Power transfer apparatus for use by network devices including telephone equipment

• US 6,449,348 B1
• Filed: 05/29/1997
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Peter S., Lamb, Christopher Hume
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Stella
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US08/865,015
• Time in Patent Office: 1,930 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.36, 379/102.04, 379/399, 379/206, 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.07, 340/310.08, 370/419, 370/442, 370/487, 370/490, 375/257, 375/259, 445/3--
• US Class Current: 379/93.36
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention includes an apparatus for providing electric power to a telephone across a transmission line where the telephone is coupled to a network device. A power and data coupler (“the coupler”) is coupled to one end of the transmission line. The transmission line is also adapted for transmission of a data signal. The data signal includes telephone signal data for communications with the telephone. The coupler has a data input and a power input. Power from the power input is coupled to the data signal from the data input and the combined power supply current and data signal is coupled to one end of the transmission line. The opposite end of the transmission line is coupled to a power and data decoupler (“the decoupler”). The decoupler has a power output and a data output. Both the data output and power output of the decoupler are coupled to the network device. The combined power and data signal is decoupled by the decoupler, and the data signal is supplied to the data output and the power is supplied to the power output. The invention also includes a circuit. The telephone circuit receives the power from the power output and receives the telephone signal data. The circuit couples the power and the telephone signal data together to make a combined power and telephone signal, which can be used by the telephone.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing power to a telephone coupled to a network device, comprising:

a transmission line having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end coupled to the network device;

a coupler coupled to the proximal end of the transmission line, the coupler having a data input and a power input, the coupler couples power from the power input and the data signal from the data input to the transmission line, the coupled power signal and data signal forming one combined signal, the data signal including telephone bearer data;

a decoupler coupled to the distal end of the transmission line, the decoupler having a data output coupled to the network device and a power output coupled to the network device, the decoupler supplies the data signal from the transmission line to the data output and the power from the transmission line to the power output;

a circuit coupled to the decoupler and to the data signal, the circuit having a combined telephone and power signal output, the combined telephone and power signal output for outputting a combined signal that is a combination of the power and a telephone data signal corresponding to the data signal; and

a power source switch coupled to the telephone, the power source switch having a first input coupled to the power output of the decoupler, the power source switch further having a second input coupled to receive a second power signal from an external power source, and wherein the power source switch is switchable between the first input and the second input to carry power to the telephone from one of at least the decoupler or the external power source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power source switch is for selecting a power signal from the second input when a power signal is present at the second input, otherwise selecting a power signal from the first input.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a computer wherein the computer includes a power supply device and a network interface device and wherein the network interface device includes the power switch to select between power from the power supply device and power from the power output of the decoupler.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network device includes a computer and wherein the computer includes a network interface card and wherein the decoupler and the circuit are at least partially disposed on the network interface card.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power includes alternating current.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power includes direct current.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmission line comprises a twisted pair cable.

8. A power transmission adapter for decoupling a power supply current and a data signal from a coupled signal, the data signal includes telephone data and computer network data, the power transmission adapter comprising:

an input port having one or more data signal conductors adapted for receiving the coupled signal;

an electrical power output port for transmitting the power supply current;

a data communication port for transmitting the data signal, the data signal having telephone data and network data; and

a decoupling circuit, coupled to the input port and the electrical power output port and the data communication port, and which decouples the data signal and the power supply current from the coupled signal and transmits the power supply current to the electrical power output port and the data signal to the data communication port

a power source switch, the power source switch having a first input coupled to the power output of the decoupling circuit, the power source switch further having a second input coupled to receive a second power signal from an external power source, and wherein the power source switch is selectable between the first input and the second input.

9. The power transmission adapter of claim 8 wherein the power supply current includes direct current.

10. A power transmission adapter for decoupling a power supply signal and a data signal from a coupled signal being transmitted to a telephone, the data signal includes telephone data and computer network data, the power transmission adapter comprising:

means for transmitting the data signal, the data signal having telephone data and network data; and

means, coupled to receive the coupled signal and to transmit the power supply signal and the data signal, for decoupling the data signal and the power supply signal from the coupled signal and transmits the power supply signal to a electrical power output port and the data signal to a data communication port

means, having a first input coupled to the power output port and a second input coupled to receive a second power signal from an external power source, for selecting between the first input and the second input to output a power supply signal for carrying power to the telephone from at least one of either the decoupling means or the external power source.

11. An apparatus for providing power to a telephone coupled to a network device, comprising:

a transmission line having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end coupled to the network device;

coupler coupled to the proximal end of the transmission line, the coupler having a data input and a power input, the coupler couples to the transmission line;

(i) power from the power input in response to an external power supply being unavailable; and

(ii) data signal from the data input, the coupled power signal and the data signal forming one combined signal, the data signal being (i) telephone data or (ii) telephone data and network data;

a decoupler coupled to the distal end of the transmission line, the decoupler having a data output coupled to the network device and a power output coupled to the network device, the decoupler supplies the data signal from the transmission line to the data output and the power from the transmission line to the power output;

a circuit coupled to the decoupler and to the data signal, the circuit having a combined telephone and power signal output, the combined telephone and power signal output for outputting a combined signal that is a combination of the power and the telephone data; and

a power source switch coupled to the telephone, the power source switch having a first input coupled to the power output of the decoupler, the power source switch further having a second input coupled to receive a second power signal from the external power source, and wherein the power source switch is switchable between the first input and the second input to carry power to the telephone from one of at least the decoupler or the external power source.

12. A power transmission adapter for decoupling a power supply current and a data signal from a coupled signal, the data signal being telephone data and computer network data, the power transmission adapter comprising:

an input port having at least one data signal conductor adapted for receiving the coupled signal, the coupled signal having the power supply signal coupled to the coupled signal in response to an external power supply being unavailable;

an electrical power output port for transmitting the power supply current;

a data communication port for transmitting the data signal, the data signal being telephone data and network data;

a decoupling circuit, coupled to the input port and the electrical power output port and the data communication port which decouples the data signal and the power supply current from the coupled signal and transmits the power supply current to the electrical power output port and the data signal to the data communication port; and

a power source switch, the power source switch having a first input coupled to the power output of the decoupling circuit, the power source switch further having a second input coupled to receive a second power signal from the external power source, and wherein the power source switch is selectable between the first input and the second input.

13. A power transmission adapter for decoupling a power supply signal and a data signal from a coupled signal being transmitted to a telephone, the data signal being telephone data and computer network data, the power transmission adapter comprising:

means for transmitting the data signal, the data signal being telephone data and network data;

means, coupled to receive the coupled signal, the power supply signal being coupled to the coupled signal in response to an external power source being unavailable, and to transmit the power supply signal and the data signal, for decoupling the data signal and the power supply signal from the coupled signal and transmits the power supply signal to a electrical power output port and the data signal to a data communication port; and

means, having a first input coupled to the power output port and a second input coupled to receive a second power signal from the external power source, for selecting between the first input and the second input to output a power supply signal for carrying power to the telephone from at least one of either the decoupling means or the external power source.

14. An apparatus for providing power to a telephone coupled to a network device, comprising:

a transmission line having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end coupled to the network device;

an external power source coupled to the network device, the external power source delivers power to the network device and to the telephone;

a coupler coupled to the proximal end of the transmission line, the coupler having a data input and a power input, the coupler couples power from the power input and a data signal from the data input to the transmission line in response to the external power source being unable to deliver power to the telephone, the coupled power signal and data signal forming one combined signal, the data signal including telephone bearer data and computer data;

a decoupler coupled to the distal end of the transmission line, the decoupler having a data output coupled to the network device and a power output coupled to the network device, the decoupler supplies the data signal from the transmission line to the data output, the decoupler supplies the power from the transmission line to the power output in response to the external power source being unable to deliver power to the telephone;

a circuit coupled to the decoupler and to the data signal, the circuit having a combined telephone and power signal output, the combined telephone and power signal output for outputting a combined signal that is a combination of the power and a telephone data signal corresponding to the data signal; and

a power source switch coupled to the telephone, the power source switch having a first input coupled to the power output of the decoupler, the power source switch further having a second input coupled to receive a second power signal from the external power source, and wherein the power source switch switches from the second input to the first input in response to the external power source being unable to deliver power to the telephone so as to carry power to the telephone from the decoupler.

15. A method for providing power to a telephone coupled to a network device comprising the steps of:

providing a transmission line having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the network device, the transmission line delivering a data signal having telephone bearer data and computer data to the network device and the telephone;

delivering a first power signal to the network device and the telephone by an external power source coupled to the network device;

monitoring the first power signal delivered by the external power source to the network device and the telephone;

coupling a second power signal and the data signal to the transmission line in response to the external power source being unable to deliver the first power signal to the telephone, the coupled second power signal and data signal forming one combined signal;

delivering the one combined signal to the telephone over the transmission line;

decoupling the second power signal from the one combined signal; and

delivering the second power signal to the telephone.