System for providing different polarities of power supplied over ethernet cables

• US 7,346,786 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Autonomic Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Dimick, Brent, Klingensmith, James B, Armstrong, Elton
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US10/953,431
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/324, 700/286
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A system and method adjusts the polarity of power provided over Ethernet cabling according to configuration information received.

Claims

1. A system for providing power, comprising:

a user interface manager for providing at a first output a prompt for a power polarity to be provided from a connector, receiving at an input the power polarity, and providing an indicator of the power polarity at a second output;

a power polarity controller having an indication input coupled to the user interface manager second input for receiving the indicator of the power polarity, and a power input coupled to the connector for receiving the power, the power polarity controller for providing at an output at least a portion of the power received, the power provided having a polarity responsive to the indicator of the power polarity received; and

the connector for providing power, the connector having a first at least one conductor for communicating networking signals, and a second at least one conductor coupled to the power polarity controller output for providing the power.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the power polarity controller provides the power by, responsive to the power polarity indicator received at the power polarity controller indication input, one selected from:

reversing a polarity of the power received; and

maintaining the polarity of the power received.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the power polarity indicator distinguishes between:

a standards-organization-specified power standard; and

a power standard specified by a single company and having a polarity opposite that of the standards-organization--specified power standard.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the connector is an RJ-45 connector.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second at least one conductor of the connector is coupled to wireless network equipment.

6. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising an isolated inverter having an input coupled to a source of the power, the isolated inverter for isolating and providing at an output coupled to the power polarity controller power input at least a portion of the power received at the isolated inverter input.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the isolated inverter provides at the isolated inverter output the at least a portion of the power isolated at a voltage different from a voltage of the power received at the isolated inverter input.

8. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising a filter having an input coupled to the power polarity controller output for receiving at least a portion of the power provided by the power polarity controller, the filter for filtering and providing at an output at least a portion of the power received at the filter input.