Power-limited remote termination converter with wetting current and emergency power operation for digital data transmission equipment

• US 6,584,197 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ADTRAN Incorporated (ADTRAN Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADTRAN Incorporated (ADTRAN Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: McElroy, Paul G., Robinson, Steven M., Boudreaux, Ralph R. Jr., McGary, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/378,382
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 379/387, 379/413.01, 379/1.03, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.07, 379/93.09, 379/93.14, 379/399.01, 379/413, 379/395.01, 379/413.02, 379/93.08, 379/322, 379/324, 379/1.01, 379/9.05, 700/286, 363/146
• US Class Current: 379/413.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/71 Substation extension arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A power management system is interfaced with both a local utility power source and a remotely powered span, and monitors the power availability for and requirements of DDS terminal equipment. Upon detecting that local utility power is insufficient to operate the terminal equipment, a power limited converter derives power from the phone line. The span power drawn is limited to a fixed value that prevents the line from collapsing. An auxiliary capacitor stores energy from either local utility power or the span, to provide for periods of extended power operation (including ringing the phone).

Claims

1. A system for managing the application of power to a digital data services telecommunication device terminating a powered telecommunication span and being coupled to receive power from a local utility interface comprising:

a local utility interface which isolates and transforms a local utility voltage to a prescribed DC level;

a main power converter coupled to said local utility interface and being operative to supply regulated voltages for communication subsystems of said telecommunication device;

a span interface which interfaces telecommunication signals between said telecommunication device and said telecommunication span, and sinks wetting current from said telecommunication span, and contains a power limited converter which is controllably operative, in response to insufficient power being supplied by said local utility interface, to derive a limited amount of power from said telecommunication span sufficient to operate said telecommunication device; and

an auxiliary energy storage device coupled to said main power converter, and wherein said power limited converter is operative, in response to a reduction in or loss of power from said local utility interface, to controllably store energy in said auxiliary energy storage device from a limited amount of power extracted from said telecommunication span.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said power limited converter is operative to controllably draw a maximum amount of said limited power available from the network until said auxiliary energy storage device stores its maximum capacity of energy, and thereafter controllably modulating power from said telecommunication span so as to draw only energy necessary for operation of said telecommunication device.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said power limited converter is operative to temporarily inhibit ringing, in response to energy available from said auxiliary storage device being insufficient to both operate said telecommunication device and generate a ringing signal.

4. A method of operating digital terminal equipment, which is coupled to a communication link, and is operative to conduct digital communications over said communication link, said communication link being powered by way of a telecommunication facility that is remote with respect to said digital terminal equipment, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) for a first, normal mode of operation of a local power source, deriving power for operating said digital terminal equipment from said local power source, so that said digital terminal equipment may conduct digital communications over said communication link;

(b) for a second, abnormal mode of operation of said local power source in which power from said local power source is insufficient to operate said digital terminal equipment, maintaining operation of said digital terminal equipment, so that said digital terminal equipment may continue to conduct digital communications over said communication link, by deriving power for operating said digital terminal equipment from said communication link, and limiting said power derived from said communication link to no more than a prescribed limited amount of power.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein step (b) comprises controllably modulating power derived from said communication link to store energy for operating said digital terminal equipment in an auxiliary power storage device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein step (b) comprises controllably operating a ringing circuit of said digital terminal equipment using energy stored in said auxiliary power storage device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein operation of said ringing circuit requires power in excess of said prescribed limited amount of power.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein step (b) comprises, in response to said prescribed limited amount of power derived from said communication link being insufficient to operate said digital terminal equipment, maintaining operation of said digital terminal equipment, so that said digital terminal equipment may continue to conduct digital communications over said communication link, by deriving power for operating said digital terminal equipment from energy stored in said auxiliary power storage device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein step (b) further comprises limiting operation of a ringing circuit of said digital terminal equipment, in response to power available from said communication link and said auxiliary power storage device being insufficient to operate said digital terminal equipment.

10. The method according to claim 4, wherein step (a) further includes storing, in an auxiliary power storage device, power supplied from said local power source, in addition to that required for operating said digital terminal equipment.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein step (b) comprises operating a ringing circuit of said digital terminal equipment using power derived from at least one of energy stored in said auxiliary power storage device and power derived from said communication link.

12. An apparatus for operating digital terminal equipment, which is coupled to and is operative to conduct digital communications over a communication link, said communication link being powered by way of a telecommunication facility that is remote with respect to said digital communication terminal equipment, said apparatus comprising:

a first power coupling circuit, which is operative, for a first, normal mode of operation of a local power source, to derive power for operating said digital terminal equipment, from said local power source, so that said digital terminal equipment may conduct digital communications over said communication link; and

a second power coupling circuit, which is operative, for a second, abnormal mode of operation of said local power source in which power from said local power source is insufficient to operate said digital terminal equipment, to maintain operation of said digital terminal equipment, so that said digital terminal equipment may continue to conduct digital communications over said communication link, by deriving power for said digital terminal equipment from said communication link, and limiting said power derived from said communication link to no more than a prescribed limited amount of power.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said second power coupling circuit is operative to controllably modulate power derived from said communication link in order to store energy for operating said digital terminal equipment in an auxiliary power storage device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second power coupling circuit is operative to controllably operate a ringing circuit of said digital terminal equipment using energy stored in said auxiliary power storage device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein operation of said ringing circuit requires power in excess of said prescribed limited amount of power.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second power coupling circuit is operative, in response to said prescribed limited amount of power derived from said communication link being insufficient to operate said digital terminal equipment to maintain operation of said digital terminal equipment, so that said digital terminal equipment may continue to conduct digital communications over said communication link, by deriving power for operating said digital terminal equipment from energy stored in said auxiliary power storage device.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said second power coupling circuit is operative to limit operation of a ringing circuit of said digital terminal equipment, in response to power available from said communication link and said auxiliary power storage device being insufficient to operate said digital terminal equipment.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first power coupling circuit is operative to store, in an auxiliary power storage device, power supplied from said local power source, in addition to that required for operating said digital terminal equipment.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said second power coupling circuit is operative to supply power to a ringing circuit of said digital terminal equipment using power derived from at least one of energy stored in said auxiliary power storage device and power derived from said communication link.