Method for improved ESD performance within power over ethernet devices
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
- an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) module having a plurality of inputs;
a power feed circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of inputs; and
wherein the power feed circuit allows a ground of the Ethernet PHY module to float relative to earth ground.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved ESD protection circuit within a power over Ethernet (PoE) network device operable to handle a network signal that may include both power and data. This PoE network device includes a network connector, an integrated circuit (IC) and an ESD protection circuit. The network connector physically couples the PoE network device to the network. The IC couples to the ESD protection circuit, wherein the IC further includes a power feed circuit. This power feed circuit is operable to handle network signals containing both data signals and power signals. The ESD protection circuits shunts ESD events to an ESD capacitance and then dissipates the ESD event through a discharge path in order to reduce the energy associated with the ESD event and dissipated within the IC.
26 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
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an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) module having a plurality of inputs;
a power feed circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of inputs; and
wherein the power feed circuit allows a ground of the Ethernet PHY module to float relative to earth ground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection to an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) module within an integrated circuit (IC), comprising:
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physically coupling the Ethernet PHY module to a power feed circuit circuit;
charging a parasitic capacitance to float a ground plane associated with the Ethernet PHY module; and
shunting an ESD current with the power feed circuit to the parasitic capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A power over Ethernet (PoE) network device operable to distribute both an Ethernet power signal and an Ethernet data signal through a coupled Ethernet network, comprising:
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an Ethernet network connector operable to physically couple the PoE network device to the Ethernet network;
a PoE controller; and
an integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the Ethernet network connector;
wherein the IC further comprises;
an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) module having a plurality of inputs;
a power feed circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of inputs; and
wherein the power feed circuit allows a ground of the Ethernet PHY module to float relative to earth ground; and
wherein the power feed circuit is operable to;
exchange Ethernet data signals with the Ethernet PHY module and the Ethernet connector; and
couple to a power management module operable to distribute a power signal as directed by the PoE controller. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification