System for powering a switch over data communication cabling infrastructure

• US 20050169297A1
• 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 7,466,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/445
• 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 local area network comprising:

a first plurality of local area network nodes;

a first power data combiner;

first communication cabling connecting said first plurality of local area network nodes to said first power data combiner for providing data communication;

a second power data combiner; and

second communication cabling connecting said first power data combiner to said second power data combiner,

said second power data combiner providing current limited power to said first power data combiner via said second communication cabling,

said first power data combiner comprising;

line interface circuitry coupling at least some of said power provided via said second communication cabling into said first communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication; and

current limiting circuitry connected to said line interface circuitry and controlling current delivered by said line interface circuitry into said first communication cabling,

wherein said first power data combiner is operative to provide at least said plurality of first local area network nodes via said first communication cabling,

said current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a current limit level for each of said first plurality of local area network nodes.

39. A local area network according to claim 38, wherein said second power data combiner provides said current limited power to said first power data combiner via said second communication cabling utilizing a combined power data signal.

40. A local area network according to claim 38, further comprising:

a second plurality of local area network nodes; and

third communication cabling connecting said second plurality of local area network nodes to said second power data combiner;

said second power data combiner being operative to provide power to at least one of said second plurality of local area network nodes via said third communication cabling.

41. A local area network according to claim 38, further comprising:

a second plurality of local area network nodes; and

third communication cabling connecting said second plurality of local area network nodes to said second power data combiner,

said second power data combiner comprising current limiting circuitry and being operative to provide power to at least one of said second plurality of local area network nodes via said third communication cabling,

said current limiting circuitry of said second power combiner being operative to provide a current limit for each of said second plurality of local area network nodes being provided power via said third communication cabling.

42. A local area network according to claim 41, wherein said current limiting circuitry of said second power combiner is further operative to provide a current limit for said provided current limited power to said first power data combiner.

43. A local area network according to claim 38, wherein at least one of said first power data combiner and said second power data combiner is integrated with one of a hub and a switch.

44. A local area network comprising:

a first plurality of local area network nodes;

a switch assembly;

a power data combiner;

first communication cabling connecting said first plurality of local area network nodes to said first switch assembly for providing data communication; and

second communication cabling connecting said switch assembly to said power data combiner for providing data communication,

said power data combiner being operative to provide power to said switch assembly via said second communication cabling;

said switch assembly comprising;

first line interface circuitry being operative to couple at least some of said provided power into said first communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication; and

first current limiting circuitry connected to said first line interface circuitry and being operative to control current delivered by said line interface circuitry into said first communication cabling,

wherein said switch assembly is operative to provide at least some of said power provided from said power data combiner to at least some of said first plurality of local area network nodes via said first communication cabling,

said first current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a current limit level for each of said powered nodes of said first plurality of local area network nodes.

45. A local area network according to claim 44, wherein said power data combiner comprises:

second line interface circuitry coupling power into said second communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication; and

second current limiting circuitry connected to said second line interface circuitry and controlling current delivered by said second line interface circuitry into said second communication cabling, said second current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a current limit for said power provided to said switch assembly.

46. A local area network according to claim 45, further comprising:

a second plurality of local area network nodes; and

third communication cabling connecting said second plurality of local area network nodes to said power data combiner,

said power data combiner being further operative to provide power via said third communication cabling to at least one of said second plurality of local area network nodes.

47. A local area network according to claim 45, further comprising:

a second plurality of local area network nodes; and

third communication cabling connecting said second plurality of local area network nodes to said power data combiner,

said power data combiner being further operative to provide power via said third communication cabling to at least one of said second plurality of local area network nodes,

said second current limiting circuitry being further operative to provide a current limit for each of said powered second plurality of local area network nodes.

48. A local area network according to claim 44, wherein said power data combiner is integrated within one of a hub and a switch.

49. A local area network comprising:

a plurality of first local area network nodes;

a first switch assembly;

a second switch assembly;

first communication cabling connecting said plurality of first local area network nodes to said first switch assembly for providing data communication; and

second communication cabling connecting said first switch assembly to said second switch assembly, said second switch assembly being operative to provide at least some power via said second communication cabling to said first switch assembly;

said first switch assembly comprising;

first line interface circuitry coupling at least some of said power provided by said second switch assembly into said first communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication; and

first current limiting circuitry connected to said line interface circuitry and controlling current delivered by said line interface circuitry into said first communication cabling,

wherein said first switch assembly is operative to provide at least some power to at least some of said plurality of first local area network nodes via said first communication cabling,

said first current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a current limit level for each of said first local area network nodes being provided power via said first communication cabling.

50. A local area network according to claim 49, further comprising:

a second plurality of local area network nodes; and

third communication cabling connecting said second plurality of local area network nodes to said second switch assembly,

said second switch assembly being further operative to provide power via said third communication cabling to at least one of said second plurality of local area network nodes.

51. A local area network according to claim 49, wherein said second switch assembly comprises:

second line interface circuitry coupling power into said second communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication; and

second current limiting circuitry connected to said second line interface circuitry and controlling current delivered by said second line interface circuitry into said second communication cabling, said second current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a current limit for said power provided to said first switch assembly.

52. A local area network according to claim 51, further comprising:

a second plurality of local area network nodes; and

third communication cabling connecting said second plurality of local area network nodes to said second switch assembly,

said second switch assembly being further operative to provide power via said third communication cabling to at least one of said second plurality of local area network nodes,

said second current limiting circuitry being further operative to provide a current limit for each of said second plurality of local area network nodes being provided power via said third communication cabling.

53. A method of powering a switch, the method comprising:

receiving a first 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 first combined power/data signals, said power substantially not interfering with said data signal, said plurality of first combined power/data signals being transmittable over data communication cabling to a first plurality of nodes, at least one of said first plurality of nodes comprising a switch assembly;

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

transmitting at least one of said first combined power/data signals over communication cabling to said switch assembly;

splitting said at least one of said first combined power/data signal into separate power and data components at said switch assembly; and

powering said switch assembly with said power component.

54. A method according to claim 53, further comprising;

switching said data component to a second plurality of nodes;

combining said power component with said switched data component to provide at least one second combined power data signal,

transmitting said second combined power data signal to at least one of said second plurality of nodes.

55. A powered switch comprising:

means for receiving a combined power data signal at an input;

a splitter operable to split said received combined power data signal into separate power and data components;

a power/data combiner operable to combine said power component into a plurality of combined power data outputs,

each of said plurality of combined power data outputs having an associated maximum current threshold level.

56. A powered switch according to claim 55, wherein each of said plurality of combined power data outputs are transmittable over communication cabling.

57. A powered switch according to claim 55, wherein said maximum current threshold level is one of fixed and controllable for each of said combined power data outputs.

58. A powered switch according to claim 55, wherein said power data combiner comprises:

line interface circuitry coupling at least some of said power component into said plurality of combined power data outputs substantially without interfering with data communication; and

current limiting circuitry connected to said line interface circuitry and controlling current delivered by said line interface circuitry into said plurality of combined power data outputs.

59. A powered switch according to claim 58, wherein said current limiting circuitry is operative to provide a current limit level for each of said plurality of combined power data outputs.

60. A method comprising:

receiving a combined power data signal at an input;

splitting said received combined power data signal into separate power and data components;

combining said power component into a plurality of combined power data outputs; and

limiting the current of each of said plurality of combined power data outputs to an associated maximum current threshold level.