Power over ethernet battery backup

• US 20060186739A1
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: System Engineering International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: System Engineering International Incorporated
• Inventors: Kautter, William J., Grolnic, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,294,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for providing DC battery backup power to Power over Ethernet, (PoE) Mid Span or End Point Power Sourcing Equipment, (PSE), such that in the event of the loss of utility power the PSE device is able to continue to provide power for some time while battery capacity remains. The apparatus includes an AC to DC converter that receives an AC power input and outputs DC power to the power over Ethernet circuitry and a DC battery pack that provides backup DC power to the power over Ethernet circuitry.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing uninterrupted DC power to power over Ethernet circuitry in a power sourcing device, the apparatus comprising:

a DC power output port;

an AC to DC converter connected to the DC power output port and configured to receive an AC power input and output DC power to the power over Ethernet circuitry; and

a DC battery pack connected to the DC power output port and configured to provide backup DC power to the power over Ethernet circuitry.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a low voltage disconnect unit connecting the DC battery pack to the DC power output port and configured to disconnect the battery when the battery reaches a specified level.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a DC to DC converter connecting the DC battery pack to the DC power output port and configured to regulate a voltage from the DC battery pack to a constant DC voltage.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a network interface connected to the AC to DC converter and the power over Ethernet circuitry and configured to monitor and send control signals to the AC to DC converter and the power over Ethernet circuitry.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, the power sourcing device comprising:

a mid-span power hub.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, the power sourcing device comprising:

an endpoint power sourcing device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the DC battery pack is located externally from the power sourcing device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is located within the power sourcing device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the DC battery pack is directly connected to a contact between the AC to DC converter and to the DC power output port.

10. A method for providing uninterrupted DC power to power over Ethernet circuitry in a power sourcing device, the method comprising:

receiving an AC power input at an AC to DC converter connected to a DC power output port and outputting DC power to the DC power output port;

providing backup DC power to the DC power output port from a DC battery pack connected to the DC power output port; and

outputting DC power to the power sourcing device from the DC power output port.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

disconnecting the DC battery pack when the battery voltage reaches a specified level by a low voltage disconnect unit connecting the DC battery pack to the DC power output port.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

regulating a battery voltage from the DC battery pack to a constant DC voltage by a DC to DC converter connecting the DC battery pack to the DC power output port.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

monitoring and sending control signals to the AC to DC converter and the power over Ethernet circuitry from a network interface connected to the AC to DC converter and the power over Ethernet circuitry.

14. The method according to claim 10, the power sourcing device comprising:

a mid-span power hub.

15. The method according to claim 10, the power sourcing device comprising:

an endpoint power sourcing device.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the DC battery pack is located externally from the power sourcing device.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus is located within the power sourcing device.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein DC battery pack is directly connected to a contact between the AC to DC converter and the DC power output port.

19. An apparatus for providing an uninterrupted DC power to power over Ethernet circuitry in a power sourcing device, the apparatus comprising:

a DC power output port;

a AC to DC converter connected to the DC power output port and configured to receive an AC power input and output DC power to the DC power output port; and

means for providing backup DC power to the DC power output port.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a low voltage disconnect unit connecting the means for providing backup DC power to the DC power output port and configured to disconnect the battery when the battery voltage reaches a specified level.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a DC to DC converter connecting the means for providing backup DC power to the DC power output port and configured to regulate a voltage from the means for providing backup DC power to a constant DC voltage.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

network interface connected to the AC to DC converter and the power over Ethernet circuitry and configured to monitor and send control signals to the AC to DC converter and the power over Ethernet circuitry.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, the power sourcing device comprising:

a mid-span power hub.

24. The apparatus according to claim 19, the power sourcing device comprising:

an endpoint power sourcing device.

25. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the means for providing backup DC power is located externally from the power sourcing device.

26. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the apparatus is located within the power sourcing device.

27. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the means for providing backup DC power is directly connected to a contact between the AC to DC converter and the DC power output port.

28. A system for providing an uninterrupted DC power to a power sourcing device, the system comprising:

a power sourcing device including

a DC power input port, and

power over Ethernet circuitry connected to the DC power input port and configured to receive DC power; and

a DC uninterruptible power supply including

a DC power output port,

an AC to DC converter connected to the DC power output port and configured to receive an AC power input and output DC power to the DC power output port; and

a DC battery pack connected to the DC power output port and configured to provide backup DC power to the power over Ethernet circuitry.

29. The system according to claim 28, further comprising:

a low voltage disconnect unit connecting the DC battery pack to the DC power output port and configured to disconnect the battery when the battery voltage reaches a specified level.

30. The system according to claim 28, further comprising:

a DC to DC converter connecting the DC battery pack to the DC power output port and configured to regulate a voltage from the DC battery pack to a constant DC voltage.

31. The system according to claim 28, further comprising:

a network interface connected to the AC to DC converter and the power over Ethernet circuitry and configured to monitor and send control signals to the AC to DC converter and the power over Ethernet circuitry.

32. The system according to claim 28, the power sourcing device comprising:

a mid-span power hub.

33. The system according to claim 28, the power sourcing device comprising:

an endpoint power sourcing device,

wherein the Ethernet switch circuitry is configured to receive DC power from the DC power input port.

34. The system according to claim 28, wherein the DC battery pack is located externally from the power sourcing device.

35. The system according to claim 28, wherein the DC battery pack is located within the power sourcing device.

36. The system according to claim 28, wherein DC battery pack is directly connected to a contact between the AC to DC converter and the DC power output port.

37. The system according to claim 28, wherein the DC power output port is connected to an additional device and configured to provide DC power to the additional device.

38. An apparatus for providing an uninterrupted DC power supply to power over Ethernet circuitry in a power sourcing device, the apparatus comprising:

a DC power output port;

an AC to DC converter connected to the DC power output port and configured to receive an AC power input and output DC power to the DC power output port;

a DC battery pack configured to provide backup DC power to the DC power output port;

a DC to DC converter connected to the DC battery pack and configured to regulate a voltage from the DC battery pack to a constant DC voltage;

a low voltage disconnect unit connecting the DC to DC converter to the DC power output port, the low voltage disconnect unit is configured to disconnect the battery when the battery voltage reaches a specified level; and

a network interface connected to the AC to DC converter, the low voltage disconnect unit, the DC to DC converter, and the power over Ethernet circuitry and configured to monitor and send control signals to the AC to DC converter, the low voltage disconnect unit, the DC to DC converter, and the power over Ethernet circuitry.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, the power sourcing device comprising:

a mid-span power hub.

40. The apparatus according to claim 38, the power sourcing device comprising:

an endpoint power sourcing device.

41. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the DC battery pack is located externally from the power sourcing device.

42. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the apparatus is located within the power sourcing device.

43. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the DC battery pack is directly connected to a contact between the AC to DC converter and the DC power output port.