Network device with power potential rectifier

• US 20060238252A1
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kinetic Technologies International Holdings LP
• Original Assignee: Akros Silicon, Inc. (Kinetic Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crawley, Philip John, Camagna, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,500,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 330/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0266 Arrangements for providing Galvanic isolation, e.g. by means of magnetic or capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

In a network device, a power potential rectifier is adapted to conductively couple a network connector to an integrated circuit that rectifies and passes a power signal and data signal received from the network connector. The power potential rectifier regulates a received power and/or data signal to ensure proper signal polarity is applied to the integrated circuit.

Claims

17-1. The network device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a T connect element and an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) module integrated into the integrated circuit, the T connect element adapted to enable ground potential of the Ethernet PHY module to float relative to earth ground; and

an integrated diode bridge integrated onto the integrated circuit and coupling individual lines of the network connector through an integrated diode into T connect elements.

18. A network communication apparatus comprising:

a transistor bridge configured for integration into an integrated circuit and adapted to regulate a power and/or data signal to ensure proper signal polarity is applied to the integrated circuit.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising:

the transistor bridge transistors being selected from a group consisting of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors, bipolar junction transistors (BJT), junction field effect transistors (JFET), switchable devices, and impedance control devices.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein:

the transistor bridge couples directly to lines of a network connector and regulates the power signal whereby the transistor bridge passes the data signal with substantially no degradation.

21. A network communication apparatus comprising:

a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) bridge configured for integration into an integrated circuit and adapted to regulate a power and/or data signal to ensure proper signal polarity is applied to the integrated circuit.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising:

the metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) bridge comprising N-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistors and P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistors connected in a bridge configuration that emulates a diode bridge whereby pairs of NMOS transistors replace diodes that connect to ground and pairs of PMOS transistors replace diodes that connect to a power line.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising:

a T connect element and an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) module integrated into the integrated circuit, the T connect element adapted to enable ground potential of the Ethernet PHY module to float relative to earth ground; and

a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) bridge integrated onto the integrated circuit and coupled to the T connect element.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising:

at least one transformer coupled across line pairs of a network connector comprising a coil and a center tap coupled to the coil, the center tapping configured to separate the power signal from the data signal; and

the MOS bridge coupled to the center tap of the at least one transformer and configured to regulate the power signal.