Combiner for power delivery over data communication cabling infrastructure

• US 20050169243A1
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• 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: Lehr, Amir, Atias, Ilan
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• 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

1-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A power data combiner comprising:

line interface circuitry receiving a plurality of data communications signals and an electrical power signal, said line interface circuitry outputting a plurality of combined power/data signals substantially without interfering with data communications;

a controller governing the supply of power to at least some of said plurality of combined power/data signals; and

current limiting circuitry connected to the line interface circuitry and controlling current delivered by said line interface circuitry into said plurality of combined power/data signals;

wherein the controller is operative to govern the supply of power via at least some of said plurality of combined power/data signals,

said current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a current limit for each of said plurality of combined power/data signals.

39. A power data combiner according to claim 38, wherein said combined power/data signals are transmitted to communication cabling comprising 4 pairs, said power being transmitted on pairs in the cable not implemented for data communications.

40. A power data combiner according to claim 38, wherein said power data combiner is integrated into one of a LAN hub and a LAN switch, said one of a LAN hub and a LAN switch supplying said data communications signals.

41. A power data combiner according to claim 38, wherein said power data combiner is external of a LAN switch supplying said data communications signals.

42. A power data combiner according to claim 38, wherein said power data combiner is external of a LAN hub supplying said data communications signals

43. A power data combiner comprising:

line interface circuitry receiving a plurality of data communications signals and an electrical power signal, said line interface circuitry outputting a plurality of combined power/data signals substantially without interfering with data communications; and

current limiting circuitry connected to the line interface circuitry and controlling current output by said line interface circuitry into said plurality of combined power/data signals,

said current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a current limit for each of said plurality of combined power/data signals.

44. A power data combiner according to claim 43, wherein said combined power/data signals are transmitted to communication cabling comprising 4 pairs, said power being transmitted on pairs in the cable not implemented for data communications.

45. A power data combiner according to claim 43, wherein said power data combiner is integrated into one of a LAN hub and a LAN switch, said one of a LAN hub and a LAN switch supplying said data communications signals.

46. A power data combiner according to claim 43, wherein said power data combiner is external of a LAN switch supplying said data communications signals.

47. A power data combiner according to claim 43, wherein said power data combiner is external of a LAN hub supplying said data communications signals.

48. A power injector for use with pairs of conductors not implemented for Ethernet data communications, the power injector comprising:

a means for receiving a low frequency power signal;

current limiting circuitry connected to said means for receiving; and

a plurality of means for injecting power received from said means for receiving to a respective plurality of pairs of conductors not implemented for Ethernet data communications;

said current limiting circuitry controlling current injected by said plurality of means for injecting power,

said current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a current limit for each of said plurality of means for injecting power.

49. A method for delivering power for a plurality of nodes over a data communication infrastructure, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of data signals;

receiving a low frequency power signal;

combining said received plurality of data signals and said received low frequency power signal into a plurality of combined power/data signals, said power substantially not interfering with said data signal, said plurality of combined power/data signals being transmittable over data communication cabling to a plurality of nodes; and

limiting current to a current limit level for each of said plurality of combined power/data signals.

50. A method for delivering power for a plurality of nodes over a data communication infrastructure, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of data signals;

receiving a low frequency power signal;

injecting said received low frequency power signal into a plurality of pairs of conductors not implemented for data communications; and

limiting current to a current limit level for each of said plurality of pairs of conductors not implemented for data communications.