Ethernet-to-analog controller

• US 7,565,211 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Caveney, Jack E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Paul L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rao; Sheela
• Application Number:
  US11/283,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20060165097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 700/75, 700/286, 700/21, 700/264, 700/79, 700/82, 370/311, 370/395.53, 713/340, 713/300
• US Class Current: 700/75
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/44 Arrangements for feeding power to a repeater along the transmission line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40032 Details regarding a bus interface enhancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems

Abstract

Systems and methods allow communication between an Ethernet network and non-Ethernet devices. An Ethernet-to-analog adapter allows translation of analog signals for Ethernet communication, and further allows translation of Ethernet signals for analog communication with analog devices. Ethernet-to-analog adapters allow for power management and monitoring of attached analog devices and employ Power over Ethernet (PoE) to supply power to analog devices. A rechargeable battery may be provided to satisfy the peak power requirements of an attached analog device.

Claims

1. An Ethernet-to-analog system comprising:

an Ethernet-to-analog controller having an Ethernet connection port, an analog device connector, and a battery connector;

an analog device connected to said analog device connector; and

a rechargeable battery connected to said battery connector;

wherein said Ethernet-to-analog controller receives power via said Ethernet connection port and further routes power from at least one of said Ethernet connection port and said rechargeable battery to said analog device, said Ethernet-to-analog controller comprises a power component that provides normal operating power to said analog device from said Ethernet connection port and that routes power from said rechargeable battery to said analog device when power from said Ethernet connection port is insufficient to power said analog device and there is an increase in power consumption by said analog device, and said Ethernet-to-analog controller comprises a digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converter that provides data connectivity between said Ethernet connection port and said analog device connector.

2. The Ethernet-to-analog system of claim 1 wherein said analog device is selected from the group consisting of a smoke detector, a fire alarm, a security camera, a motion detector, a door access mechanism, a badge reader, a biometric sensor, emergency lighting, a temperature sensor, a machine controller, and an radio frequency identification reader.

3. The Ethernet-to-analog system of claim 1 wherein said Ethernet-to-analog controller comprises a power-over-Ethernet component that is capable of being detected as a powered device and that is further capable of accepting power-over-Ethernet according to the IEEE 802.3af power-over-Ethernet standard.

4. The Ethernet-to-analog system of claim 1 wherein said Ethernet-to-analog controller comprises a power component that converts said power received from said Ethernet connection port to power requirements of said analog device and that further provides a trickle current to said rechargeable battery.

5. The Ethernet-to-analog system of claim 1 wherein said rechargeable battery is contained within the same housing as the Ethernet-to-analog controller.

6. An Ethernet-to-analog controller comprising:

an Ethernet connector;

an Ethernet-compatible digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converter;

an Ethernet interface with a processor, said Ethernet interface capable of communicating with network components via Simple Network Management Protocol and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol;

power-over-Ethernet components capable of being detected as a powered device and further capable of accepting power-over-Ethernet according to the IEEE 802.3af power-over-Ethernet standard;

a battery connector;

an analog device connector for connecting said Ethernet-to-analog controller to an analog device; and

power components for converting power-over-Ethernet to alternative power requirements of analog devices and further for providing a trickle current capable of recharging a battery connected to said battery connector, and wherein said power components are capable of routing power from said battery to said analog device when power from said power-over-Ethernet is insufficient and is due to an increase in power consumption by said analog device.

7. The Ethernet-to-analog controller of claim 6 wherein said Ethernet-to-analog controller is mounted in a ceiling via a ceiling adapter.

8. The Ethernet-to-analog controller of claim 6 further comprising a rechargeable battery connected to said battery connector.

9. The Ethernet-to-analog controller of claim 6 wherein said analog-to-digital converter converts analog signals of an attached analog device to digital signals for communication to a network via said Ethernet connection.

10. The Ethernet-to-analog controller of claim 6 wherein said digital-to-analog converter converts digital signals from said Ethernet connection to analog signals for communication to an analog device via said analog device connector.

11. The Ethernet-to-analog controller of claim 6 wherein said processor is adapted to report the physical location of the Ethernet-to-analog controller in response to a request from a network management system via said Ethernet connector.

12. The Ethernet-to-analog controller of claim 6 wherein said Ethernet interface comprises an active network device having a Media Access Control ID chip.