System and Method for Physical Layer Device Enabled Power Over Ethernet Processing

• US 20110258465A1
• Filed: 04/19/2010
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Powell, Scott, Diab, Wael William
• Granted Patent: US 8,321,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for physical layer device enabled power over Ethernet (PoE) processing. A digital PoE control module is included within a physical layer device and is designed to complement an analog PoE control module within a power sourcing equipment. The inclusion of the digital PoE control within the physical layer device reduces the complexity of the power sourcing equipment without sacrificing PoE control features.

Claims

1. A power over Ethernet system, comprising:

a first transformer coupled to a first wire pair;

a second transformer coupled to a second wire pair;

a power sourcing equipment coupled to center taps of said first and second transformers, said power sourcing equipment delivering power to a powered device over said first and second wire pairs, said power sourcing equipment including an analog controller module, said analog power over Ethernet controller module including first logic that controls a monitoring of current and voltage levels associated with said delivery of power to said powered device; and

a physical layer device coupled to said power sourcing equipment, said physical layer device also coupled to said first and second transformers for the transmission of data over said first and second wire pairs, said physical layer device including a digital power over Ethernet controller module, said digital power over Ethernet controller module including second logic that controls an allocation of power delivered by said power sourcing equipment to said powered device over said first and second wire pairs.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said analog power over Ethernet controller module includes logic that controls detection and classification of said powered device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said analog power over Ethernet controller module includes logic that controls disconnection of said powered device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said digital power over Ethernet controller module includes logic that controls a power budget for said powered device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said physical layer device is coupled to said power sourcing equipment via an isolation barrier.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said physical layer device is coupled to said power sourcing equipment via an opto-isolator.

7. A power over Ethernet system, comprising:

a power sourcing equipment coupled to center taps of first and second transformers that are coupled to respective first and second wire pairs, said power sourcing equipment delivering power to a powered device over said first and second wire pairs;

a physical layer device coupled to said first and second transformers for the transmission of data, said physical layer device including a power over Ethernet controller module that includes logic that controls a delivery of power by said power sourcing equipment to said powered device; and

an isolation barrier that facilitates communication between said power sourcing equipment and said physical layer device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said power sourcing equipment includes an analog power over Ethernet controller module.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said analog power over Ethernet controller module controls a detection of said powered device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said analog power over Ethernet controller module controls a classification of said powered device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said analog power over Ethernet controller module controls a disconnection of said powered device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said analog power over Ethernet controller module controls a monitoring of one or more of current, voltage or temperature.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein said logic controls a power budget for said powered device.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the power over Ethernet system is a midspan power over Ethernet system.

15. A power over Ethernet method, comprising:

detecting a powered device using a first power over Ethernet controller contained within a power sourcing equipment, said power sourcing equipment coupled to center taps of first and second transformers that are coupled to respective first and second wire pairs;

classifying said powered device into one of a plurality of defined power levels using said first power over Ethernet controller; and

controlling a power budget for power delivered to said powered device using a second power over Ethernet controller contained within a physical layer device, said physical layer device being coupled to said first and second transformers for the transmission of data.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising monitoring, by said first power over Ethernet controller, one or more of current, voltage or temperature associated with said power delivered to said powered device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising communicating between said power sourcing equipment and said physical layer device through an isolation barrier.

18. A device in a power over Ethernet system, comprising:

a physical layer device coupled to first and second transformers that are coupled to first and second wire pairs, said physical layer device including a first controller portion that controls a transmission of data by said physical layer device over said first and second wire pairs, and a second controller portion that controls a delivery of power by a power sourcing equipment to a powered device coupled to said first and second wire pairs.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said second controller portion controls a budgeting of power delivered by said power sourcing equipment to said powered device.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said second controller portion communicates with said power sourcing equipment via an isolation barrier.