Power transfer apparatus for use by network devices including telephone equipment

• US 6,658,098 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• 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): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US10/238,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20030007614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.36, 379/102.04, 379/399-1-3, 379/206.01, 340/310-1-3, 340/310-7-3, 370/352, 370/419, 370/412, 370/487, 370/490, 375/257, 375/259, 455/3--
• 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. A system for providing power to a telephone, comprising:

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

a coupler coupled to the proximal end of the transmission line, the coupler having a data input and a power input, wherein the coupler combines the data input and the power input into a composite signal for transmission via the transmission line, the composite signal comprising a data signal and a power signal;

a power source switch comprising a first input, a second input coupled to an external power source, and an output coupled to a telephone; and

a decoupler coupled to the distal end of the transmission line, the decoupler providing the data signal to the network device and providing the power signal to the first input of the power source switch;

wherein the power source switch is switchable between the first input and the second input to provide power to the telephone via the output.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data signal includes telephone bearer data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the data signal further includes network data.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a telephone coupler, the telephone coupler comprising:

a first telephone coupler input coupled to the output of the power source switch;

a second telephone coupler input for receiving data from the decoupler; and

a telephone coupler output for providing power and data to the telephone.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the telephone coupler output comprises an analog data signal.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein power provided to the telephone comprises alternating current.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein power provided to the telephone comprises direct current.

8. A method for providing power to a telephone, comprising:

coupling a combined signal to a proximal end of a transmission line, the transmission line also having a distal end coupled to a network device, wherein the combined signal comprises a first power signal and a data signal;

separating the combined signal into the first power signal and the data signal at the distal end of the transmission line;

coupling the first power signal at the distal end of the transmission line to a first input of a power source switch;

coupling an external power source to a second input of the power source switch; and

selectively switching the power source switch between the first input and the second input to provide power to the telephone, the telephone being coupled to an output of the power source switch.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the power source switch is switched from the second input to the first input when the external power source fails.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein an indication that the external power source has failed is detected at the coupler, causing the coupler to supply power to the transmission line.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing the data signal to the network device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the data signal comprises telephone bearer data.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein telephone data from the data signal is combined with a second power signal from the output of the power source switch, and wherein the combined telephone data and the second power signal are provided to the telephone.

14. A method for providing power to a telephone, comprising:

coupling a combined signal to a proximal end of a transmission line, the transmission line also having a distal end coupled to a network device, wherein the combined signal comprises a power signal and a data signal, the power signal being coupled to the proximal end of the transmission line in response to a power quality signal from the distal end of the transmission line;

separating the combined signal into the power signal and the data signal at the distal end of the transmission line;

coupling the power signal at the distal end of the transmission line to a first input of a power source switch;

coupling an external power source to a second input of the power source switch;

selectively switching the power source switch between the first input and the second input to provide power to the telephone, the telephone being coupled to an output of the power source switch;

wherein the power source switch is switched from the second input to the first input in response to the power quality signal, the power quality signal indicating inadequate external power; and

providing telephone data from the data signal separated at the distal end of the transmission line to the telephone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein power and data are provided to the telephone via a telephone coupler.

16. A system for providing power to a telephone, comprising:

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

a coupling circuit coupled to the proximal end of the transmission line, the coupling circuit having a data input and a power input, wherein the coupling circuit combines the data input and the power input into a composite signal for transmission via the transmission line, the composite signal comprising a data signal and a power signal;

a power source circuit comprising a first input, a second input coupled to an external power source, and an output coupled to the telephone; and

a decoupling circuit coupled to the distal end of the transmission line, the decoupler providing the data signal to the network device and providing the power signal to the first input of the power source circuit;

wherein the power source circuit provides power to the telephone, the power being provided from at least one input of the power source circuit.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the data signal includes telephone bearer data.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data signal further includes network data.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a telephone coupler, the telephone coupling circuit comprising:

a first telephone coupling circuit input coupled to the output of the power source circuit;

a second telephone coupling circuit input for receiving data from the decoupler; and

a telephone coupling circuit output for providing power and data to the telephone.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the telephone coupling circuit output comprises an analog data signal.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein power provided to the telephone comprises direct current.

22. The system of claim 16, further comprising an uninterruptible power supply coupled to the power input to the coupling circuit.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the power source circuit isolates the first input from the second input.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the power source circuit is switchable between the first input and the second input.

25. A system for providing power to a telephone, comprising:

a transmission line having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end coupled to a network device, the transmission line further comprising at least a first pair of conductors and a second pair of conductors;

a coupling circuit coupled to the proximal end of the transmission line, the coupling circuit having a data input, a first power input, and a second power input, wherein the coupling circuit combines the data input and at least one of the power inputs into a composite signal for transmission via the transmission line, the composite signal comprising a data signal and a power signal;

a power source circuit comprising a first input, a second input coupled to an external power source, and an output coupled to the telephone; and

a decoupling circuit coupled to the distal end of the transmission line, the decoupler providing the data signal to the network device and providing the power signal to the first input of the power source circuit;

wherein the power source circuit provides power to the telephone, the power being provided from at least one input of the power source circuit.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first power input is combined with the data input to generate the composite signal, and wherein the composite signal is coupled to the first pair of conductors.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein:

the second power input is combined with a second data input to the coupling circuit to generate a second composite signal;

wherein the second composite signal is coupled to the second pair of conductors; and

wherein at least one of the first power signal and the second power signal is coupled to the first input to the power source circuit.