining power into the communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication between the LAN switch via the at least one port and the at least one node; and

current limiting circuitry controlling current of said power delivered into said communication cabling via said combiner,

wherein said management and control unit is operative to interrogate the at least one node to which it is intended to transmit power over the communication cabling in order to determine whether the node'"'"'s characteristics allow it to receive power over the communication cabling.

2. A power supply subsystem according to claim 1, wherein said current limiting circuitry is operative to provide a first current limit level which is never exceeded, and a second current limit level which is not exceeded for more than a predetermined period of time.

3. A power supply subsystem according to claim 2, wherein said interrogation of the at least one node includes measuring the voltage across the communication cabling connected to the at least one node and determining whether said measured voltage is within a predefined range.

4. A power supply subsystem according to claim 3, wherein in the event that said measured voltage is within said predetermined range, the at least one node is classified as a Power over LAN node.

5. A power supply subsystem according to claim 2, wherein said interrogation of the at least node comprises measuring the voltage across the communication cabling connected to the at least node and determining whether said measured voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold.

6. A power supply subsystem according to claim 1, wherein said combiner comprises at least one coupler.

7. A power supply subsystem according to claim 1, wherein said interrogation of the at least one node comprises measuring the voltage across the communication cabling connected to the at least one node and determining whether said measured voltage is within a predefined range.

8. A power supply subsystem according to claim 7, wherein in the event said measured voltage is within said predefined range, the at least one node is classified as a Power over LAN node.

9. A power supply subsystem according to claim 1, wherein said interrogation of the at least one node includes measuring the voltage across the communication cabling connected to the at least one node and determining whether said measured voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold.

10. A power supply subsystem according to claim 1, wherein said management and control unit is further operable to output a report pertaining to the status of the at least one node.

11. A power supply subsystem according to claim 10, wherein said report includes a report of at least one characteristic of the at least one node.

12. A power supply subsystem according to claim 11, wherein said at least one characteristic comprises an indication of power consumption of the at least one node.

13. A power supply subsystem according to claim 1, wherein said power is combined onto wire pairs of the communication cabling providing data communication between the at least one node and the LAN switch.

14. A power supply subsystem according to claim 1, wherein said power is transmitted over wire pairs of said communication cabling providing data communication between the at least one node and the LAN switch.

15. A power supply subsystem according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply, said combiner combining power from said power supply into the communication cabling.

16. A power supply subsystem according to claim 1, wherein said management and control unit is further operative to determine the status of the associated communication cabling over which it is intended to transmit power.

17. A local power supply subsystem according to claim 16, wherein said interrogation and said status determination is achieved by a plurality of measurements of at least one of voltage and current, said plurality of measurements being accomplished at a plurality of times.

18. A power supply subsystem configured for connection between a LAN switch and at least one node, the power supply subsystem providing electrical power to the at least node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising:

a management and control unit;

at least one port for data connection to a LAN switch;

at least one port for connection of communication cabling to the at least one node;

a combiner combining power into the communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication between the LAN switch and the at least one node; and

current limiting circuitry controlling current of said power delivered into said communication cabling via said combiner,

wherein said management and control unit is operative to interrogate the at least one node to which it is intended to transmit power over the communication cabling in order to determine whether the node'"'"'s characteristics allow it to receive power over the communication cabling.

19. A power supply subsystem configured for connection between a LAN switch and at least one node, the power supply subsystem providing electrical power to the at least node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising:

a management and control unit;

at least one port for connection to a LAN switch;

a combiner combining power into the communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication between the LAN switch via the at least one port and the at least one node; and

current limiting circuitry controlling current of said power delivered into said communication cabling via said combiner, said current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a first current limit level which is never exceeded, and a second current limit level which is not exceeded for more than a predetermined period of time,

wherein said management and control unit is operative to interrogate the at least one node to which it is intended to transmit power over the communication cabling in order to determine whether the node'"'"'s characteristics allow it to receive power over the communication cabling.

20. A power supply subsystem configured for connection between a LAN switch and at least one node, the power supply subsystem providing electrical power to the at least node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising:

a management and control unit;

at least one port for data connection to a LAN switch;

a combiner combining power into the communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication between the LAN switch and the at least one node; and

current limiting circuitry controlling current of said power delivered into said communication cabling via said combiner, said current limiting circuitry providing a first current limit level which is never exceeded, and a second current limit level which is not exceeded for more than a predetermined period of time,

wherein said management and control unit is operative to interrogate the at least one node to which it is intended to transmit power over the communication cabling in order to determine whether the node'"'"'s characteristics allow it to receive power over the communication cabling.