Splitting unit for single pair ethernet hybrid line and hybrid ethernet power system

Abstract

To provide a splitting unit for a single pair Ethernet (SPE) hybrid line, and a hybrid Ethernet (R) power system, which have a tree structure and realize a high data transfer rate over long cable lengths while adding no disturbance to a signal and realizing a high power density.SOLUTION: In a hybrid Ethernet power system 90, a splitting unit 14 includes an input connection element 11, a first output connection element 15, and at least one second output connection element 13. The input connection element and the first and second output connection elements transfer power and data. The splitting unit 14 further includes at least one active unit 7 operable to provide power and data to the second output connection element. The active unit has a power supply device 3. The power supply device is connected to the input connection element and to at least one of the output connection elements, and draws power out of a power line 16 onto a data line 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a splitting unit for a single pair Ethernet (SPE) hybrid line that transmits power and data, and a hybrid Ethernet power system. [Background technology]

[0002] Single-pair Ethernet is intended to enable continuous Internet Protocol-based communication from the control level to the field level, including power supplies, reducing costs and simplifying installation. There are different standards available for establishing Ethernet connections over copper cables with only a single twisted pair of wires, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3bp-2016 (1000Base-T1), IEEE 802.3bw-2015 (100Base-T1), and IEEE 802.3cg-2019 (10Base-T1). These standards define different speeds, from 10 Mbit / s to over 100 Mbit / s, up to 1000 Mbit / s. The maximum distances that can be bridged vary between 15 m, 40 m, and 1000 m.

[0003] Only a single wire pair can be used to transmit full-duplex signals, so signals travel in both directions on the wire pair simultaneously. The signals overlap as they travel in opposite directions down the cable.

[0004] Similar to Power over Ethernet for LAN cabling, Single Pair Ethernet also allows devices to be supplied with the electrical energy they need to operate via copper cables. The Power over Data Line (PoDL) standard, IEEE 802.3bu-2016, was created for this purpose, allowing up to 50 W of power to be supplied to external devices. This differs between the power sourcing equipment (PSE), which is responsible for supplying the energy, and the powered device (PD), which uses the supplied power.

[0005] In a hybrid Ethernet system, power and data signals are supplied to the network in a main trunk cable, from which spur cables branch off, connecting devices to the main cable and ultimately to the network, with the goal of achieving long spur cable lengths with high data transmission rates. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a splitting unit that creates a tree-structured Ethernet system, allowing high data transmission rates over long cable lengths, while at the same time not adding disturbance to the signal and allowing high power density. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the present disclosure are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0008] The present disclosure is based on the idea that one component, the split unit, comprises an active unit, thus enabling the transmission of data and power to the device and the flexible adjustment of the required cable thickness and length.

[0009] Specifically, a splitting unit for a single-pair Ethernet (SPE) hybrid line includes an input connection element, a first output connection element, and at least one second output connection element. The input connection element, the first output connection element, and the at least one second output connection element are configured to transmit power and data. The splitting unit further includes at least one active unit operable to supply power and data to the at least one second output connection element. At least one splitting unit includes a PSE connected to the input connection element and at least one of the output connection elements. The PSE taps power from a power line onto a data line. Combining the PSE with SPE technology enables power and data transmission over a single pair of copper wires. Therefore, additional power cables to devices are not required, reducing costs and allowing for a smaller diameter spur cable compared to trunk cables. PoDL cables have a supply voltage of 6V to 60VDC and a current of 100mA to 1.579A. The maximum power available to a PD according to IEEE 802.3bu or IEEE 802.3cg is 50 W or 52 W, respectively. Therefore, by including the PSE in the split unit, high power density in the network is achieved.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, at least one active unit of the splitting unit has at least one SPE switching unit, which is connected to the input connection element and at least one of the output connection elements and allocates data to at least one of the output connection elements. The SPE switching unit preferably includes at least one integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is preferably made of a semiconductor material such as silicon. Furthermore, the integrated circuit illustratively includes at least one SPE transceiver (physical layer (PHY) chip) enabling transmission between a purely digital system and a physical medium and an Ethernet switch, both of which are implemented in one integrated circuit. However, it is clear that the at least one SPE transceiver and the Ethernet switch may be implemented in two different integrated circuits. The integrated circuit preferably increases the transmission speed that can be transmitted through and from the splitting unit, and at the same time has a very small size and very low power consumption. Integrating the SPE switching unit into the splitting unit has the advantage that, although the input signal is split into two output signals, signal disturbances on the trunk cable remain limited and do not increase. Therefore, spur cable lengths longer than 10 cm are feasible.

[0011] According to an advantageous further development of the present disclosure, at least one active unit splits a data line provided on the input connection element and switches between the split lines. Splitting the data line allows connecting multiple devices and split units in a network, whereby the devices are connected to the split units via thin spur cables. The split units selectively supply data to the devices to maintain a high network transmission rate. At the same time, the complexity and number of device components in all cable branches can be reduced, and the ring structure can be maintained.

[0012] According to an advantageous further development of the present disclosure, at least one active unit outputs power to an electronic device connected to at least one second output connection element of the splitting unit. The splitting unit can supply power via a dedicated power line or via a data line (by applying the PoDL scheme). In addition, the second output connection can provide one data and power line (by PoDL) to one device, with or without an additional power line. The additional power line can supply, for example, a voltage of up to 600 VDC and a current of up to 16 A. Due to the various power supply options, the splitting unit is very flexible and can supply power to different devices in different applications.

[0013] According to an advantageous further development of the present disclosure, at least one active unit refreshes the signals on the data lines, which allows the cable length to be increased and maintain a transmission rate of preferably 10 Mbit / s to 1 Gbit / s over that length, while simultaneously reducing the size and amount of connections required for all cable branches.

[0014] According to an advantageous further development of the present disclosure, the splitting unit is formed as a molded connection unit, and the input connection element, the first output connection element and the at least one second output connection element are provided as overmolded connector elements. This type of splitting unit is particularly small and easy to integrate into systems, making it applicable to various types of network applications.

[0015] According to an advantageous further development of the disclosure, at least one of the outlets of the input connection element, the first output connection element or the at least one second output connection element of the splitting unit can be attached to a cable or wire by a solder connection and / or a crimp connection and / or a insulation displacement connection and / or a screw connection and / or a pierce connection and / or a poke-in connection. Advantageously, at least one of the outlets of the input connection element, the first output connection element or the at least one second output connection element of the splitting unit can be attached to the separable connector by a screw connection and / or a latch connection and / or a push-pull connection and / or a plug-in connection.

[0016] According to an advantageous further development of the present disclosure, the splitter unit is configured as a T-junction unit, which can be produced at low cost and still offers a compact form that can be integrated into various systems.

[0017] According to an advantageous further development of the disclosure, the dividing unit is configured as an inclined connecting unit, which provides a space-saving dividing unit and allows connecting several connecting units to one another, the dividing unit preferably being inclined at 90°.

[0018] The present disclosure further relates to a hybrid Ethernet power system for a single-pair Ethernet network having at least one first electronic device, at least one second electronic device, and at least one splitting unit according to the present disclosure. The at least one first electronic device is connected to an input connection element of the at least one splitting unit, and the at least one second electronic device is connected to at least one second output connection element of the at least one splitting unit. Such an Ethernet system is easily applicable to various situations in which power and data are transmitted between two or more devices. The system can operate as a multi-drop topology or a point-to-point (P2P) topology, depending on the application.

[0019] According to an advantageous example of the present disclosure, the system transmits data and power between at least one first electronic device and at least one splitting unit. Advantageously, the system transmits data and power between at least one splitting unit and at least one second electronic device.

[0020] According to an advantageous example of the present disclosure, one of the at least one splitting unit is a last splitting unit that is terminated by a field termination unit at the first output connection element to reduce transmission errors caused by signal reflection.

[0021] According to an advantageous example of the present disclosure, at least one splitting unit is formed as a molded connection unit, and the input connection element, the first output connection element, and the at least one second output connection element of the at least one splitting unit are connected to a mating connector element attached to a cable.

[0022] For a better understanding of the present disclosure, the present disclosure will be described in more detail using examples shown in the following drawings, in which identical parts are designated by identical reference numerals and part names. Furthermore, some features or combinations of features of the various examples shown and described may also represent independent solutions, solutions of the present invention, or solutions according to the present disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an overview of an Ethernet system with a split unit. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates an advantageous example of an Ethernet system having a splitting unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an advantageous example of a splitting unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a further advantageous example of an Ethernet system having a splitting unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates a further advantageous example of an Ethernet system having a splitting unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a further advantageous example of an Ethernet system having a splitting unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an advantageous example of a first configuration of a splitting unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 10 is a circuit diagram of an advantageous example of a further configuration of a splitting unit according to the present disclosure; [Figure 9] 1 illustrates a further advantageous example of an Ethernet system having a splitting unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an advantageous example of a splitting unit according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an overview of a first overall example of an Ethernet system and a splitting unit.

[0025] FIG. 1 provides a general understanding of the topology of an Ethernet system and its components according to the present disclosure. The Ethernet system 90 illustratively includes three splitting units 14, one first electronic device 9, and two second electronic devices 1. However, the system 90 is not limited to this configuration. Any number of splitting units 14 and electronic devices 9, 1 is possible. Each splitting unit 14 includes an input connection element 11, a first output connection element 15, and one second output connection element 13. The number of outlets of a splitting unit may vary and may be four or more. The number of outlets of multiple splitting units in a network may also vary depending on the required devices to be connected. The presented splitting unit 14 provides an easy solution for adding additional branches to a cable structure.

[0026] Additionally, the splitter unit may be formed as an overmolded connection unit (not shown). The input connection element, the first output connection element, and the at least one second output connection element are interface elements of this overmolded connector, such that the splitter unit is formed as a compact, one-piece component that can be easily connected to a cable 8, 10 or wire. To connect the splitter unit 14 to the cable 8, 10, the connector element mates with a mating connector element (not shown) attached to the cable 8, 10.

[0027] The receptacles of the input connection element 11, the first output connection element 15, and the second output connection element 13 are attached to the cable via the connector 12. The connector 12 can be secured to the cable by a screw connection, a latch connection, a push-pull connection, and / or a plug-in connection. However, the connector 12 does not have to be attached to the receptacles 11, 13, and 15; the receptacles 11, 13, and 15 can be attached directly to the cable 8, 10 or wire by a solder connection, a crimp connection, an insulation displacement connection, a screw connection, a feed-through connection, and / or a poke-in connection. Furthermore, the three receptacles 11, 13, and 15 of the splitter unit 14 do not have to be connected in the same way. Each receptacle of the splitter unit 14 can be connected in a different way. This allows the splitter unit 14 connections, with or without the connector 12, to be installed both on-site and off-site, making them applicable to many applications.

[0028] The mating interface (not shown) of the connector will of course always depend on the signals transmitted to the respective receptacles 11, 13, 15. Depending on the number of lines (data and / or power) transmitted, the connector 12 may include different numbers of pins. The corresponding pin numbers of various embodiments are explained in more detail below.

[0029] The illustrated splitter units 14 are not limited to the T-shape shown, but may also be angled, allowing multiple connected splitter units to be stacked directly on top of each other, which can be used to add additional branches of the spur cable to the network system. Additionally, the splitter units may be formed in a Y-shape or any other known connection shape.

[0030] The first splitter unit 14 (left side) in FIG. 1 is connected to a first electronic device 9 and a second splitter unit 14 via a trunk cable 8. The trunk cable 8 represents the main line of the Ethernet network and connects the three splitter units 14 shown to the first electronic device 9. At a second output connection element 13, the splitter unit 14 is connected to a second electronic device 1 via a spur cable 10. The spur cable 10 represents a branch of the trunk cable and is directed to an external device. The trunk cable 8 conducts power lines 16 and data lines 18 along the three splitter units 14.

[0031] The first input connection element 11, the first output connection element 15, and the second output connection element 13 transmit power and data. The splitting unit can operate in various modes: it supplies data and power in a single line (according to PoDL) at the second output connection element 13 via the spur cable 10 to the second electronic device 1, or no spur cable is connected to the second output connection element 13, or in addition to data and power in a single line (according to PoDL), one additional power line is passed to the second electronic device 1.

[0032] Furthermore, at least power is allocated to the second output connection element 13 by the active unit 7 of the splitting unit 14. The splitting unit 14 includes at least one active unit 7. Depending on the type and location of the active unit 7, the splitting unit 14 can perform different functions.

[0033] The first electronic device 9 supplies power to the network, and the second electronic device 1 is powered by the network. Furthermore, both electronic devices 9 and 1 also include integrated circuits for transmitting and processing data. The supplied power illustratively has a voltage of up to 600 VDC and a current of up to 16 A. Therefore, the split unit and network system are applicable to industrial applications such as robots or machinery. However, different voltage and current values ​​can be realized depending on the needs of various applications.

[0034] The first electronic device 9 and the second electronic device 1 are connected to the trunk cable 8 and the spur cable 10, respectively, via connectors 12. Alternatively, the first electronic device 9 and the second electronic device 1 may be directly connected to cables or wires by one of the methods described above.

[0035] The above-described system and component configurations are of course valid for the following examples of the present disclosure.

[0036] A first example of the present disclosure having a network with a multi-drop topology is shown diagrammatically in Figure 2. The following figures are advantageous examples thereof:

[0037] IEEE standard 802.3cg defines two variants: a short-range variant, 10BASE-T1S, and a long-range variant, 10BASE-T1L. This standard defines transmission speeds up to 10 Mbit / s. For 10BASE-T1S, trunk cable lengths are defined as a maximum of 25 m, and spur cable lengths are defined as a maximum of 10 cm. For 10BASE-T1L, point-to-point cable lengths are defined as a maximum of 1000 m.

[0038] Furthermore, the short-range variant 10BASE-T1S uses a multi-drop topology, and in order to increase the achievable spur cable length for this variant, a splitter unit according to the invention can be included in such a topology.

[0039] In this example, the first electronic device 109 includes an external (non-PoDL) PSE 102 for supplying power and an integrated circuit 106a, illustratively selected as a PHY, for processing data. A mains cable 108 running along the input connection element 111 and the first output connection element 115 of the splitting unit 114 includes a power line 116 and a data line 118.

[0040] The splitting unit 114 comprises one active unit 107, which is the PSE 103. The PSE 103 is connected to an input connection element 111 and a second output connection element 113. The splitting unit 114 splits the data line and the power line, with one branch line going through a first output connection element 115 to the second splitting unit 114 and the other branch line going through the second output connection element 113 to the second electronic device 101.

[0041] PSE 103, which is part of split unit 114, provides power from power line 116 onto data line 118 only at the branch of the data line that passes through second output connection element 113 and does not travel along trunk cable 108. In this way, the cable length of trunk cable 108 can be increased compared to spur cable 110. While in this embodiment one active unit containing one PSE is shown, it will be apparent that multiple active units, and therefore multiple PSEs, may be part of a split unit.

[0042] Once power is drawn onto the data line, the second electronic device 101 is connected to the splitter unit 114 at the second output connection element 113 via only one line. This line 120 is a data and power line (via PoDL) and can provide data and power to the integrated circuit 106a of the second electronic device 101. This integrated circuit 106a can be a PHY. Furthermore, the PoDL cable 120 also provides power for the corresponding power element 105 of the second electronic device 101. PoDL technology allows power and data to be provided to the electronic device 101 via only one twisted cable pair. Therefore, the spur cable 110 can have a smaller diameter than the trunk cable 108.

[0043] At the first output connection element 115, the splitter unit 114 is illustratively connected to another further splitter unit 114 (center) via the trunk cable 108. Data and power are transmitted between these splitter units 114. According to the splitter unit 114 presented in the first example, the exemplary trunk cable length b1 may be up to 25 m at an exemplary transmission rate of 10 Mbit / s. This configuration reduces the number of components even in large networks. The data signal is not refreshed by the splitter unit, so that the feasible spur cable length d1 achievable with this configuration is illustratively 10 cm. The achieved cable length and transmission rate of the trunk cable and spur cable correspond to the requirements of the IEEE 802.3cg standard 10BASE-T1S.

[0044] 2, a second splitter unit 114 (center), illustratively shown with the same active unit components as the first splitter unit on the left, is not connected to the second electronic device 101 at the second output connection element 113. In this case, the active unit 107 also draws power from the power line onto the data line. However, the PoDL 120 provided at the second output connection element 113 is not further used. The data and power lines of the mains cable simply pass through the splitter unit 114.

[0045] The third splitter unit 114 (on the right side of FIG. 2 ) is illustratively shown as the final splitter unit in the Ethernet system 100. However, it is clear that four or more splitter units may be incorporated into the system 100. The third splitter unit 114 is also connected to the second electronic device 101 via a spur cable. This splitter unit illustratively includes the same mechanisms as the first and second splitter units. However, here, the second electronic device 101 is connected not only via a single power and data line 120 (per PoDL) but also via an additional power line 116. This power line 116 is a branch line of the main power line 116 of the trunk cable 108. This additional power line 116 can supply power to additional PD components 104 of the electronic device 101. Thus, the splitter unit 114 is advantageous because it not only supplies power to one node, as is standard in PoDL technology, but also to multiple nodes when additional separate power lines are provided to the second output connection element 113.

[0046] 2 shows various modes of the splitting unit 114. Power and data can be split onto one power and data line (according to PoDL), or there is an additional power line in addition to the combined power and data line, or the splitting unit only refreshes the signal without connecting to a node.

[0047] Depending on the signals supplied to receptacles 111, 113, 115 of splitter unit 114, connectors 112 include different numbers of pins. In this figure, by way of example, connectors 112 attached to receptacles 111, 115, where data and power are transmitted over separate lines, include four pins. Two pins are for data transmission and two pins are for power transmission, and connector 112 attached to receptacle 113 includes a different number of pins depending on whether only one power and data line (per PoDL) is provided along spur cable 110 or whether an additional power line is provided. In the latter case, connector 112 includes four pins, meaning four wires run along spur cable 110; otherwise, connector 112 includes only two pins, allowing two wires to run along spur cable 110.

[0048] As shown, PoDL technology is used only on the spur cable 110 connecting the external device 101 to the network, and not on the trunk cable 108. This allows more power to be transmitted along longer trunk cables and establishes the ability to adapt various modes of the splitting unit 114 to connected applications. It is also possible not to draw power from the power line onto the data line, and thus to connect the second electronic device 101 via separate power and data lines (not shown), rather than via PoDL. Depending on the connection mode of the splitting unit 114, the split line is either connected to the device 101 or simply terminated at the second output connection element 113.

[0049] Whenever a second electronic device 101 is not connected to a splitting unit 114, the signal is simply sent through the main line until at the last splitting unit the signal is terminated by a field termination unit 122. This termination unit can be of any type and is exemplarily chosen here to terminate the data line at 100 ohms and the power line at 0.1 μF.

[0050] 3 shows an exemplary circuit design of a splitting unit 114 with a PSE 103. This exemplary circuit diagram corresponds to a splitting unit 114 having one input connection element 111 and a first output connection element 115, to which power 116 and data 118 are supplied via separate lines, and a second output connection element 113, to which power and data are supplied via a single line, PoDL 120.

[0051] A power line is taken out going from the first input connection element 111 to the first output connection element 115, and a branched power line going to the second output connection element 113 can pass through a one-port PSE controller 138. This controller is operable to control the injection of the power line 116 onto the data line 118. The splitting unit therefore provides only one power and data line (according to PoDL) to the second output connection element 113.

[0052] The data line 118 travels through the input connection element 111 along the trunk cable to the first output connection element 115. At some point in the splitting unit 114, the data line is tapped off and a branch of the data line travels to the second output connection element 113. Before the data line exits the splitting unit 114, the branched power line is tapped onto the data line by the PSE controller 138.

[0053] Splitter unit 114 also includes a host central processing unit (CPU) 132 that is powered by a power supply unit (PSU) 134. Power supply unit 134 converts power from power line 116 to lower power for the components of splitter unit 114. The converted lower power is also supplied to a PSE controller 138. Host CPU 132 is bidirectionally connected to PSE controller 138 via a management data input / output (MDIO) 143 interface to read and write control and status of PSE controller 138. MDIO is a serial bus defined for the Ethernet family of IEEE 802.3 standards.

[0054] Another further advantageous example of the present disclosure having a network with a point-to-point (P2P) topology is shown schematically in FIG.

[0055] In this example, a first electronic device 209 includes an external (non-PoDL) PSE 202 for supplying power and an integrated circuit 206a, illustratively selected as a PHY, for processing data. A mains cable 208 running along an input connection element 211 and a first output connection element 215 of a splitting unit 214 includes a power line 216 and a data line 218.

[0056] The splitting unit 214 splits the power line, with one branch going through a first output connection element 215 to the second splitting unit 214 and the other branch going through a second output connection element 213 to the second electronic device 201. A data line 218 received through the input connection element 211 is led to the active unit 207 and then to the second output connection element 213.

[0057] In the branch line passing through the second output connection element 213, the splitting unit 214 includes an active unit 207, which is a PSE 203. The PSE 203 is connected to the input connection element 211 and the second output connection element 213. The PSE 203 supplies power from the branched power line onto the data line, and therefore the splitting unit 214 provides a single power and data line 220 (according to PoDL) to the second output connection element 213. This line 220 travels through the spur cable 210 to the second electronic device 201. In this second electronic device, a first integrated circuit 206a processes data and power is supplied to the PD 205. In addition, the second electronic device 201 includes a second integrated circuit 206a connected to the network via a data line 218 that travels along the spur cable 210 to the second output connection element 213 of the splitting unit 214. Data obtained by the two integrated circuits is exchanged and refreshed.

[0058] This data line 218 passes through a first output connection element 215 of the splitter unit 214 and along the main cable 208 adjacent to the power line 216. In the example shown, the main cable 208 is connected by an in-line connector 217 that connects these lines to a further main cable.

[0059] The illustrated second splitter unit 214 includes the same components as the first splitter unit 214 on the left. However, this splitter unit 214 is connected at its second output connection element 213 to a second electronic device 201 of a different type. The spur cable 210 connecting the splitter unit 214 and the second electronic device 201 includes one power and data line 220 (via PoDL), one power line 216, and one data line 218. The power and data line 220 (via PoDL) supplies power and data to the second electronic device 201, and the second integrated circuit 806a is connected to the network only via the data line 218. In addition to the power and data line 220 (via PoDL), an additional power line 216 can power further components 204 of the device 201, and therefore multiple nodes can also be powered via one splitter unit 214.

[0060] In this figure, illustratively, the connectors 212 attached to the receptacles 211, 215 of the splitter units 214 (the left and right splitter units in FIG. 4 ) illustratively include four pins. Two pins are provided for data transmission, and two pins are provided for power transmission. The connectors 212 attached to the receptacle 213 include a different number of pins for the splitter units shown on the left side of the figure compared to the splitter units on the right side of the figure. The connector 212 of the receptacle 213 of the left splitter unit in FIG. 4 includes four pins. In other words, four wires run along the spur cable 210. However, the connector 212 of the receptacle 213 of the right splitter unit includes six pins because, in addition to the one power and data line 220 (per PoDL) and the additional power line 216, an additional data line 218 is also run along the spur cable 210.

[0061] An exemplary cable length a2, including spur and trunk cables, between two second electronic devices 201 that transmit and receive data over the network is 40 m at an exemplary transmission rate of 1 Gbit / s.

[0062] The choice of configuring a network in a multi-drop or P2P topology depends solely on the length and speed that the application can and should support.

[0063] A circuit diagram for this embodiment is omitted here, but this configuration can be clearly inferred from the example shown in FIG. 3 by adding one data line that runs through receptacle 113 to receptacle 115 in FIG. 3.

[0064] Another further advantageous example of the present disclosure having a network with a P2P topology is shown schematically in FIG.

[0065] In this example, a first electronic device 309 includes an external (non-PoDL) PSE 302 for supplying power and an integrated circuit 306a, illustratively selected as a PHY, for processing data. A trunk cable 308 running along an input connection element 311 and a first output connection element 315 of a splitting unit 314 includes a power line 316 and a data line 318.

[0066] The splitting unit 314 splits the power line, with one branch going through a first output connection element 315 to the second splitting unit 314 and the other branch going through a second output connection element 313 to the second electronic device 301. A data line 318 received through the input connection element 311 is directed to the active unit 307 and then to the second output connection element 313.

[0067] In the branch line passing through the second output connection element 313, the splitting unit 314 includes an active unit 307, which is a PSE 303. The PSE 303 is connected to the input connection element 311 and the output connection elements 313, 315. The PSE 303 supplies power from the branched power line onto the data line, and therefore the splitting unit 314 provides one power and data line (via PoDL) 320 to the second output connection element 313. This one power and data line (via PoDL) 320 travels through the spur cable 310 to the second electronic device 301. In this second electronic device, a first integrated circuit 306a processes data, and power is supplied to a first PD 305. In addition, the second electronic device 301 also includes a second integrated circuit 306a and a second PD 305. These components are connected by a second power and data line (by PoDL) 320 to a second output connection element 313 of the splitter unit 314 via the spur cable 310. The second power and data line (by PoDL) 320 passes through the active unit and then through the first output connection element 315 to the trunk cable 308.

[0068] Data signals received by integrated circuit 306a in second electronic device 301 are switched and sent to the network. As can be seen, the power and data lines traveling along trunk cable 308 are separate lines. The splitting unit provides only one power and data line (via PoDL) for connecting external devices via spur cable 310. Additionally, as in the previous example, splitting unit 314 can also provide one separate power line 316 to second output connection element 313 for connecting further nodes.

[0069] In this figure, illustratively, the connectors 312 attached to receptacles 311, 315 of splitter units 314 (the left and right splitter units in FIG. 5 ) include four pins. The connector 312 attached to receptacle 313 includes a different number of pins for the splitter units shown on the left side of the figure compared to the splitter units on the right side of the figure. The connector 312 of receptacle 313 of the left splitter unit includes four pins, meaning that four wires run along the spur cable 310. However, the connector 312 of receptacle 313 of the right splitter unit includes six pins because, in addition to the one power and data line 320 (per PoDL) and the additional power line 316, a further power and data line 320 (per PoDL) is also run along the spur cable 310.

[0070] An exemplary cable length a3, including spur and trunk cables, between two second electronic devices 301 that transmit and receive data over the network is 40 m at an exemplary transmission rate of 1 Gbit / s.

[0071] A circuit diagram for this embodiment is omitted here, but this configuration can be clearly inferred from the example shown in Figure 3 by adding a data line that runs through outlet 115 to outlet 113 in Figure 3. Before this data line leaves the split unit at outlet 113, the power line is tapped out to this additional data line by the PoDL controller, so that in contrast to the example of Figure 3, a second power and data line (according to PoDL) is provided at outlet 113.

[0072] 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another advantageous example of a network and splitting unit in a P2P configuration according to the present disclosure. A mains cable 408 transmits power and data on a power line 416 and a data line 418, respectively. Power is supplied to a first electronic device 409 via an external (non-PoDL) PSE 402. Data signals are supplied by an integrated circuit 406a of the first electronic device 409.

[0073] Furthermore, according to an advantageous example of the present disclosure, the splitting unit 414 includes two active units 407, an SPE switching unit 406, and a PSE 403. The SPE switching unit 406 is connected to the input connection element 411 and the output connection elements 415 and 413. The PSE 403 is connected to the input connection element 411 and the second output connection element 413. The splitting unit splits the data and power signals into two cables: one cable extending horizontally in the trunk cable and one cable extending vertically in the spur cable. The split branch line is connected to the second electronic device 401 via the spur cable 410. Furthermore, the SPE switching unit 406 can switch between the two split data lines, thus allocating data between the output connection elements 413 and 415. The second electronic device includes an integrated circuit 406a for processing data and a PD 405 powered by the supplied power.

[0074] The power signal traveling along the trunk cable 408 through the splitter unit 414 is also split so that power can be sent along the spur cable 410. The PSE 403 provides power from the split power line 416 onto the data line 418.

[0075] Once power is drawn onto the data lines, the second electronic device 401 is connected to the splitting unit 414 at the second output connection element 413 via a PoDL cable that can provide data to an integrated circuit 406a of the second electronic device 401. This integrated circuit 406a may be an SPE transceiver. Additionally, the PoDL cable 420 also provides power for the corresponding power element 405 of the second electronic device 401.

[0076] At the first output connection element 415, the splitting unit 414 is illustratively connected to another splitting unit 414 (center of FIG. 6 ) via the trunk cable 408. Data and power are transmitted between these splitting units 414. Data traveling through the first splitting unit 414 is refreshed by the SPE switching unit 406 and sent to the next splitting unit 414. This mechanism advantageously increases the distance between two devices while simultaneously transmitting data at a high transmission rate. With the splitting units 414 presented in the first example, the trunk distance a4 between two splitting units 414 or between the first electronic device 409 and one splitting unit 414 may illustratively be up to 40 m at an illustrative transmission rate of 1 Gbit / s. This configuration reduces the number of components even in large networks. Additionally, by incorporating the active unit 407, the illustrative length a4 of the spur cable 410 increases to up to 40 m at an illustrative transmission rate of 1 Gbit / s. This also allows the use of PoDL technology over large cable lengths. The achieved cable lengths and transmission speeds of the trunk and spur cables correspond to the requirements of the IEEE 802.3bp standard 1000BASE-T1. The SPE switching unit may include at least one integrated circuit, such as an SPE transceiver or equivalent component. For the system to function, it is not necessary for the SPE switching units 406 of different splitting units 414 to include the same type and / or number of components.

[0077] As can be seen in Fig. 6, the second split unit 414, illustratively shown with the same active unit components as the first split unit on the left, is not connected to the second electronic device 401 at the second output connection element 413. In this case, the active unit 407 also draws power from the power line onto the data line. However, the power and data line 420 (according to PoDL) provided at the second output connection element 413 is not further used. Here, mainly the data signal on the data line 418 is refreshed and transmitted to the third split unit 414 (right side of Fig. 6).

[0078] 6, the splitting unit 414 can also output one power and data line 420 (according to PoDL) and one additional power line 416 at the second output connection element 413. This power line 416 is a branch line of the main power line 416 of the trunk cable 408. This additional power line 416 can supply power to further PD components 404 of the electronic device 401. Thus, the splitting unit 414 is advantageous because it not only supplies power to one node, as is standard in PoDL technology, but also to multiple nodes when further separate power lines are provided at the second output connection element 413.

[0079] 6 shows various modes of the splitting unit 414. Power and data can be split into one PoDL, or there is an additional power line in addition to the PoDL, or the splitting unit only refreshes the signal without connecting to a node.

[0080] In this figure, illustratively, connectors 412 attached to receptacles 411, 415 of splitter units 414 (all three are shown) include four pins. Connector 412 attached to receptacle 413 includes a different number of pins for the splitter unit shown on the left side of the figure compared to the splitter unit on the right side of the figure. Connector 412 of receptacle 413 on the left side of the splitter unit includes two pins, meaning that two wires run along spur cable 410. Connector 412 of receptacle 413 on the right side of the splitter unit includes four pins because, in addition to the one power and data line 420 (per PoDL), one additional power line 416 runs along spur cable 410.

[0081] An exemplary circuit design of a splitting unit 414 with active units is shown in a first configuration in Figure 7. This exemplary circuit diagram corresponds to a splitting unit 414 having one input connection element 411 and a first output connection element 415, to which power 416 and data 418 are supplied via separate lines, and a second output connection element 413, to which power and data are supplied via a single line, PoDL 420.

[0082] The splitting unit 414 includes one SPE switching unit 406 and one PSE 403. A power line going from the first input connection element 411 to the first output connection element 415 is taken out, and a branched power line leading to the second output connection element 413 can be fed to a one-port PSE controller 438. This controller is operable to control the injection of the power line 416 onto the data line 418. The splitting unit therefore provides only one power and data line 420 (according to PoDL) to the second output connection element 413.

[0083] The splitting and switching of data lines is described below. The SPE switching unit 406 illustratively includes one Ethernet 3-port switch 430 and three SPE transceivers (PHYs) 436a, 436b, and 436c. All PHYs 436a, 436b, and 436c are bidirectionally connected to one of the Ethernet ports of the switch 430 via a media independent interface (MII) 444 or a reduced media independent interface (RMII). The PHYs 436a and 436c are located on the main data line running from the input connection element 411 to the first output connection element 415. The PHY 436b is located on a branch of the main line that connects to the second output connection element 413. The switch 430 enables splitting of the main line and selectively switching the split line. While two active units, one SPE switching unit and one PSE, are shown in this example, it should be apparent that more than two active units, and thus multiple PSEs and / or multiple SPE switching units, may be incorporated into the split unit. Furthermore, it should be apparent that the SPE transceivers 436a, 436b, 436c may be any other type of integrated circuit and are not limited to PHYs.

[0084] The data line 418, traveling along the main cable through the input connection element 411, is connected to a transformer unit 441. This transformer unit 441 includes a transformer, a common-mode choke to suppress interference frequencies, and a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diode to protect electronics from harmful voltage transients such as electrostatic discharge (ESD). The transformer unit 441 is connected to the PHY 436a via a medium-dependent interface (MDI) 442. At the first output connection element 415, the PHY 436c is also connected to a transformer 440 with a filter element via the MDI connection 442 before being connected to the first output connection element 415. Similarly, the PHY 436b is connected to the transformer 440 with a filter element and then to the second output connection element 413. The power line 416 is brought out onto the data line 418 before the data line 418 exits the splitter unit 414 at the second output connection element 413.

[0085] Split unit 414 also includes a host CPU 432 that is powered by a PSU 434. Power supply unit 434 converts power from power line 416 to lower power for the components of split unit 414. In addition to CPU 432, PSU 434 is connected to PHY 436a, Ethernet switch 430, and PSE controller 438 and provides power 445 to these components. Host CPU 432 is bidirectionally connected to PHYs 436a, 436c and Ethernet switch 430 via an MDIO 443 interface to read and write the PHYs' control and status registers.

[0086] 8 also shows a splitting unit 414, but with an additional power line 416 provided to the second output connection element 413. This power line does not pass through the PSE controller 438 but is connected directly to the second output connection element 413. This figure corresponds to the advantageous example of the splitting unit 414 also shown in FIG.

[0087] Another further advantageous example of the present disclosure having a network with a multi-drop topology is shown schematically in FIG.

[0088] The splitting unit 514 also includes two active units 507, but has a different configuration. As can be seen, the SPE switching unit 506 is arranged in parallel with the PSE 503. Also, the SPE switching unit is not arranged in the trunk line passing through the splitting unit 514, but in the branched line toward the second electronic device 501. The SPE switching unit 506 is connected to the input connection element 511 and the second output connection element 513. The PSE 503 is connected to the input connection element 511 and the second output connection element 513.

[0089] In this example, a first electronic device 509 includes an integrated circuit 506a and an external (non-PoDL) PSE 502 that provides power to the network. A second electronic device 501 includes an integrated circuit 506a and a powered device 505 that is powered by the network. In addition, the second electronic device 501 may also include a second PSE 504 that may be powered by an additional power line.

[0090] In this configuration, the PSE 503 of the splitting unit 514 also enables power to be drawn from the power line onto the data line, thus establishing a PoDL signal 520 to the second electronic device 501 via the spur cable 510. However, due to the different location of the SPE switching unit 506, the trunk consisting of the power line 516 and the data line 518 is routed through the splitting unit 514 without refreshing the data signal. Thus, the total length b5 of an exemplary trunk cable achievable with this configuration is 25 m at an exemplary transmission rate of 10 Mbit / s.

[0091] In the splitting unit 514, the power line 516 and the data line 518 are split, and an SPE switching unit is located on the vertical split line of the data line 518. Therefore, the data signal is refreshed only in this vertical direction. Therefore, after power is brought out onto the data line, the exemplary spur cable 510 with one power and data line 520 (according to PoDL) connecting the second electronic device 501 reaches a length c5 of up to 1 km at an exemplary transmission rate of 10 Mbit / s.

[0092] By including the splitter unit 514 in this multi-drop topology, it is possible to use 10BASE-T1S in the trunk cable and 10BASE-T1L in the spur cable, so this splitter unit 514 configuration is applicable to networks where the distance between the trunk cable and the external device is very long.

[0093] Here again, the splitting unit 514 enables various modes of supplying power and data to the second output connection element 513. Alternatively, a single power and data line 520 (via PoDL) runs through the spur cable 510 to the second electronic device 501, or the spur cable, and therefore the second electronic device, is not connected to the second output connection element 513, and the power and data signals are simply routed through the splitting unit 514. Alternatively, the second electronic device 501 is connected not only to a single power and data line 520 (via PoDL) but also to an additional power line 516. Thus, again, multiple nodes can be powered via the splitting unit 514. The reachable length c5 of the spur cable 510 for this last mode is the same as described above. Depending on the connection mode of the splitting unit 514, the split lines are either connected to the device 501 or simply terminated at the second output connection element 513.

[0094] In this figure, illustratively, connectors 512 attached to receptacles 511, 515 of splitter units 514 (all three are shown) include four pins. Connector 512 attached to receptacle 513 includes a different number of pins for the splitter unit shown on the left side of the figure compared to the splitter unit on the right side of the figure. Connector 512 of receptacle 513 on the left side of the splitter unit includes two pins, meaning that two wires run along spur cable 510. Connector 512 of receptacle 513 on the right side of the splitter unit includes four pins because, in addition to the one power and data line 520 (per PoDL), one additional power line 516 runs along spur cable 510.

[0095] In this multi-drop Ethernet configuration 500, the final splitter unit (right side) 514 is terminated at the first output connection element 515 by a field termination unit 522. This termination unit can be of any type, and is exemplarily chosen here to terminate 100 ohm data lines and 0.1 μF power lines.

[0096] An exemplary circuit design of splitting unit 514 is shown in Figure 10. This exemplary circuit diagram corresponds to a splitting unit 514 having one input connection element 511 and a first output connection element 515, to which power 516 and data 518 are supplied via separate lines, and a second output connection element 513, to which power and data are supplied via a single line, PoDL 520.

[0097] The splitting unit 504 includes one PSE 503 and one SPE switching unit 506. A power line 546 going from the first input connection element 511 to the first output connection element 515 is taken out and a branched power line going to the second output connection element 513 can pass through a one-port PSE controller 538. This controller is operable to control the injection of the power line 516 to the data line 518. The splitting unit therefore provides only one power and data line (according to PoDL) to the second output connection element 513.

[0098] In this embodiment, the SPE switching unit 506 includes two SPE transceivers (PHYs) 536a and 536b and an Ethernet two-port switch 530. As can be seen, a data line 518 travels along a trunk line through a splitter unit 514 from an input connection element 511 to a first output connection element 515. The data line 518 is then branched and connected to a transformer unit 541. The transformer unit 541 includes a transformer, a common-mode choke to suppress interference frequencies, and a transient voltage suppressor diode to protect electronics from harmful voltage transients such as electrostatic discharge. The transformer unit 541 is connected to the PHY 536a via an MDI 542. The PHY communicates bidirectionally with the Ethernet switch 530, which also communicates bidirectionally with a second PHY 536b. The PHY 536b is connected to the transformer 540, which includes a filter element, via the MDI 542. The data line leaving the transformer is directed to a second output connection element 513. Before this data line 518 leaves the splitting unit 514, the power line 516 is brought out onto the data line 518 to provide a single power and data line 520 (by PoDL) to the second output connection element 513.

[0099] The inclusion of Ethernet switch 530 in splitter unit 514 is advantageous because it eliminates the drawbacks of 10BASE-T1S that exist in trunk cables with very short spur cables and increases the achievable spur cable length up to 1000 m.

[0100] Split unit 514 also includes a host central processing unit 532 that is powered by a power supply unit 534. Power supply unit 534 converts power from power line 516 to lower power for the components of split unit 514. In addition to CPU 532, PSU 534 is connected to PHY 536a, Ethernet switch 530, and PSE controller 538 and provides power 545 to these components. Host CPU 532 is bidirectionally connected to PHY 536a and Ethernet switch 530 via an MDIO 543 interface to read and write the PHY's control and status registers.

[0101] In this embodiment, the second output connection element 513 may also be provided with an additional power line leading off the main power line 518 (not shown). [Explanation of symbols]

[0102] 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 Hybrid Ethernet Power System 9, 109, 209, 309, 409, 509 First electronic device 1, 101, 201, 301, 401, 501 Second Electronic Device 102, 202, 302, 402, 502 PSE for Electronic Devices (Non-PoDL) 3, 103, 203, 303, 403, 503 Active Unit PSE (PoDL) 104, 204, 304, 404, 504 Electronic Device PD (non-PoDL) 5, 105, 205, 305, 405, 505 Electronic Device PD (PoDL) 106, 206, 306, 406, 506 SPE switching unit 106a, 206a, 306a, 406a, 506a Integrated circuits in electronic devices 7, 107, 207, 307, 407, 507 active units 8, 108, 208, 308, 408, 508 trunk cable 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510 spur cables 11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511 input connection elements 12, 112, 212, 312, 412, 512 Connectors 13, 113, 213, 313, 413, 513 Second output connection element 14, 114, 214, 314, 414, 514 division units 15, 115, 215, 316, 415, 515 First output connection element 16, 116, 216, 316, 416, 516 power lines 217, 317 inline connector 18, 118, 218, 318, 418, 518 data lines 20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520 (via PoDL) data and power lines 122, 522 Terminal device 430, 530 Ethernet Switch 132, 432, 532 Host CPU 134, 434, 534 power supply units 436a, 436b, 436c, 536a, 536b SPE Transceiver (PHY) 138, 438, 538 PSE Controller (PoDL) 440, 540 Transformer with filter element 441, 541 transformer units 442, 542 Medium Dependent Interface 143, 443, 543 Management data input / output 444, 544 Media Independent Interface (MII) 145, 445, 545 power A2, A3, A4 cable length b1, b5 cable length c5 cable length d1 cable length

Claims

1. A splitter unit (14) for a single-pair Ethernet (SPE) hybrid line, wherein the splitter unit (14) is Input connection element (11), The first output connection element (15) and At least one second output connection element (13) and Equipped with, The input connection element (11), the first output connection element (15), and the at least one second output connection element (13) are configured to transmit power and data. The aforementioned divided unit (14) is The system includes at least one active unit (7) that is operable to supply power and data to the at least one second output connection element (13), The at least one active unit (7) includes a power supply device (PSE) (3), which is connected to the input connection element (11) and at least one of the second output connection element (13) and the first output connection element (15), and is operable to draw power from the power line (16) onto the data line (18). Divided unit (14).

2. The splitting unit (14) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one active unit (7) includes at least one SPE switching unit (6), the SPE switching unit (6) being connected to the input connection element (11) and at least one of the second output connection element (13) and the first output connection element (15), and being operable to assign data to at least one of the second output connection element (13) and the first output connection element (15).

3. The splitting unit (14) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one active unit (7) is operable to split the data line (18) provided on the input connection element (11) and to switch between the split lines.

4. The split unit (14) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one active unit (7) is operable to output power to an electronic device (101) connected to the at least one second output connection element (13) of the split unit (14).

5. The split unit (14) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one active unit (7) is operable to refresh the signals on the data line (18).

6. The split unit (14) according to claim 1, wherein the split unit (14) is formed as a molded connection unit, and the input connection element (11), the first output connection element (15), and the at least one second output connection element (13) are provided as overmolded connector elements.

7. The split unit (14) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the input connection element (11), the first output connection element (15), or the socket of the at least one second output connection element (13) of the split unit (14) is attachable to a cable (8, 10) or wire by at least one of soldering, crimping, press-fitting, screw connection, through connection and poke-in connection.

8. The split unit (14) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the input connection element (11), the first output connection element (15), or the at least one second output connection element (13) of the split unit (14) is attachable to a separable connector (12) by at least one of screw connections, latch connections, push-pull connections, and plug-in connections.

9. The dividing unit (14) according to claim 6, wherein the dividing unit is formed as a T-shaped connecting unit.

10. The dividing unit (14) according to claim 6, wherein the dividing unit is formed as an inclined connecting unit.

11. A hybrid Ethernet power system (90) for a single-pair Ethernet (SPE) network, wherein the system is At least one first electronic device (9), At least one second electronic device (1), At least one divided unit (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and Equipped with, The at least one first electronic device (9) is connectable to the input connection element (11) of the at least one split unit (14), The at least one second electronic device (1) is connectable to the at least one second output connection element (13) of the at least one divided unit (14). Hybrid Ethernet power system (90).

12. The hybrid Ethernet power system (90) according to claim 11, wherein the system is operable to transmit data and power between the at least one first electronic device (9) and the at least one segmented unit (14).

13. The hybrid Ethernet power system (90) according to claim 11, wherein the system is operable to transmit data and power between the at least one segmented unit (14) and the at least one second electronic device (1).

14. The hybrid Ethernet power system (90) according to claim 11, wherein one of the at least one splitting unit (14) is the last splitting unit terminated by a field termination unit (22) at the first output connection element (15).

15. The hybrid Ethernet power system (90) according to claim 11, wherein the at least one split unit (14) is formed as a molded connection unit, and the input connection element (11), the first output connection element (15), and the at least one second output connection element (13) of the at least one split unit (14) are connected to mating connector elements attached to cables (8, 10).

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