Inline power controller
First Claim
1. An inline power controller, comprising:
- at least one analog interface circuit module, the analog interface circuit module having;
a first analog input node for receiving an inline power port voltage;
a second analog input node for receiving an inline power port current;
a first analog output for effecting an inline power port voltage;
a second analog output for effecting an inline power port current;
a digital interface converting the received inline power port voltage to a first digital value, the inline power port current to a second digital value, a third digital value to the first analog output and a fourth digital value to the second analog output;
a digital serial bus (DSB);
a digital controller responsive to a series of instructions stored in a programmable memory associated with the digital controller; and
the digital controller coupled to communicate with the at least one analog interface circuit module via the DSB.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inline power controller includes at least one analog interface circuit module (AICM) having a first analog input node for receiving an inline power port voltage, a second analog input node for receiving an inline power port current, a first analog output for effecting an inline power port voltage, a second analog output for effecting an inline power port current, and a digital interface converting the received inline power port voltage to a digital value, the inline power port current to a digital value, a first digital value to the first analog output and a second digital value to the second analog output. A digital serial bus (DSB) couples the AICM to a digital controller via digital serial bus interfaces (DSBIs).
65 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An inline power controller, comprising:
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at least one analog interface circuit module, the analog interface circuit module having; a first analog input node for receiving an inline power port voltage; a second analog input node for receiving an inline power port current; a first analog output for effecting an inline power port voltage; a second analog output for effecting an inline power port current; a digital interface converting the received inline power port voltage to a first digital value, the inline power port current to a second digital value, a third digital value to the first analog output and a fourth digital value to the second analog output; a digital serial bus (DSB); a digital controller responsive to a series of instructions stored in a programmable memory associated with the digital controller; and the digital controller coupled to communicate with the at least one analog interface circuit module via the DSB. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for controlling inline voltage or current on an inline power port, the method comprising:
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transmitting digital current effector or digital voltage effector signals from a digital controller over a digital serial bus to an analog interface circuit module; converting the received digital current effector or digital voltage effector signals to corresponding analog signals at the analog interface circuit module; applying the analog current effector or analog voltage effector signals to an inline power port coupled to the analog interface circuit module; receiving analog current or analog voltage signals at the analog interface circuit module from the inline power port; converting the received analog current or analog voltage signals to corresponding digital signals at the analog interface circuit module; and transmitting the digital current or digital voltage signals from the analog interface circuit module over the digital serial bus to the digital controller. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for controlling inline voltage or current on an inline power port, the apparatus comprising:
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means for transmitting digital current effector or digital voltage effector signals from a means for digital control over a means for digital communication to a means for analog interface; means associated with the means for analog interface for converting the received digital current effector or digital voltage effector signals to corresponding analog signals; means for applying the analog current effector or analog voltage effector signals to the inline power port coupled to the means for analog interface; means associated with the means for analog interface for receiving analog current or analog voltage signals from the inline power port; means associated with the means for analog interface for converting the received analog current or analog voltage signals to corresponding digital signals; and means associated with the means for analog interface for transmitting the digital current or digital voltage signals over the means for digital communication to the means for digital control. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A network device providing inline powered ports in a wired data telecommunications network, the device comprising:
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a network device central processing unit (CPU); at least one inline power controller module (IPCM) in communication with the CPU, the IPCM including; a digital controller responsive to a series of instructions stored in a programmable memory associated with the digital controller; at least one analog interface circuit module, the analog interface circuit module having; a first analog input node for receiving an inline power port voltage; a second analog input node for receiving an inline power port current; a first analog output for effecting an inline power port voltage; a second analog output for effecting an inline power port current; and a digital interface converting the received inline power port voltage to a digital value, the inline power port current to a digital value, a first digital value to the first analog output and a second digital value to the second analog output; and a digital serial bus interface (DSB), the digital controller coupled to communicate with the at least one analog interface circuit module via the DSB. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A network device configured as power sourcing equipment (PSE) in a wired data telecommunications network, the device comprising:
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a network device central processing unit (CPU); at least one inline power controller module (IPCM) in communication with the CPU, the IPCM including; a digital controller responsive to a series of instructions stored in a programmable memory associated with the digital controller; at least one inline power port; at least one analog interface circuit module associated with the at least one inline power port, the analog interface circuit module having; a first analog input node for receiving an inline power port voltage from the at least one inline power port; a second analog input node for receiving an inline power port current from the at least one inline power port; a first analog output for effecting an inline power port voltage at the at least one inline power port; a second analog output for effecting an inline power port,current at the at least one inline power port; and a digital interface converting the received inline power port voltage to a digital value, the inline power port current to a digital value, a first digital value to the first analog output and a second digital value to the second analog output; and a digital serial bus (DSB) configured to carry instructions having a width of W bits and a length of L bits and configured as a loop which couples (1) a digital serial bus interface (DSBI) output of the digital controller to a DSBI input of the at least one analog interface circuit module and (2) a DSBI output of the last of the at least one analog interface circuit modules to a DSBI input of the digital controller, the digital controller coupled to communicate with the at least one analog interface circuit module via the DSBI.
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Specification