Removable Device for Injecting Electric Power for an Ethernet Network

• US 20100218004A1
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legrand France SA (Legrand SA), Legrand Snc (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Legrand France SA (Legrand SA), Legrand Snc (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Cousy, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

A device for injecting electric power for an Ethernet network comprising at least one switch, one switching board, communication ports, and Ethernet cables, the device including a power supply, a power injecting circuit, a control circuit, and a module including a body bearing at least one Ethernet connector capable of being removably inserted in one of the network communication ports.

Claims

1. An electrical power injection device for an Ethernet network that includes at least one switch equipped with a plurality of communication ports, a switching panel equipped with a plurality of communication ports, a set of terminal communication ports, and Ethernet cables including at least wires for data and connecting one or more of said communication ports of the switch, said communication ports of the switching panel and said terminal communication ports, the device comprising:

an electrical power supply,

at least one power injection circuit connected to the electrical power supply and configured to inject electrical power over the power lines of at least some of said cables, and

at least one management circuit for controlling the injection circuit, the at least one management circuit including a module having a body with at least one Ethernet connector adapted for being removably inserted into one of the communication ports of the switching panel or one of the terminal communication ports of the network.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the injection circuit is integrated in the module.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the body includes at least one communication port adapted for receiving an Ethernet connector connected to the switch or to a terminal Ethernet device.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the electrical power supply includes an electrical transformer adapted for being connected to a main electrical power supply.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the electrical transformer is held by the body of the module.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the electrical transformer is connected to the module by an electrical cord which is capable of being disconnected.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the management circuit is integrated in the electrical transformer.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the management circuit is held by the body of the module.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of adjacent Ethernet connectors disposed in alignment for being removably inserted in parallel, into a corresponding assembly of said communication ports of said switching panel.

10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a single transformer.