Single unit integrated transformer assembly

• US 6,483,203 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: McCormack, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Polk, Sharon
• Application Number:
  US09/590,565
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 307/17, 307/83, 395/281
• US Class Current: 307/17
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 19/08 Transformers having magnetic bias, e.g. for handling pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2019/085 Transformer for galvanic isolation
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/027 specially adapted for combination of signal type inductors or transformers with electronic circuits, e.g. mounting on printed circuit boards

Abstract

A transformer unit includes a first isolation transformer, a second isolation transformer and a power transformer. A single package incorporates the first isolation transformer, the second isolation transformer and the power transformer. A plurality of connection pins provide connections to the first isolation transformer, to the second isolation transformer and to the power transformer. A process is also provided for connecting transmission lines to a network device including providing transmission lines carrying an electrical supply current, sufficient to power the network device, concurrently with a network data signal. The single unit has the first integrated isolation transformer the second integrated isolation transformer and the power transformer. Some of the transmission lines are connected to the first isolation transformer to isolate transmission signals on the sending transmission lines from a transmitter of the network device. Some other transmission lines are connected to the second isolation transformer to isolate transmission signals on the receiving transmission lines from a receiver of the device. Within the single unit each of the first isolation transformer and the second isolation transformer are connected to the power transformer. The power transformer is used to supply power to the circuit board of the network devise at a potential which is reduced compared to a potential of said transmission lines carrying the electrical supply current.

Claims

1. A transformer unit, comprising:

an isolation transformer having a first winding and a second winding;

a power transformer having a first winding connected to said first winding of said isolation transformer and having a second winding;

a single package incorporating said isolation transformer and said power transformer; and

a plurality of connection pins including pins providing connections to said isolation transformer from outside said package and pins providing connections to said power transformer from outside said package, said plurality of connection pins including transmission line connection pins, connecting between said isolation transformer and transmission lines carrying a signal with concurrently a power component and a communications network data signal component, isolated communications network data pins connected between a network device and said isolation transformer second winding and an isolated communications network;

data signal and transformed power signal pins connected between said power transformer second winding and a power contact of the network device said carrying a transformed power signal.

2. A transformer unit according to claim 1, wherein said transmission lines are Ethernet network data Tx⁺, Tx⁻

, Rx⁺, Rx⁻

lines.

3. A transformer unit according to claim 1 wherein said transmission lines carry a 60 Hz 48 V AC signal (60 Hz ISO 48V potential ) between the Tx⁺ and Tx⁻

and the Rx⁺ and Rx⁻

and the Tx⁺ and Tx⁻

have a series superimposed plus 2V pulse signal as said data signal.

4. A transformer unit according to claim 1, where said transformed power signal pins provide 12 volts AC to a circuit board connected to a power contact;

of the network device.

5. A transformer unit according to claim 1, wherein said power transformer includes a core and a winding and two isolation transformers are provided each including a core and windings.

6. A transformer unit according to claim 1, further comprising another isolation transformer, wherein said isolation transformer and said another isolation transformer each include a center tap.

7. A transformer unit, comprising:

a first isolation transformer having a first winding and a second winding;

a second isolation transformer having a first winding and a second winding;

a power transformer having a first winding connected to said first isolation transformer first winding and connected to said second isolation transformer first winding and said power transformer having a second winding;

a single package incorporating said first isolation transformer, said second isolation transformer and said power transformer;

first and second transmission path wire connection pins each connected to said first isolation transformer first winding and each extending out of said package and each respectively connected to a transmission line carrying one of an ETHERNET Tx⁺ or ETHERNET Tx⁻

network signal and concurrently a power component;

first and second isolated transmission path pins each connected to said first isolation transformer second winding and each extending out of said package and each being respectively connected to contacts of a circuit board of the network device and carrying one of an ETHERNET Tx⁺ or ETHERNET Tx⁻

isolated signal, isolated from the network signal, and concurrently the isolated power component;

first and second receiving path wire connection pins each connected to said second isolation transformer first winding and each extending out of said package and each respectively connected to a transmission line carrying one of an ETHERNET Rx⁺ or ETHERNET Rx⁻

network signal and concurrently a power component;

first and second isolated receiving path pins each connected to said second isolation transformer second winding and each extending out of said package and each being respectively connected to contacts of a circuit board of the network device and carrying one of the ETHERNET Rx⁺ or ETHERNET Rx⁻

isolated signal, isolated from the network signal, and concurrently the isolated power component; and

first and second transformed power signal pins connected to said power transformer first winding and said power transformer second winding and carrying a transformed power signal.

8. A transformer unit according to claim 7, wherein said transmission lines carry a 60 Hz 48 V AC signal (60 Hz ISO 48V poential) between the Tx⁺ and Tx⁻

and the Rx⁺ and Rx⁻

and the Tx⁺ and Tx⁻

have a series superimposed plus 2V pulse signal as said data signal.

9. A transformer unit according to claim 7, wherein said power transformer includes a core and a winding and said first isolation transformer and said second isolation transformer are provided each including a core and windings.

10. A transformer unit according to claim 7, wherein sad first isolation transformer and said second isolation transformer each including a center tap.

11. A process for connecting transmission lines to a network device, the process comprising the steps of:

providing transmission lines carrying an electrical supply AC signal with a series superimposed pulse signal as a data signal;

providing a single package with a first integrated isolation transformer with first and second windings disposed in said package with said first winding connected to pins extending out of said package and with said second winding connected to pins extending out of said package, a second integrated isolation transformer with first and second windings disposed in said package and with said second isolation transformer first winding connected to pins extending out of said package and with said second isolation transformer second winding connected to pins extending out of said package and with a power transformer with first and second windings disposed in said package with said power transformer second windings connected to pins extending out of said package;

connecting the network device to the first integrated isolation transformer second winding pins and to the second integrated isolation transformer second winding pins outside of the package;

connecting some of the transmission lines to the first isolation transformer first winding pins to connect the first isolation transformer first winding to transmission signals on the sending transmission lines;

connecting some other transmission lines to the second isolation transformer first windings pins to connect the second isolation transformer first winding to transmission signals on the receiving transmission lines;

within the single package, connecting each of the first isolation transformer first winding and the second isolation transformer first winding to the power transformer first winding;

connecting the power transformer second winding pins to a power contact of the network device to use the power transformer to supply power to the circuit board of the network device at a potential which is reduced compared to a potential of said transmission lines carrying the electrical supply current.

12. A transformer unit, comprising:

a first isolation transformer;

a second isolation transformer;

a power transformer;

a single package incorporating said first isolation transformer, said second isolation transformer and said power transformed; and

a plurality of connection pins extending form outside of the single package to within the single package and including first isolation transformer isolation pins, first isolation transformer network pins, second isolation transformer isolation pins, second isolation transformer network pins and power transformer stepped down voltage pins, wherein said first isolation transformer and said second isolation transformer each include an isolation center tap pin.

13. A transformer unit according to claim 12, wherein said power transformer is connected to said first isolation transformer center tap and to said second isolation transformer center tap.

14. A transformer unit according to claim 12, wherein said transmission lines are carrier sense multiple access/collision detection network data Tx⁺, Tx⁻

, Rx⁺, Rx⁻

lines.