Powered device including a multi-use detection resistor

• US 8,386,088 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Velez, Alejandro, Landry, David Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAJNIKANT B
• Application Number:
  US13/174,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20110254619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 713300-330, 713/297, 324530-534, 323/277, 323/280, 323282-284, 700295-297
• US Class Current: 700/297
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving a powered device (PD) detection signal at a PD from a powered network and applying the PD detection signal to an external resistor to provide a detection signature to the powered network. Further, the method includes receiving a PD classification mark signal at the PD, applying the received PD classification mark signal to the external resistor, and selectively activating a classification mark current path in parallel with the external resistor to produce a classification mark signature.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit for use in a Power Over Ethernet (POE) powered device, the integrated circuit comprising:

a first conductive terminal configurable to couple to a first terminal of an external resistor;

a second conductive terminal configurable to couple to a second terminal of an external resistor; and

a controller configured to selectively couple the second conductive terminal to a power supply terminal to provide a powered device detection signature in response to a powered device detection signal, the controller to selectively couple the second conductive terminal to the power supply terminal through a current source to produce a powered device classification mark signature in response to a classification mark signal.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller selectively couples the second conductive terminal to the power supply terminal through a second current source to produce a powered device classification signature in response to a powered device classification signal.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller selectively couples the first conductive terminal to a reference voltage to produce a reference current in response to receiving a power supply from a power source equipment (PSE) device.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

the power supply terminal;

the current source coupled to the second conductive terminal;

a first switch coupled between the power supply terminal and the second conductive terminal;

a second switch coupled between the current source and the power supply terminal; and

wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the first switch in response to the powered device detection signal and the second switch in response to the classification mark signal.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 4, further comprising:

a second current source coupled to the second conductive terminal;

a third switch coupled between the second current source and the power supply terminal; and

wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the third switch in response to a powered device classification signal.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising a communications interface coupled to the controller and configurable to couple to a network cable for receiving power and data from a power source equipment (PSE) device.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising a reference voltage generator coupled to the first conductive terminal and configured to generate a reference voltage.

8. An integrated circuit comprising:

a positive supply pin configurable to couple to a first terminal of an external circuit component;

a multi-use pin configurable to couple to a second terminal of the external circuit component; and

control circuitry configurable to selectively couple the multi-use pin to a selected one of a plurality of current paths, the control circuitry to couple a first path of the plurality of current paths to the multi-use pin to provide a powered device detection signature and to couple a second path of the plurality of current paths to the multi-use pin to provide a powered device classification signal.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is configured to couple the multi-use pin to a third path of the plurality of current paths to provide a third signal.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 8, wherein the external circuit component comprises a passive circuit element.

11. The integrated circuit of claim 10, wherein the passive circuit element comprises at least one of a resistor, a capacitor, and an inductor.

12. The integrated circuit of claim 8, wherein the external circuit component comprises an active circuit component.

13. The integrated circuit of claim 12, wherein the active circuit component comprises at least one of a transistor, a filter, and an amplifier.

14. The integrated circuit of claim 8, wherein the first path comprises:

a detection switch including a first terminal coupled to the multi-use pin, a second terminal coupled to a negative supply pin, and a control terminal; and

wherein the control circuitry includes a powered device detection control circuit coupled to the control terminal of the detection switch and configured to selectively activate the detection switch to conduct current from the multi-use pin to the negative supply pin in response to a powered device detection signal.

15. The integrated circuit of claim 8, wherein the second path comprises:

a classification mark switch including a first terminal, a second terminal coupled to a negative supply pin, and a control terminal;

a first current generator including a first current electrode coupled to the positive supply pin, a second current electrode coupled to the first terminal of the classification mark switch, and a third current electrode coupled to the multi-use pin; and

wherein the control circuitry includes a powered device classification control circuit that is coupled to the control terminal of the classification mark switch and configured to selectively activate the classification mark switch to conduct current from the multi-use pin to the negative supply pin in response to a powered device classification mark signal.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 15, wherein the plurality of current paths comprises a third path comprising:

a classification switch including a first terminal, a second terminal coupled to the negative supply pin, and a control terminal;

a second current generator including a first current electrode coupled to the positive supply pin, a second current electrode coupled to the first terminal of the classification switch, and a third current electrode coupled to the multi-use pin; and

wherein the controller is coupled to the control terminal of the classification switch and configured to selectively activate the classification switch to conduct current from the multi-use pin to the negative supply pin in response to a powered device classification signal.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a first pin configurable to couple to a first terminal of an external circuit component;

a multi-use pin configurable to couple to a second terminal of an external circuit component;

a first current flow path having a first terminal coupled to a supply terminal and having a second terminal;

a second current flow path having a first terminal coupled the supply terminal and having a second terminal; and

control circuitry configured to selectively couple the second terminal of one of the first current flow path and the second current flow path to the multi-use pin in response to a signal on the first pin.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry couples the first current flow path to the multi-use pin in response to a powered device detection signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry couples the second current flow path to the multi-use pin in response to a powered device classification signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a third current flow path having a first terminal coupled to a supply terminal and having a second terminal; and

wherein the control circuitry selectively couples the second terminal of the third current flow path to the multi-use pin in response to a classification mark signal.