Power transfer apparatus for concurrently transmitting data and power over data wires

• US 6,496,105 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• 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: Burns, Lawrence M., Fisher, David A., Muther, Stephen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/974,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20020021209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.08, 340/825.72, 375/257, 375/259, 307/126-128, 455/3.1, 455/3.33, 370/487, 370/490, 370/419, 370/442
• US Class Current: 375/258
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

Electrical supply current, sufficient to power a wireless access point, is transmitted concurrently with a network data signal across a transmission line. A power and data coupler couples the network data signal and the power signal, received through a data input and a power input, respectively, and transmits the coupled signal over the transmission line to a power and data decoupler. The power and data decoupler separates the power signal from the network data signal and supplies those signals to a power output port and a data output port, respectively, for use by a wireless access node. The power signal may be modulated at a low frequency relative to the frequency of the data signal.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing electrical power to at least one network device, comprising:

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

a coupler coupled to the proximal end of the at least one transmission line, the coupler having a data port and a power input, the coupler coupling a power supply current from the power input and a data signal from the data portion to the at least one transmission line;

at least one center-tapped inductor for isolating the power input from the data port, the at least one center-tapped inductor also coupling the power supply current to the at least one transmission line; and

a decoupler coupled to the distal end of the at least one transmission line, the decoupler having a data output coupled to the network device and a power output coupled to the network device, the decoupler supplying the data signal from the transmission line to the data output and supplying the power supply current from the transmission line to the power output.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second transmission line having a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end coupled to the coupler and the second distal end coupled to the at least one network device;

the second transmission line further providing a return path for the power supply current and supplying a second data signal from the decoupler to the coupler.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising at least one isolation transformer for isolating the data port from the power input, the at least one isolation transformer also coupling the data port to the second transmission line.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one isolation transformer for isolating the data port from the power input, the at least one isolation transformer also coupling the data port to the at least one transmission line.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a first isolation transformer for isolating the data portion from the power input, the first isolation transformer also coupling the data to the at least one transmission line; and

a second isolation transformer for isolating the data port from the power input, the second isolation transformer also coupling the data port to the second transmission line.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power supply current is direct current.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power supply current is alternating current.

8. A system for providing electrical power to at least one network device, comprising:

a first transmission line having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end coupled to the at least one network device;

a second transmission line having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end coupled to the at least one network device;

a coupler coupled to the proximal end of the first transmission line and the second transmission line, the coupler having a data port and a power unit, the coupler coupling a power supply current from the power input to the first transmission line and also communicatively coupling the data port to the first transmission line;

the coupler coupling a power supply current from the power input to the second transmission line and also communicatively coupling the data port to the second transmission line;

a first center-tapped inductor for coupling the power supply current to the first transmission line; and

a second center-tapped inductor for coupling the power supply current to the second transmission line.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a decoupler coupled to the distal end of the first transmission line and the second transmission line, the decoupler having a data port coupled to the at least one network device and a power port coupled to the at least one network device, the decoupler communicatively coupling the at least one network device to the coupler via the first transmission line and the second transmission line and supplying the power supply current from the first transmission line to the power port.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the decoupler couples a power supply current to the at least one network device via the second transmission line.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one coupler isolation transformer for isolating the data port from the power input, the at least one coupler isolation transformer coupling the data port to the first transmission line, the at least one coupler isolation transformer having a data port side and a transmission line side; and

at least one coupler blocking capacitor connected in series with the transmission line side.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a second isolation transformer for isolating the data portion from the power input, the second isolation transformer coupling the data port to the second transmission line, the second isolation transformer having a second data port side and a second transmission line side; and

a second coupler blocking capacitor connected in series with the second transmission line side.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising at least one decoupler center-tapped inductor for isolating the power port from the data port, the at least one decoupler center-tapped inductor also coupling the power supply current to the power port.

14. A system for providing electrical power and a data signal to at least one wireless access point, comprising:

a first transmission line having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end coupled to the wireless access point;

a second transmission line having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end coupled to the wireless access point;

a coupler coupled to the proximal end of the first transmission line and the proximal end of the second transmission line, the coupler having a data port and a power port, the coupler coupling a power supply current between the power port and the first transmission line and coupling a data signal between the data port and the first transmission line and coupling a power supply current between the power port and the second transmission line and coupling a second data signal between the data port and the second transmission line;

a first center-tapped inductor for isolating the power port from the data port, the first center-tapped inductor coupling a power supply current to the first transmission line;

a second center-tapped indicator for isolating the power port from the data port, the second center-tapped inductor coupling a power supply current to the second transmission line; and

a decoupler coupled to the distal end of the first transmission line and the second transmission line, the decoupler having a decoupler data port coupled to the wireless access point and a decoupler power port coupled to the wireless access point, the decoupler communicatively connecting the wireless access point to the coupler via the first transmission line and the second transmission line and providing power supply current from the first transmission line and the second transmission line to the wireless access point via the decoupler power port.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the power supply current is direct current.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the power supply current is alternating current.

17. For use in a system for providing electrical power to at least one network device, a coupler for coupling data and power to a first transmission line and a second transmission line, the coupler comprising:

a data port and a power input, the coupler coupling a first power supply current between the power input and the first transmission line and coupling a first data signal between the data port and the first transmission line;

the coupler further coupling a second power supply current between the power input and the second transmission line coupling a second data signal between the data port and the second transmission line;

a first center-tapped inductor for coupling the first power supply current to the first transmission line; and

a second center-tapped inductor for coupling the second power supply current to the second transmission line.

18. The coupler of claim 17, further comprising at least one isolation transformer for isolating the data port from the power input, the at least one isolation transformer coupling the data port to a transmission line.

19. The coupler of claim 18, further comprising at least one series inductor, the at least one series inductor being connected between the power input and a center of the at least one center-tapped inductor.

20. For use in a system for providing electrical power to at least one network device, a decoupler comprising:

a port for receiving a data signal and a power supply current from a first transmission line the decoupler also communicatively connecting the at least one network device to a second transmission line;

a power output for providing the power supply current to the at least one network device;

a data output for providing the data signal to the at least one network device; and

at least one center-tapped inductor for providing the power supply current to the power output.

21. The decoupler of claim 20, wherein the decoupler further couples a power supply current between the power output and the second transmission line.