CONTACTLESS POE CONNECTOR AND CONTACTLESS POE CONNECTION SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a contactless PoE connector for contactless power and data transmission via a PoE connection and to a contactless PoE connection system in which such contactless PoE connectors are used.

[0002] Power-over-Ethernet technology, or PoE for short, is based on a standardized process for supplying power to network end devices via an Ethernet network cable, eliminating the need for a separate power cable. Current connectors for Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) are primarily RJ45 or M12 sockets and plugs, which are used to mechanically connect Ethernet cables.

[0003] A contactless connector system is known, for example, from EP 3 168 953 A1, which comprises a power transmission connector and a power reception connector. The connectors are designed for bidirectional data transmission, with power and data being supplied to different interfaces of the power transmission connector on the input side and thus already present at the power transmission connector separately from each other. On the output side, power and data are output via different interfaces of the power reception connector.

[0004] The well-known contactless connector system is not suitable for use in a PoE environment.

[0005] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a contactless PoE connector and a contactless PoE connection system with which conventional plug connections for connecting PoE devices in a PoE environment can be replaced, if desired.

[0006] The above-mentioned technical problem is solved, on the one hand, by the features of claim 1.

[0007] The invention is defined in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0008] According to this, a contactless PoE connection system for contactless power and data transmission via a PoE connection is provided, which comprises a first contactless PoE connector for contactless power and data transmission via a PoE connection. The first contactless PoE connector has the following features: A first contactless interface designed for data transmission, a second contactless interface designed for energy transmission, a third interface to which a first Ethernet line can be connected, wherein the third interface is designed to receive data and energy that can be transmitted together via the first Ethernet line, a data and energy separation device connected to the first contactless, second contactless and third interfaces, which is designed to separate energy and data that are present at the third interface and to specifically supply data to the first contactless interface and to specifically supply data to the second wireless interface.

[0009] It should be noted that the data and power isolator performs a kind of splitter functionality.

[0010] In addition, the contactless PoE connection system includes a second contactless PoE connector for contactless power and data transmission via a PoE connection, which has the following features: A fourth contactless interface configured for data transmission, a fifth contactless interface configured for receiving power coming from another contactless PoE connector, a sixth interface to which a second Ethernet line can be connected, the sixth interface configured to jointly supply data and power to the second Ethernet line, a data and power combining device connected to the fourth contactless, the fifth contactless, and the sixth interface, which combines the data received via the fourth contactless interface and the power received via the fifth interface and supplies them to the sixth interface for joint transmission via the second Ethernet line.

[0011] It should be noted that the data and power merging device performs a type of merger functionality in which data and power are mixed together for transmission over the second Ethernet line.

[0012] The contactless PoE connection system is further configured such that, in the coupled state of the first and second contactless PoE connectors, the first contactless interface of the first contactless PoE connector and the fourth contactless interface of the second contactless PoE connector as well as the second contactless interface of the first contactless PoE connector and the fifth contactless interface of the second contactless PoE connector are substantially aligned with one another and a detachable connection exists between the first and second contactless PoE connectors, so that energy and data can be transmitted contactlessly via the first and second contactless PoE connectors.In this case, a first PoE device can be connected to the first Ethernet line, which is designed to send and / or receive data via the first Ethernet line of the first contactless PoE connector and to feed energy into the first Ethernet line of the first contactless PoE connector, and furthermore a second PoE device can be connected to the second Ethernet line of the second contactless PoE connector, which is designed to send and / or receive data via the second Ethernet line of the second contactless PoE connector and to draw energy via the second Ethernet line of the second contactless PoE connector.

[0013] The contactless PoE connection system is characterized in that the first PoE device, which can be connected to the first Ethernet line of the first contactless PoE connector, is designed to transmit information describing the type of power feed into the first Ethernet line of the first contactless PoE connector to the first contactless PoE connector, wherein the first contactless PoE connector is designed to supply the data of the first contactless interface and the power of the second contactless interface in a manner predetermined by the information in response to the information describing the type of power feed into the first Ethernet line of the first contactless PoE connector, wherein the first contactless PoE connector is designed to transmit the information describing the type of power feed into the first Ethernet line of the first contactless PoE connector,to the second contactless PoE connector, wherein the second contactless PoE connector is configured to supply the data and power to the sixth interface of the second contactless PoE connector in response to the information coming from the first contactless PoE connector in a manner predetermined by the information. For this purpose, a control and / or evaluation unit can be assigned to the data and power separation device, wherein the control and / or evaluation device evaluates the information and controls the data and power separation device accordingly.

[0014] At this point it should be noted that there are two types of power supply, namely spare pair power supply and phantom power supply.

[0015] With the spare-pair power supply method, the unused wire pairs of the Ethernet cable, specifically wire pairs 4 / 5 and 7 / 8, are used for power transmission. In other words, power and data are transmitted separately via different wire pairs.

[0016] With phantom power, the data-carrying wires in the Ethernet cable—wire pairs 1 / 2 and 3 / 6—are used for power transmission. In other words, power and data are transmitted together over the same data-carrying wires of the Ethernet cable.

[0017] Preferably, the first PoE connector may comprise means for releasably connecting and aligning the first contactless PoE connector with the second contactless PoE connector, and the second contactless PoE connector may comprise means for releasably connecting and aligning the second contactless PoE connector with the first contactless PoE connector.

[0018] It should be noted at this point that the first and second Ethernet lines can preferably each be an eight-wire Ethernet cable. The third and sixth interfaces can also be referred to as wired interfaces.

[0019] At this point, it should be noted that a contactless PoE connector is a connector that enables contactless power and data transmission, i.e. wireless, preferably inductive or capacitive data and power transmission with another contactless PoE connector.

[0020] According to an advantageous development, it is provided that the first and fourth contactless interfaces are each designed to send and receive data, that the third interface is designed to send data via the first Ethernet line and the sixth interface is designed to receive data transmitted via the second Ethernet line, that the data and energy separating device of the first contactless PoE connector is designed to transfer data coming from the second contactless PoE connector to the third interface for transmission via the first Ethernet line, and that the data and energy combining device of the second PoE connector is designed to feed data coming from the sixth interface to the fourth contactless interface for transmission.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the contactless PoE connection system, the first and second contactless PoE connectors each have a flat coupling surface with a coupling device, wherein the coupling devices are designed such that, in the coupled state, the first and fourth contactless interfaces as well as the second and fifth contactless interfaces are substantially aligned with one another and a detachable connection exists between the first and second contactless PoE connectors.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment, the coupling devices each have at least one magnet, wherein the at least one magnet of the first contactless PoE connector and the at least one magnet of the second contactless PoE connector attract each other.

[0023] Preferably, the coupling devices may each have complementary positioning elements that facilitate the coupling of the PoE connectors.

[0024] The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. They show: Figure 1 shows an exemplary contactless PoE connection system with two contactless PoE connectors according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows exemplary pin assignments of a conventional PoE connector.

[0025] In Figure 1 An exemplary contactless PoE connection system for contactless power and data transmission 10 via a PoE connection is shown. The term "contactless" specifically expresses that the data and power transmitted using Power-Over-Ethernet technology are transmitted inductively and / or capacitively between two contactless PoE connectors.

[0026] The exemplary PoE connection system includes two contactless PoE connectors, namely a first contactless PoE connector 20 and a second contactless PoE connector 30.

[0027] The first contactless PoE connector 20 has a first contactless interface 24, which is designed, for example, for bidirectional data transmission, and a second contactless interface 25, which is preferably designed for unidirectional power transmission. The two contactless interfaces 24 and 25 are arranged on a coupling surface 28 of the first PoE connector 20, which essentially represents a flat surface. Furthermore, the first contactless PoE connector 20 has a third interface 21, to which a first Ethernet cable 40 can be connected. The third interface 21, which can also be referred to as a wired interface in contrast to the contactless interfaces 24 and 25, is preferably arranged on a side of the first PoE connector 20 opposite the coupling surface 28.

[0028] The first Ethernet line 40 can be a conventional eight-wire Ethernet cable. Accordingly, the third interface 21 preferably has eight connection contacts, each connected to one of the eight wires of the Ethernet line 40. The third interface 21 is designed to receive data and power that can be transmitted jointly via the Ethernet line 40. A PoE device 50 can be connected to the other end of the first Ethernet line 40. This device can be, for example, a PoE device having a transceiver 51 for transmitting and / or receiving data via the Ethernet line 40. The PoE device 50 can further have an internal supply source 52, which can, for example, provide the power for a PoE terminal device 60. The transmitting / receiving device 51 and the power supply source 52 are connected to an interface 53 of the PoE device 50.The interface 53 preferably has eight connection contacts that can be electrically connected in a defined manner to the transmitting / receiving device 51 and the power supply source 52. The manner in which the eight connection contacts can be electrically connected to the transmitting / receiving device 51 and the power supply source 52 depends, for example, on the type of power supply selected.

[0029] If an eight-wire Ethernet cable, for example, Ethernet cable 40, is used for a PoE application, two different types of power supply are known: spare pair power and phantom power. With spare pair power, the power provided by power source 52, for example, is transmitted via the unused wires of Ethernet cable 40 that are not used for data transmission, i.e., via wire pairs 4 / 5 and / or 7 / 8. With phantom power, the power provided by power source 52, for example, is transmitted along with the data via the wires of Ethernet cable 40 that are used for data transmission, i.e., via wire pairs 1 / 2 and / or 3 / 6. The designation of the wires corresponds to the pin assignment of an RJ45 connector used for a PoE application. The corresponding pin assignment for both power supply types is shown in Fig. 2This pin assignment also applies to the connection contacts of interface 53 of PoE device 50, interface 21 of first PoE connector 20, interface 31 of second PoE connector 30, and interface 62 of PoE device 60.

[0030] The first contactless PoE connector 20 further comprises a data and power separator 21, which is electrically connected to the first contactless interface 24, the second contactless interface 25, and the third interface 21. The electrical connection between the third interface 21 and the data and power separator 22 also comprises eight wires, corresponding to the Ethernet cable 40 used as an example, via which the data or power is supplied to the data and power separator 21. The data and power separator 22 functions as a type of splitter, designed to separate the power and data present at the third interface 21 and to specifically supply data to the first contactless interface 24 and to specifically supply the power or transmitted current to the second contactless interface 25.

[0031] The two contactless interfaces 24 and 25 can be designed as inductive or capacitive elements, for example, as antenna coils or capacitor plates. Preferably, the first contactless PoE connector 20 has an internal power supply source, for example, in the form of a battery 27, which, among other things, supplies the data and power isolating device 22 with power. Alternatively, the data and power isolating device 22 can also be supplied with power from the power source 52 of the PoE device 50, which is transmitted from the PoE device 50 via the Ethernet line 40.

[0032] The second contactless PoE connector 30, which is complementary to the first contactless PoE connector 20, has a fourth contactless interface 34, which is preferably designed for bidirectional data transmission, and a fifth contactless interface 35, which is designed to receive energy emitted by the other contactless PoE connector 20. The two contactless interfaces 34 and 35 are arranged on a coupling surface 38 of the second PoE connector 30, which essentially represents a flat surface. Furthermore, the second contactless PoE connector 30 has a sixth interface 31, to which a second Ethernet line 41 can be connected. The second Ethernet line 41 is preferably again an eight-wire Ethernet cable. The two Ethernet lines 40 and 41 can be considered a PoE connection.

[0033] The sixth interface 31, which can also be referred to as a wired interface in contrast to the contactless interfaces 34 and 35, is preferably arranged on a side of the second PoE connector 30 opposite the coupling surface 38. The sixth interface 31 can also have eight connection contacts, each of which is connected to one of the eight wires of the second Ethernet line 41. The sixth interface 31 is designed to supply data and power jointly to the Ethernet line 41. Furthermore, the second PoE connector 30 has a data and power merging device 32, which is electrically connected to the fourth contactless interface 34, the fifth contactless interface 35, and the sixth interface 31.The electrical connection between the data and power combining device 32 and the sixth interface 31 preferably has eight wires corresponding to the eight-wire Ethernet line 41. The data and power combining device 32 is designed to combine the data received via the fourth contactless interface 34 and the power received via the fifth contactless interface 35, or to mix them together in such a way that they can be transmitted together via the second Ethernet line 41 to the PoE terminal device 60.

[0034] In the coupled state of the first and second contactless PoE connectors 20, 30, the first and fourth contactless interfaces 24, 34 and the second and fifth contactless interfaces 25, 35 are substantially aligned with each other. It should be noted that in Figure 1 the two PoE connectors 20 and 30 are still shown in the separated state.

[0035] The first PoE connector 20 may include a coupling device 23, 26 for releasably connecting and aligning the first contactless PoE connector 20 with the other second contactless PoE connector 30. Similarly, the second PoE connector 30 may include a coupling device 33, 36 for releasably connecting and aligning the second contactless PoE connector 30 with the other first contactless PoE connector 20.

[0036] The coupling device 23, 26 of the first PoE connector 20 is arranged on the coupling surface 28 and can have at least one magnet. The coupling device 33, 36 of the second PoE connector 30 is arranged on the coupling surface 38 and can have at least one magnet. The at least one magnet of the first PoE connector 20 and the at least one magnet of the second PoE connector 30 attract each other. The coupling devices 23, 26, 33, and 36 ensure that, in the coupled state, the first contactless interface 24 and the fourth contactless interface 34, as well as the second contactless interface 25 and the fifth contactless interface 35, are substantially aligned with one another, and a detachable connection exists between the first and second PoE connectors 20, 30.In addition, the respective coupling devices of the first and second PoE connectors 20 and 30 may have complementary positioning elements, for example in the form of pins and sockets, which, however, are not shown.

[0037] It should be noted that the two PoE connectors 20 and 30 are designed for bidirectional data transmission. This can be achieved by the first contactless interface 24 of the first PoE connector 20 and the fourth contactless interface 34 of the PoE connector 30 each being configured to transmit and receive data. Furthermore, the third interface 21 of the first PoE connector 20 can be configured to transmit data via the first Ethernet line 40 to the PoE terminal device 50, while the sixth interface 31 of the second PoE connector 30 is configured to receive data transmitted via the second Ethernet line 41 and forward it to the data and power merging device 32.The data and power separator 22 of the first contactless PoE connector 20 can be configured to transfer data coming from the second contactless PoE connector 30, which is supplied, for example, by the PoE terminal device 60, to the third interface 21 for transmission via the first Ethernet line 40. The data and power combining device 32 of the second contactless PoE connector 30 can be configured to supply data coming from the sixth interface 31, which is transmitted, for example, by the PoE terminal device 60, to the fourth contactless interface 34 for transmission to the first PoE connector 20.The second PoE connector 30 and in particular the data and power merging device 32 can be powered, for example, from an integrated power supply source 37 or the external power supply source 52 of the PoE device 50 by transmitting the power from the power supply source 52 to the second PoE connector 30 via the Ethernet line 40 and the first PoE connector 20.

[0038] In order to be able to intelligently inform the contactless PoE connectors 20 and 30 about how, for example, the PoE device 50 is feeding power into the first Ethernet line 40—e.g., according to phantom or spare pair power—the PoE device 50 connected to the Ethernet line 40 can be configured to transmit information representing the type of power supply via the transceiver 51 via the Ethernet line 40 to the first contactless PoE connector 20. Other ways of communicating the information about the type of power supply used to the first PoE connector 20 are also conceivable. The first PoE connector 20 can be configured to recognize the received information about the type of power supply.For this purpose, a control and / or evaluation unit 29 can be implemented in the first PoE connector 20, which can be integrated into the data and power isolating device 22 or realized as a separate component, wherein the control and / or evaluation unit 29 can communicate with the data and power isolating device 22. The data and power isolating device 22 can be configured to supply the data to the first contactless interface 24 and the power to the second contactless interface 23 in response to the type of power supply detected by the control and / or evaluation device 29. Furthermore, the first PoE connector 20 and in particular the control and / or evaluation unit 29 can be configured to communicate the detected type of power supply to the second contactless PoE connector 30.The data and power combining device 32 of the second contactless PoE connector 30 is expediently designed to supply the data and power to the connection contacts of the sixth interface 31 determined by the power supply used, in response to the information about the type of power supply coming from the first contactless PoE connector 24.

[0039] As in Figure 1As shown by a dashed line, the first contactless PoE connector 20 can, for example, be installed in a switch box wall 70 in a watertight and dustproof manner. In this way, a device housed in the switch box and electrically connected to the first PoE connector 20 can be easily serviced, for example, without having to open the switch box. A further advantage of such an application is that galvanic isolation can be established between a maintenance device and the switch box. This is particularly advantageous for switch boxes in which dangerous voltages are present.

[0040] At this point it should be noted that the coupling devices 23, 26 and 33, 36 can also be designed as a mechanical locking device, for example as a bayonet lock.

[0041] The following describes the functionality of the Figure 1The contactless PoE connection system 10 shown as an example is explained in more detail.

[0042] Let us assume that in the PoE device 50, the energy provided by the power supply source 52 is to be fed into the Ethernet line 40 in the manner of a spare pair supply. As soon as the two PoE connectors 20 and 30 are coupled together, corresponding information is transmitted from the transmitting / receiving device 51, for example via wire pair 3 / 4 of the Ethernet line 40, which is connected to the corresponding connection contacts of the interface 53, to the first PoE connector 20 and transferred via the interface 21 to the control and / or evaluation unit implemented in the data and power isolating device 22 for evaluation.Since the power supply in the PoE device 50 is carried out in the manner of a spare pair supply, the control and / or evaluation device of the first PoE connector 20 knows that data is being received or sent via the wire pair 1 / 2 and the wire pair 3 / 6 of the Ethernet line 40, which are connected to the corresponding connection contacts of the third interface 21, and that power can be transmitted from the PoE device 50 via the wire pair 4 / 5 and the wire pair 7 / 8 of the Ethernet line 40, which are connected to the corresponding connection contacts of the third interface 21.

[0043] The information about the type of power supply used can be transmitted wirelessly via interface 24 to interface 34 and then to the second PoE connector 30, preferably to the data-power combining device 32. The data and power combining device 32 can be configured to evaluate the received information. In response to the evaluated information "spare pair power supply is being used," the data and power combining device 32 now knows that data is being transmitted to the PoE device 60 via the two wire pairs 1 / 2 and 3 / 6 of the Ethernet line 41, which are connected to the corresponding connection contacts of the sixth interface 31, and that power is being transmitted to the PoE device 60 via the two wire pairs 4 / 5 and 7 / 8 of the Ethernet connection line 41, which are connected to the corresponding connection contacts of the sixth interface 31.

[0044] Similarly, the two PoE connectors 20 and 30 detect when power is supplied according to the phantom power.

Claims

1. A contactless PoE connection system (10) for contactless power and data transmission via a PoE connection, comprising: - a first contactless PoE connector (20) for contactless power and data transmission via a PoE connection, comprising: a first contactless interface (24) configured for data transmission, a second contactless interface (25) designed for power transmission, a third interface (21) to which a first Ethernet line (40) can be connected, wherein the third interface (21) is configured to receive data and power that can be transmitted together via the first Ethernet line (40), and a data and power separation device (22) connected to the first contactless, second contactless and third interfaces (24, 25, 21), which is configured to separate power and data present at the third interface (21) and to feed the data specifically to the first contactless interface (24) and to feed the power specifically to the second contactless interface (25), and - a second contactless PoE connector (30) for contactless power and data transmission via a PoE connection, comprising: a fourth contactless interface (34) designed for data transmission, a fifth contactless interface (35) configured to receive power from another contactless PoE connector (20), a sixth interface (31) to which a second Ethernet line (41) can be connected, wherein the sixth interface (31) is configured to supply data and power jointly to the second Ethernet line (41), and a data and power combination device (32) connected to the fourth contactless interface (34), the fifth contactless interface (35), and the sixth interface (31) (34, 35, 31), which combines the data received via the fourth contactless interface (34) and the power received via the fifth contactless interface (35) and feeds them to the sixth interface (31) for joint transmission via the second Ethernet line (41), wherein in the coupled state of the first and second contactless PoE connectors (20, 30), the first contactless interface (24) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) and the fourth contactless interface (34) of the second contactless PoE connector (30) as well as the second contactless interface (25) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) and the fifth contactless interface (35) of the second contactless PoE connector (30) are aligned substantially in line with each other and a releasable connection exists between the first and second contactless PoE connectors (20, 30) so that power and data can be transmitted contactlessly via the first and second contactless PoE connectors (20, 30), wherein a first PoE device (50) can be connected to the first Ethernet line (40), which is configured to send and / or receive data via the first Ethernet line (40) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) and feed power into the first Ethernet line (40) of the first contactless PoE connector (20), and wherein a second PoE device (60) can be connected to the second Ethernet line (41) of the second contactless PoE connector (30), which is configured to transmit and / or receive data via the second Ethernet line (41) of the second contactless PoE connector (30) and obtain power via the second Ethernet line (41) of the second contactless PoE connector (30), characterized in that the first PoE device (50) connectable to the first Ethernet line (40) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) is configured to transmit information describing the type of power supply to the first Ethernet line (40 ) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) to the first contactless PoE connector (20), wherein the first contactless PoE connector (20) is configured to deliver in response to the information describing the type of power supply to the first Ethernet line (40) of the first contactless PoE connector (20), the data of the first contactless interface (24) and the power of the second contactless interface (25) in a manner predetermined by the information, wherein the first contactless PoE connector (20) is configured to supply the information describing the type of power input into the first Ethernet line (40) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) to the second contactless PoE connector (30), wherein the second contactless PoE connector (30) is configured to supply in response to the information coming from the first contactless PoE connector (20) the data and power to the sixth interface (31) of the second contactless PoE connector (30) in a manner specified by the information.

2. The contactless PoE connection system (10) according to claim 1, characterized by a device (23, 26) for releasably connecting and aligning the first contactless PoE connector (20) with the second contactless PoE connector (30) and by a device (33, 36) for releasably connecting and aligning the second contactless PoE connector (30) with the first contactless PoE connector (20).

3. The contactless PoE connection system according to claim 2, characterized in that the first contactless interface (24) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) and the fourth contactless interface (34) of the second contactless PoE- connector (30) are each designed for transmitting and receiving data, that the third interface (21) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) is configured to transmit data via the first Ethernet line (40) and the sixth interface (31) of the second contactless PoE connector (30) is configured to receive data transmitted via the second Ethernet line (41) of the second contactless PoE connector (30), that the data and power separation device (22) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) is configured to transfer data coming from the second contactless PoE connector (30) for transmission via the first Ethernet line (40) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) to the third interface (21) of the first contactless PoE connector (20), and that the data and power combining device (32) of the second contactless PoE connector (30) is configured to feed data coming from the sixth interface (31) of the second contactless PoE connector (30) to the fourth contactless interface (34) of the second contactless PoE connector (30) for transmission.

4. The contactless PoE connection system according to claim 3, characterized in that the first and second contactless PoE connectors (20, 30) each have a flat coupling surface (28, 38) with a coupling device (23, 26; 33, 36), wherein the coupling devices are configured such that, in the coupled state, the first contactless interface (24) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) and the fourth contactless interface (34) of the second contactless PoE connector (30) and the second contactless interface (25) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) and the fifth contactless interface (35) of the second contactless PoE connector (30) are essentially aligned with each other and a detachable connection exists between the first and second contactless PoE connectors (20, 30).

5. The contactless PoE connection system according to claim 4, characterized in that the coupling devices (23, 26; 33, 36) each have at least one magnet, wherein the at least one magnet (23, 26) of the first contactless PoE connector (20) and the at least one magnet (33, 36) of the second contactless PoE connector (30) attract each other.

6. The contactless PoE connection system according to claim 5, characterized in that the coupling devices (23, 26; 33, 36) have complementary positioning elements.