ETHERNET MODULE

• US 20070208961A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kinetic Technologies International Holdings LP
• Original Assignee: Kinetic Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Ghoshal, Sajol, Camagna, John, Crawley, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 9,189,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution

Abstract

In a network device, a connector module comprises a network connector coupled to the connector module in a configuration that transfers power and communication signals and an application connector that comprises serial media independent interface (SMII) pins and power pins. A Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit is coupled between the network connector and the application connector.

Claims

1. A network device comprising:

a network attached appliance comprising;

a housing;

an application processor contained within the housing; and

a connector module contained within the housing and configured to couple the application processor to a network, the connector module comprising;

a network connector coupled to the connector module in a configuration that transfers power and communication signals;

an application connector coupled to the connector module and configured for coupling to the application processor; and

a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit coupled between the network connector and the application connector.

2. The network device according to claim 1 further comprising:

the Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit comprising;

an integrated Powered Ethernet Device (iPED) comprising;

a non-magnetic transformer and choke circuit integrated into the iPED and coupled between communication signal pins of the network interface and the application interface;

a Powered Ethernet Device (PD) controller integrated into the iPED and coupled to power pins of the network interface; and

a Direct Current-Direct Current (DC-DC) power converter integrated into the iPED and coupled between the PD controller and power pins of the application interface.

3. The network device according to claim 2 further comprising:

the integrated Powered Ethernet Device (iPED) further comprising;

isolation capacitors coupled between the non-magnetic transformer and choke circuit and the application interface; and

at least one optical coupler coupled between the Powered Ethernet Device (PD) and the application interface.

4. The network device according to claim 1 further comprising:

the network attached appliance further comprising;

an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) coupled between the application interface and the application processor, the Ethernet PHY coupled to the application processor by a SMII interface and a Management Data Input/Output (MDIO) interface.

5. The network device according to claim 1 further comprising:

the Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit comprising;

an integrated Powered Ethernet Device (iPED) comprising;

a non-magnetic transformer and choke circuit integrated into the iPED and coupled between communication signal pins of the network interface and the application interface;

an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) integrated into the iPED and coupled between the non-magnetic transformer and choke circuit and the application interface, the Ethernet PHY coupled to the application interface by a SMII interface and a Management Data Input/Output (MDIO) interface;

a Powered Ethernet Device (PD) controller integrated into the iPED and coupled to power pins of the network interface; and

a Direct Current-Direct Current (DC-DC) power converter integrated into the iPED and coupled between the PD controller and power pins of the application interface.

6. The network device according to claim 1 further comprising:

the Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit comprising;

an integrated Powered Ethernet Device (iPED) comprising;

an isolated Ethernet physical layer (PHY) integrated into the iPED and coupled to the application interface by a SMII interface and a Management Data Input/Output (MDIO) interface;

a Powered Ethernet Device (PD) controller integrated into the iPED and coupled to power pins of the network interface; and

an isolated Direct Current-Direct Current (DC-DC) power converter integrated into the iPED and coupled between the PD controller and power pins of the application interface.

7. The network device according to claim 6 further comprising:

the Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit comprising;

an integrated Powered Ethernet Device (iPED) further comprising;

an autotransformer integrated into the iPED and coupled between communication signal pins of the network interface and the application interface.

8. The network device according to claim 7 further comprising:

the Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit comprising;

an integrated Powered Ethernet Device (iPED) further comprising;

isolation capacitors coupled to the autotransformer and integrated into the iPED coupled between communication signal pins of the network interface and the application interface.

9. The network device according to claim 6 further comprising:

the isolated Ethernet physical layer (PHY) further comprising;

isolation capacitors coupled to the SMII interface and the MDIO interface.

10. The network device according to claim 6 further comprising:

an isolation barrier formed by the isolated Ethernet physical layer (PHY) and the isolated Direct Current-Direct Current (DC-DC) power converter isolating the network interface and the application interface.

11. A network device comprising:

a network interface module comprising;

a network connector coupled to the network interface module in a configuration that transfers power and communication signals;

an application connector coupled to the network interface module; and

a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit coupled between the network connector and the application connector, the PoE circuit comprising;

a transformer coupled to communication signal pins of the network interface.

12. The network device according to claim 11 further comprising:

an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) external to the network interface module coupled to the transformer through the application interface.

13. The network device according to claim 11 further comprising:

the Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit further comprising;

a Powered Ethernet Device (PD) controller coupled to power pins of the network interface.

14. The network device according to claim 11 further comprising:

the Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit further comprising;

a Direct Current-Direct Current (DC-DC) power converter coupled between the PD controller and power pins of the application interface.

15. A network device comprising:

a power sourcing equipment appliance comprising;

a housing;

an Ethernet switch contained within the housing;

an isolated power supply contained within the housing; and

a connector module contained within the housing and configured to couple the Ethernet switch and the isolated power supply to a network, the connector module comprising;

a network connector coupled to the connector module in a configuration that transfers power and communication signals;

an application connector coupled to the connector module and comprising serial media independent interface (SMII) pins and power pins; and

a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit coupled between the network connector and the application connector comprising;

an integrated Powered Ethernet Source (iPES) comprising;

an isolated Ethernet physical layer (PHY) integrated into the iPES coupled to the application interface by a SMII interface and a Management Data Input/Output (MDIO) interface; and

a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) controller coupled to power feed pins of the application interface.

16. The network device according to claim 15 further comprising:

the Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit comprising;

an integrated Powered Ethernet Source (iPES) further comprising;

an autotransformer integrated into the iPED and coupled between communication signal pins of the network interface and the application interface.

17. The network device according to claim 16 further comprising:

the Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit comprising;

an integrated Powered Ethernet Source (iPES) further comprising;

isolation capacitors coupled to the autotransformer and integrated into the iPES coupled between communication signal pins of the network interface and the application interface.

18. The network device according to claim 15 further comprising:

the isolated Ethernet physical layer (PHY) further comprising;

isolation capacitors coupled to the SMII interface and the MDIO interface.

19. The network device according to claim 15 further comprising:

a Buck converter integrated into the integrated Powered Ethernet Source (iPES) and coupled to a power line supplying the isolated Ethernet physical layer (PHY) from the isolated power supply.

20. The network device according to claim 15 further comprising:

an isolation barrier formed by the isolated Ethernet physical layer (PHY) and the isolated Direct Current-Direct Current (DC-DC) power converter isolating the network interface and the application interface.

21. A network device configured to receive a plurality of power signals and data signals through a coupled network comprising:

a network connector configured to physically couple the network device to the network and receive four twisted pairs that carry the plurality of power signals, wherein the plurality of power signals comprise a first power signal and a second power signal; and

an integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the network connector and comprising;

an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) module;

a power management module;

isolation capacitors coupled between the Ethernet PHY module and an application device;

an optical coupler coupled between the power management module and the application device; and

a direct connection module coupled to the network connector and operative to;

pass the received data signal(s) to the Ethernet PHY;

sense a current associated with the twisted pairs;

actively balance current associated with the twisted pairs; and

pass the received plurality of power signals to the power management module wherein the power management module is operative to at least partially power the network device from the received plurality of power signals.

22. A power source equipment (PSE) network device operative to distribute a network power signal and a network data signal through a coupled network comprising:

a network connector configured to physically couple the PSE network device to the network; and

an integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the network connector that further comprises

a power feed circuit operative to;

exchange data signals with a network physical layer (PHY) module, Ethernet switch, and the network connector;

isolate the network PHY module from the Ethernet switch; and

pass the power signal to the network connector as directed by a power source equipment (PSE) controller, wherein the power signal is received from an isolated power supply.

23. A method for supplying power from a power source equipment (PSE) network device with an Ethernet power signal fed through an Ethernet network connection comprising:

producing the Ethernet power signal from power supplied by an isolated power supply in an integrated circuit (IC) within the PSE network device;

physically coupling the PSE network device to the isolated power supply;

physically coupling the PSE network device to an Ethernet network;

combining within the IC an Ethernet data signal and the Ethernet power signal to produce an Ethernet signal;

providing ground isolation for the Ethernet data signal and the Ethernet power signal;

exchanging the Ethernet signal with at least one Ethernet network power device (PD) physically coupled to the Ethernet network within the PSE network device; and

isolating the IC from the at least one Ethernet network power device.

24. A power source equipment (PSE) network device operative to distribute an Ethernet power signal and an Ethernet data signal through a coupled Ethernet network comprising:

an Ethernet network connector configured to physically couple the PSE network device to the Ethernet network;

a PSE controller;

an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) module configured to couple the PSE network device to a multiport switch at an isolated interface; and

an integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the Ethernet network connector that further comprises a power feed circuit configured to;

exchange Ethernet data signals with the Ethernet PHY module and the Ethernet connector;

supply a power signal from a power supply to the PSE network device; and

produce and pass the Ethernet power signal to the Ethernet connector as directed by the PSE controller.