Power control subsystem with a plurality of current limit values
First Claim
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1. A power control subsystem for controlling the supply of power transmitted to at least one node over communication cabling, the power control subsystem comprising:
- a plurality of power allocation circuits;
a power supply providing a power input to each of the power allocation circuits;
a control circuit providing control signals to each of the power allocation circuits;
wherein each of the power allocation circuits comprises;
a current limiter arranged to limit current of the power input from the power supply to one of a plurality of values, the plurality of values being set by a plurality of programmable voltages;
a plurality of references, each of the references provided by a respective one of the programmable voltages, wherein each of the plurality of programmable voltages is provided by a voltage source receiving a control signal from the management circuit; and
a plurality of comparators, each of the comparators being associated with a particular one of the plurality of references,wherein the current limiter is in communication with, and responsive to, the plurality of comparators and wherein the plurality of values are a function of the plurality of references, the current limiter configured to provide a current limited output signal to a twisted pair of the communication cabling carrying data.
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Abstract
A power control subsystem for controlling the supply of power transmitted to at least one node over communication cabling, the power control subsystem comprising: a plurality of references; a plurality of comparators, each of the comparators being associated with a particular one of the plurality of references; and a current limiter in communication with the plurality of comparators and arranged to limit current of the power transmitted over communication cabling responsive to the plurality of comparators.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power control subsystem for controlling the supply of power transmitted to at least one node over communication cabling, the power control subsystem comprising:
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a plurality of power allocation circuits; a power supply providing a power input to each of the power allocation circuits; a control circuit providing control signals to each of the power allocation circuits; wherein each of the power allocation circuits comprises; a current limiter arranged to limit current of the power input from the power supply to one of a plurality of values, the plurality of values being set by a plurality of programmable voltages; a plurality of references, each of the references provided by a respective one of the programmable voltages, wherein each of the plurality of programmable voltages is provided by a voltage source receiving a control signal from the management circuit; and a plurality of comparators, each of the comparators being associated with a particular one of the plurality of references, wherein the current limiter is in communication with, and responsive to, the plurality of comparators and wherein the plurality of values are a function of the plurality of references, the current limiter configured to provide a current limited output signal to a twisted pair of the communication cabling carrying data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A power control subsystem for controlling the supply of power transmitted to a plurality of nodes over communication cabling, the power control subsystem comprising:
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a plurality of means for allocating power; means for providing a power input to each of the power allocation circuits; means for providing control signals to each of the power allocation circuits; wherein each of the power allocating means comprises; means for limiting current of the power input from the power input means to one of a plurality of values, the plurality of values being set by a plurality of programmable voltages; a plurality of references, each of the references provided by a respective one of the programmable voltages, wherein each of the plurality of programmable voltages is provided by a voltage source receiving a control signal from the management circuit; and a plurality of comparators, each of the comparators being associated with a particular one of the plurality of references, wherein the current limiting means is in communication with, and responsive to, the plurality of comparators and wherein the plurality of values are a function of the plurality of references, the current limiting means configured to provide a current limited output signal to a twisted pair of the communication cabling carrying data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling output power to at least one node over communication cabling, the method comprising:
limiting a current level of the output power to one of a plurality of values, including programming a plurality of reference voltage sources that are in communication with a current limiting circuit, each of the reference voltage sources being associated with a particular comparator of a plurality of comparators, wherein limiting the current comprises; at each reference voltage source, receiving a respective control signal from a management circuit; providing a plurality of references from the reference voltage sources; and providing a current limited output signal to a twisted pair of the communication cabling from the current limiting circuit, wherein the current limiting circuit is in communication with, and responsive to, the plurality of comparators, wherein the plurality of values are a function of the references from the plurality of reference voltage sources, and wherein the twisted pair further carries data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification