Connector module with embedded power-over-ethernet voltage isolation and method

• US 7,701,092 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhou, Nian, Parker, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaplan, Hal I
• Application Number:
  US10/741,920
• Time in Patent Office: 2,314 Days
• Field of Search: 307/17, 307/154
• US Class Current: 307/154
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

A connector module includes a jack socket capable of receiving a communication link. The connector module also includes magnetics coupled to the jack socket for supplying power to a peripheral device coupled to the link through the jack socket. The connector module further includes Power-over-Ethernet management logic for controlling the supplying of power to the peripheral device by providing a voltage to the magnetics. In addition, the connector module includes at least one voltage isolator for isolating the voltage used by the Power-over-Ethernet management logic from at least one digitally-referenced voltage.

Claims

1. A connector module, comprising:

a jack socket receiving a communication link;

magnetics coupled to the jack socket, the magnetics supplying power to a peripheral device coupled to the link through the jack socket;

Power-over-Ethernet management logic controlling the supplying of power to the peripheral device by the magnetics; and

at least one voltage isolator operable for dividing the connector module into a digitally-referenced voltage domain and an isolated power supply voltage domain and isolating one or more digitally-referenced voltage signals in the digitally-referenced voltage domain from the Power-over-Ethernet management logic in the isolated power supply voltage domain, and wherein the at least one voltage isolator is a one of;

implemented within a shielding of the connector module and removable from the connector module.

2. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the at least one voltage isolator comprises at least one of:

one or more isolation circuits embedded in a Power-over-Ethernet management component that comprises the Power-over-Ethernet management logic and one or more optocouplers.

3. The connector module of claim 2, wherein the at least one voltage isolator isolates the voltage used by the Power-over-Ethernet management circuitry from the one or more digitally-referenced voltage signals communicated over at least one bus between one or more components within the digitally-referenced voltage domain and the Power-over-Ethernet management logic.

4. The connector module of claim 3, wherein the at least one bus comprises at least one of a control bus and a status bus.

5. The connector module of claim 4, wherein:

the at least one bus comprises the control bus and the status bus; and

the at least one voltage isolator further comprises,

two optocouplers for isolating a first digitally-referenced voltage signal in the control bus, and

one optocoupler for isolating a second digitally-referenced voltage signal in the status bus.

6. The connector module of claim 2, wherein the one or more isolation circuits isolate the voltage used by the Power-over-Ethernet management logic from a digital voltage and a digital ground received by the one or more isolation circuits.

7. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is coupled to at least two center taps of the magnetics.

8. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the magnetics comprise:

a transformer; and

a coil filter coupled to the transformer, the coil filter comprising two coils receiving a differential input signal and a third coil receiving a power supply input for the magnetics.

9. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the voltage isolator is within the shielding and the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is within the shielding.

10. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the Power-over-Ethernet management logic comprises an integrated circuit chip.

11. The connector module of claim 1, wherein the magnetics comprise:

a transformer; and

a coil filter coupled to the transformer, the coil filter comprising two coils receiving a differential input signal and a third coil receiving a power supply input for the magnetics.

12. The connector module of claim 1, wherein:

the magnetics comprise a first transformer and a second transformer, each transformer having a center tap located on a side of the transformer associated with the jack socket;

the center tap of the first transformer receives and superimposes an alternating current (AC) signal onto a direct current (DC) voltage, the DC voltage comprising the power supplied to the peripheral device, the Power-over-Ethernet management logic using the AC signal to determine when the peripheral device has been disconnected from the communication link; and

the center tap of the second transformer acts as a voltage return associated with the DC voltage.

13. A motherboard, comprising:

a processor communicating with at least one peripheral device; and

a connector module comprising;

a jack socket receiving a communication link;

magnetics coupled to the jack socket, the magnetics supplying power to the peripheral device through the jack socket;

Power-over-Ethernet management logic controlling the supplying of power to the peripheral device by the magnetics; and

at least one voltage isolator operable for dividing the connector module into a digitally-referenced voltage domain and an isolated power supply voltage domain and isolating one or more digitally-referenced voltage signals in the digitally-referenced voltage domain from the Power-over-Ethernet management logic in the isolated power supply voltage domain, and wherein the at least one voltage isolator is a one of;

implemented within a shielding of the connector module and removable from the connector module.

14. The motherboard of claim 13, wherein the at least one voltage isolator comprises at least one of:

one or more isolation circuits embedded in a Power-over-Ethernet management component that comprises the Power-over-Ethernet management logic and one or more optocouplers.

15. The motherboard of claim 14, wherein the at least one voltage isolator isolates the voltage used by the Power-over-Ethernet management logic from the one or more digitally-referenced voltage signals communicated over at least one bus between one or more components within the digitally-referenced voltage domain and the Power-over-Ethernet management logic.

16. The motherboard of claim 15, wherein the at least one voltage isolator further comprises:

two optocouplers for isolating a first digitally-referenced voltage signal in a control bus; and

one optocoupler for isolating a first digitally-referenced voltage signal in a status bus.

17. The motherboard of claim 15, wherein the one or more isolation circuits isolate the voltage used by the Power-over-Ethernet management logic from a digital voltage and a digital ground received by the one or more isolation circuits.

18. The motherboard of claim 13, wherein the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is coupled to at least two center taps of the magnetics.

19. The motherboard of claim 13, wherein the magnetics comprise:

a transformer; and

a coil filter coupled to the transformer, the coil filter comprising two coils receiving a differential input signal and a third coil receiving a power supply input for the magnetics.

20. The motherboard of claim 13, wherein the at least one voltage isolator is within the shielding and the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is within the shielding.

21. A method, comprising:

receiving a voltage for Power-over-Ethernet management logic from a power supply, the Power-over-Ethernet management logic forming a portion of a connector module coupled to a peripheral device over a communication link;

dividing the connector module into a digitally-referenced voltage domain and an isolated power supply voltage domain by isolating the voltage received for the Power-over-Ethernet management logic from at least one digitally-referenced voltage used by the connector module; and

isolating the voltage using at least one voltage isolator that is a one of;

implemented within a shielding of the connector module and removable from the connector module.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein isolating the voltage from the power supply and the at least one digitally-referenced voltage comprises isolating the voltage from the power supply and the at least one digitally-referenced voltage used in at least one bus.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is coupled to at least two center taps of magnetics in the connector module.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a motherboard comprising a processor;

a connector module coupled to the motherboard and comprising;

a plurality of jack sockets receiving a plurality of communication links;

a plurality of magnetics coupled to the jack sockets, the plurality of magnetics supplying power to a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to the links through the jack sockets;

Power-over-Ethernet management logic controlling the supplying of power to the peripheral device by the plurality of magnetics; and

at least one voltage isolator operable for dividing the connector module into a digitally-referenced voltage domain and an isolated power supply voltage domain and isolating one or more digitally-referenced voltage signals in the digitally-referenced voltage domain from the Power-over-Ethernet management logic in the isolated power supply voltage domain, and wherein the at least one voltage isolator is a one of;

implemented within a shielding of the connector module and removable from the connector module; and

a power supply supplying power to at least one of the motherboard and the connector module.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one voltage isolator is within the shielding and the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is within the shielding.