Providing compatibility with both electrically isolated and non-isolated modules in an ethernet system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- determining whether a module inserted into a slot is compliant with the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard (a compliant module) that requires its return terminal to be coupled to a negative terminal of a power sourcing equipment by a return line or a module that is not compliant with the PoE standard (a non-compliant module) that requires its return terminal to be coupled to the negative terminal of the power sourcing equipment through a ground plane;
connecting the return terminal of the inserted module to the return line, isolating the return terminal from the ground plane, and using the return terminal to return current to the power sourcing equipment via the return line if the inserted module is a compliant module; and
connecting the return terminal of the inserted module to the ground plane and using the return terminal to return current to the power sourcing equipment via the ground plane if the inserted module is a non-compliant module.
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Abstract
A system and method for configuring a slot to be compatible with both modules that are compliant with the isolation requirements for power over Ethernet and modules that are not compliant.
36 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining whether a module inserted into a slot is compliant with the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard (a compliant module) that requires its return terminal to be coupled to a negative terminal of a power sourcing equipment by a return line or a module that is not compliant with the PoE standard (a non-compliant module) that requires its return terminal to be coupled to the negative terminal of the power sourcing equipment through a ground plane; connecting the return terminal of the inserted module to the return line, isolating the return terminal from the ground plane, and using the return terminal to return current to the power sourcing equipment via the return line if the inserted module is a compliant module; and connecting the return terminal of the inserted module to the ground plane and using the return terminal to return current to the power sourcing equipment via the ground plane if the inserted module is a non-compliant module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system comprising:
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a processor configured to read identification information from a module inserted into the slot to determine whether an inserted module is compliant with the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard (a compliant module) or a module that is not compliant with the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard (a non-compliant module); a return line that couples a return terminal of the module to the negative terminal of a power sourcing equipment; a relay connected between the return line and a ground plane, with the relay having a closed state and an open state; with the processor configured to cause the relay to be in the open state when the inserted module is a compliant module to use the return terminal to return current to the power source equipment via the return line and to isolate the compliant module from the ground plane and with the processor configured to cause the relay to be in the closed state when the inserted module is a non-compliant module to use the return terminal to return current to the power sourcing equipment via the ground plane. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A system comprising:
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means for determining whether a module inserted into a slot is compliant with the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard (a compliant module) that requires its return terminal to be coupled to a negative terminal of a power sourcing equipment by a return line or a module that is not compliant with the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard (a non-compliant module) that requires its return terminal to be coupled to the negative terminal of the power sourcing equipment through a ground plane; means for connecting the return terminal of the inserted module to the return line to use the return terminal to return current to the power sourcing equipment via the return line and for isolating the return terminal from the ground plane if the inserted module is a compliant module; and means for connecting the return terminal of the inserted module to the ground plane and using the return terminal to return current to the power sourcing equipment via the ground plane if the inserted module is a non-compliant module. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification