POWER OVER ETHERNET INJECTOR

• US 20150312048A1
• Filed: 05/01/2014
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computer Performance Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Computer Performance Incorporated
• Inventors: Rosenbloom, Robert A., Bodo, Martin J., Melnikovsky, Lev Alexandrovich
• Granted Patent: US 9,860,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/30 Charge provided using DC bus or data bus of a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

A midspan power over Ethernet (“PoE”) injector (20) connects via LAN cables (514) to remote PDs (518). Each cable (514) has a remote end; and a midspan end (516). The cables (514) includes receiving and transmitting conductors, and insulated electrical conductors. The injector (20) includes pairs of sockets (24) a first socket (24) of each pair is a powered socket, and a second socket (24) is unpowered and carries only data. A data-signal bus (188) interconnects the unpowered and powered sockets. Power switches (156), equal in number to the socket pairs, connect respectively to one of the powered sockets (24). Without negotiating with a PD (518) connected by the cable (514) to the powered socket (24), a controller (34) causes switches (156) to close thereby transmitting electrical power via the powered socket (24) connected thereto and the cable (514) mated therewith to the PD (518). The controller (34) also concurrently monitors operational status:

• • a. of each connected PD (518); and
  • b. internal conditions within the injector (20).

Claims

1. A midspan power over Ethernet (“

PoE”

) injector (20) for supplying electrical power to at least one powered device (“

PD”

) (518) that is;

a. located remotely from the POE injector (20); and

b. connectable to the POE injector (20) by a first LAN cable (514) having;

i. a remote end that is connectable to the PD (518); and

ii. a midspan end (516) that is connectable to the POE injector (20),

the first LAN cable (514) including;

i. receiving conductors via which the PD (518) receives data;

ii. transmitting conductors via which the PD (518) transmits data; and

iii. at least a pair of insulated electrical conductors via which the PD (518) receives electrical power from the POE injector (20),

the POE injector (20) comprising;

a. at least one (1) pair of sockets (24),

i. a first of the sockets (24) of the pair being a powered socket (24) for receiving the midspan end (516) of the first LAN cable (514); and

ii. a second of the sockets (24) of the pair being an unpowered socket (24) for receiving a midspan end of a second LAN cable, the second LAN cable carrying only data received by and transmitted from the PD (518),

the POE injector (20) including a data-signal bus (188) interconnecting the unpowered socket (24) and the powered socket (24) for coupling data signals therebetween;

b. a power switch (156) that;

i. is connected to the powered socket (24); and

ii. when closed supplies electrical power to the powered socket (24) to be coupled therefrom via the midspan end (516) of a first LAN cable (514) that is mated with powered socket (24) to the pair of insulated electrical conductors of the first LAN cable (514); and

c. a controller (34) that without negotiating with a PD (518) connected to the powered socket (24) by a first LAN cable (514);

i. transmits a signal which effects closing of the power switch (156) thereby transmitting electrical power to the connected PD (518) via;

1. the powered socket (24); and

2. a first LAN cable (514) connected thereto; and

ii. concurrently monitors operational status both;

1. of a PD (518) connected to the powered socket (24) by a first LAN cable (514); and

2. internal conditions within the POE injector (20).

2. The POE injector (20) of claim 1 wherein the POE injector (20) determines operational status of a PD (518) connected by a first LAN cable (514) to the POE injector (20) by sending a series of interrogations addressed to the PD (518) and analyzing replies received from the PD (518) in response thereto.

3. The POE injector (20) of claim 2 wherein when analysis of replies received from the connected PD (518) by the POE injector (20) establishes that the PD (518) is not operating, the controller (34):

a. first terminates the signal transmitted to the power switch (156) which effects closing of the power switch (156) and transmission of electrical power to the connected PD (518); and

b. then after an interval of time again transmits a signal which effects closing of the power switch (156) thereby resuming transmission of electrical power to the connected PD (518).

4. The POE injector (20) of claim 2 wherein when analysis of replies received from the connected PD (518) determines that the PD (518) is not operating, the controller (34) sends a message to a specified SYSLOG server.

5. The POE injector (20) of claim 1 wherein the POE injector (20) includes a fast-response semiconductor voltage-limiting device (166) connected to the power switch (156) for limiting voltage present across a pair of insulated electrical conductors included in a first LAN cable (514).

6. The POE injector (20) of claim 5 wherein the fast-response semiconductor voltage-limiting device (166) is a transient voltage protection diode, a/k/a transorb or tranzorb.

7. The POE injector (20) of claim 1 wherein the POE injector (20) includes a gas discharge tube (142) connected to the power switch (156) for limiting voltage present across a pair of insulated electrical conductors included in a first LAN cable (514).

8. The POE injector (20) of claim 1 wherein the POE injector (20) includes a polymeric positive temperature coefficient device (164) connected to the power switch (156) for limiting voltage present across a pair of insulated electrical conductors included in a first LAN cable (514).

9. The POE injector (20) of claim 1 wherein while the power switch (156) is transmitting electrical power to the powered socket (24) the POE injector (20) monitors electrical power at the powered socket (24) to assess whether voltage across the pair of insulated electrical conductors of the first LAN cable (514) indicates the presence of a short circuit.

10. The POE injector (20) of claim 9 wherein when the POE injector (20) detects a short circuit an audible alarm sounds.

11. The POE injector (20) of claim 1 wherein the power switch (156) is a relay.

12. The POE injector (20) of claim 11 wherein the relay is a double-pole, double-throw relay.

13. The POE injector (20) of claim 12 wherein, when the relay power switch (156) is open and not supplying electrical power to the powered socket (24), the power switch (156) connects together via the powered socket (24) a pair of insulated electrical conductors of a first LAN cable (514) the midspan end (516) of which is mated with the powered socket (24) and via which first LAN cable (514) a PD (518) receives electrical power from the POE injector (20).

14. The POE injector (20) of claim 1 further comprising an isolated, voltage regulated and current limited AC-DC switching power supply (82) for:

a. energizing operation of the POE injector (20); and

b. supplying electrical power to the power switch (156) that the power switch (156) supplies to the powered socket (24).

15. The POE injector (20) of claim 14 wherein the POE injector (20):

c. further comprises a pair of terminals (88) for connecting to the POE injector (20) a battery (84) that is not included in POE injector (20); and

d. includes a power source configuration circuit (98) which automatically ensures that electrical power from the battery (84) energizes operation of the POE injector (20) when the AC-DC switching power supply (82) fails to supply electrical power for energizing operation of the POE injector (20).

16. The POE injector (20) of claim 15 wherein the POE injector (20) further comprises a trickle charging output (316) for supplying a battery recharging current drawn from the AC-DC switching power supply (82) to a battery (84) connected to the pair of terminals (88).

17. The POE injector (20) of claim 1 further comprising a reset circuit (226) for transmitting a reset signal to the data-signal bus (188) for transmission to a PD (518) via the powered socket (24) and a first LAN cable (514) whose midspan end (516) is mated with the powered socket (24).

18. The POE injector (20) of claim 1 wherein:

a. the POE injector (20) includes;

i. more than one (1) unpowered socket (24) and powered socket (24) pairs, each unpowered socket (24) and powered socket (24) pair being respectively interconnected by a data-signal bus (188); and

ii. a number of power switches (156) equal in number to that of unpowered socket (24) and powered socket (24) pairs, each power switch (156) being respectively;

1. connected to the powered socket (24) of one (1) unpowered socket (24) and powered socket (24) pair; and

2. when closed supplying electrical power to the powered socket (24) thereof;

b. the POE injector (20) stores a script that specifies a sequence in which electrical power is to be initially supplied successively to individual powered sockets (24); and

c. the controller (34) when initially commencing operation in accordance with the script successively transmits signals to the respective power switches (156) that effects the closing thereof thereby supplying electrical power successively to powered sockets (24) in the sequence specified by the script.

19. The POE injector (20) of claim 18 further comprising an isolated, voltage regulated and current limited AC-DC switching power supply (82) for:

a. energizing operation of the POE injector (20); and

b. supplying electrical power to all power switches (156) that supply electrical power to powered sockets (24).

20. The POE injector (20) of claim 19 wherein the POE injector (20):

c. further comprises a pair of terminals (88) for connecting to the POE injector (20) a battery (84) that is not included in POE injector (20); and

d. includes a power source configuration circuit (98) which automatically ensures that electrical power from the battery (84) energizes operation of the POE injector (20) when the AC-DC switching power supply (82) fails to supply electrical power for energizing operation of the POE injector (20).

21. The POE injector (20) of claim 18 further comprising at least one electrical surge suppression device (142, 332, 382, 384) that is shared among all power switches (156) that supply electrical power to powered sockets (24).

22. The POE injector (20) of claim 1 wherein:

a. the POE injector (20) includes;

i. more than one (1) unpowered socket (24) and powered socket (24) pairs, each unpowered socket (24) and powered socket (24) pair being respectively interconnected by a data-signal bus (188); and

ii. a number of power switches (156) equal in number to that of unpowered socket (24) and powered socket (24) pairs, each power switch (156) being respectively;

1. connected to the powered socket (24) of one (1) unpowered socket (24) and powered socket (24) pair; and

2. when closed supplying electrical power to the powered socket (24) thereof; and

b. the POE injector (20) determines operational status of at least one (1) PD (518) connected by a first LAN cable (514) to the POE injector (20) by sending a series interrogations addressed to the PD (518) and analyzing replies received from the PD (518) in response thereto.

23. The POE injector (20) of claim 22 wherein:

a. the POE injector (20) stores a script that specifies a sequence in which electrical power is to be initially supplied successively to individual powered sockets (24); and

b. when analysis of replies received from the connected PD (518) to which interrogations are addressed the POE injector (20) determines that the PD (518) is not operating, the controller (34);

i. in accordance with the script first terminates signals transmitted to those power switches (156) specified by the script which effect closing of the specified power switches (156) and transmission of electrical power to connected PDs (518); and

ii. then in accordance with the script successively transmits signals to the respective power switches (156) specified by the script that effect the closing thereof thereby supplying electrical power successively to powered sockets (24) in the sequence specified by the script.