899 results about "Power over Ethernet" patented technology

A method for rapidly powering a plurality of power over Ethernet ports, the method comprising: inputting an indication of available power; allocating a power budget to each of a first plurality of power over Ethernet devices; transmitting an enabling command for ports of a first priority to the first plurality of power over Ethernet devices, each of the first plurality of power over Ethernet devices powering ports of the first priority within the power budget; monitoring an indication of power consumption until the power consumption has stabilized; allocating an updated power budget to each of the first plurality of power over Ethernet devices, the power budget being a function of the available power and at least one of an indication of power consumption and power allocation; and transmitting an enabling command for ports of a second lower priority to the first plurality of power over Ethernet devices.

A method for preventing an excess voltage from appearing at an output of a power over Ethernet controller, the method comprising: sensing that a powered device has been disconnected from a port; enabling a bypass path around a means for unidirectional current flow operatively connected to the port; and disconnecting power to the port responsive to the sensed disconnect, whereby the bypass path enables a discharge path for an output capacitor present across the port. The invention also provides for a circuit having a bypass path around a means for unidirectional current flow, the bypass path being enabled by a control circuit to prevent an excess voltage from appearing at a sensing input of the control circuit. In an exemplary embodiment the bypass path is enabled approximately simultaneously with disconnecting power from the output port.

A power distribution and management system within a vehicle operates to provide power over Ethernet to a plurality of powered devices coupled to a vehicular communication network of the vehicle.

A system is provided for adjusting power provided to a device. The system can include power sourcing equipment and a sub-system. The power sourcing equipment can provide power to a powered device via a channel. The sub-system can determine an amount by which to increase the power based on a resistance of the channel. The power sourcing equipment or the powered device can adjust the power (or load) responsive to a command from the sub-system. The sub-system can include a measurement device and a processor. The measurement device can measure an output voltage of the power sourcing equipment, an input voltage of the powered device, and a current on the channel. The processor can determine the resistance of the channel based on the output voltage, the input voltage, and the current. The processor can output a command specifying an increase or decrease in power supplied by the power sourcing equipment.

A POE (power over Ethernet)-prioritized active splitter is disclosed for a prioritized network having different priorities such as a network security system that uses an intelligent POE power supply with a prioritized back-up response, allowing a lower cost UPS (uninterruptible power supply) system to be used, and also providing a longer back-up time period by the UPS system for more critical components of the security system. A simple embodiment operates with only two priority levels, a high priority level for more critical components of the, such as the cable modem, the system router, fire alarm devices, local warning devices and the alarm communicator, while less critical components are supplied with electrical power at the low priority level. In the event of a power outage or disconnection, the critical high priority components remain connected to the Ethernet network to be supplied with electrical power by the UPS system and also to communicate over the twisted wire pairs of the Ethernet network.

A power line communication (PLC) hub incorporates multiple network communication media and services for devices. Implementations can be plugged into an electrical outlet to furnish a single point for both electrical power and network connectivity. Each of the electrical outlets is tied through an electrical distribution system to a network through a conventional PLC bridge to provide network connectivity through the electrical distribution system using PLC technology. The PLC outlet hub can include various combinations of applications and / or services including Voice Over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) gateway, media server, Internet router / gateway, Local Area Network (“LAN”), both wired and wireless voice and video conferencing capability, including a VoIP, Voice over WiFi (“VoWiFi”), Power Over Ethernet (“PoE”), Wireless 802.11a / b / g / n capability and (Wireless Universal Serial Bus “WUSB” / Ultra Wide Band “UWB”) wireless connectivity, and Blue Tooth. Versions of the PLC outlet hub can have an Ethernet IEEE 802.3 family (such as IEEE 802.3af) compliant power supply to furnish power to PoE enabled devices.

A power distribution and management system within a vehicle operates to provide power over Ethernet to a plurality of powered devices coupled to a vehicular communication network of the vehicle.

A system for managing and documenting a local area communications network is provided which deploys power sourcing equipment and powered devices by the use of active electronic modules, having an Ethernet controller and Power over Ethernet forwarding capabilities, as integral, managed components within the cable plant, to enhance management, documentation, security and emergency 911 aspects of the network as well as extending the physical reach of the network.

A system for managing and documenting a local area communications network is provided which deploys power sourcing equipment and powered devices by the use of active electronic modules, having an Ethernet controller and Power over Ethernet forwarding capabilities, as integral, managed components within the cable plant, to enhance management, documentation, security and emergency 911 aspects of the network as well as extending the physical reach of the network.

A transceiver device for coupling between a power line and a network interface unit includes a power line modem for transmitting and receiving data between the power line and the network interface unit and a power circuit coupled to the power line modem that is adapted to deliver a DC power signal to the network interface unit.

A network tap device that is configured for operation in a copper Gigabit Ethernet communications network using a power-over-Ethernet (“POE”) electrical supply is disclosed. In one embodiment, a network tap device powered by a POE supply is disclosed, comprising first and second network ports that are configured with receptacles for receiving communication cables. The communication cables are configured to carry both data signals and the POE supply to and from the network tap device. The network tap device further includes first and second tap ports that connect with additional communication cables to a monitoring device. The network tap device also includes control and regulation circuitry that is configured to receive the POE supply from the communication cables via the network ports and to enable components of the network tap device to be operated by the POE supply.

An apparatus, system, and method for providing DC battery backup power to Power over Ethernet, (PoE) Mid Span or End Point Power Sourcing Equipment, (PSE), such that in the event of the loss of utility power the PSE device is able to continue to provide power for some time while battery capacity remains. The apparatus includes an AC to DC converter that receives an AC power input and outputs DC power to the power over Ethernet circuitry and a DC battery pack that provides backup DC power to the power over Ethernet circuitry.

A power distribution system within a vehicle operates to provide power over Ethernet to a plurality of network node modules coupled to a vehicular communication network of the vehicle.

Power over Ethernet power sourcing device is provided inside a light fixture to enable a communications interface and provide electrical power to devices such as cameras, rain sensors, chemical sensors, wireless data uplink units, and other power over Ethernet powered devices. The power over Ethernet system is especially adapted for use in LED street lights and must be able to operate from a wide AC voltage supply range that is typically found in these types of lights.

An interface module for use in a process monitoring and control system has an Ethernet port, a controller, and at least one segment I / O module. The Ethernet port is adapted to send and receive signals in an Ethernet protocol over a cable comprising a plurality of wires and to receive a voltage potential from at least one pair of the plurality of wires. The controller is coupled to the Ethernet port and powered from the received voltage potential. The at least one segment I / O module is coupled to the controller and is adapted to couple to an associated field device segment with at least one attached field device. The at least one segment I / O module is adapted to interact with the at least one attached field device on the associated field device segment.

Connectors for connecting between devices using optical communication where at least one of the devices is configured to receive power from the connector by one or more power over Ethernet (PoE) contacts in the plug. In some variations, described herein are hybrid fiber optic power over Ethernet (PoE) cables that provide power and optically transmit information between and / or to Ethernet devices. Also described herein are extenders configured to provide optical communication between two (or more) devices where at least one of the devices is configured to receive power from the extender by power over Ethernet.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for supplying power over Ethernet includes determining whether a first port of power sourcing equipment is supplying current to a power over Ethernet device in a predetermined current range. The method also includes logically connecting a second port of the power sourcing equipment to the power over Ethernet device in response to determining that a first port of the power sourcing equipment is supplying current to the power over Ethernet device. The method also includes supplying power from the second port to the power over Ethernet device.

In a communications system, such as a Power-Over-Ethernet system, where power supply equipment (PSE) supplies power to powered requiring devices (PRDs), a system and method of dynamic power management is implemented. The system and method monitors the power consumed at each port by the PRDs. Based on this monitoring, the PSE dynamically determines the minimum power which can be allocated to each PRD, and so dynamically maximizes the available reserve power. The PSE maintains a queue or queues wherein PRDs are listed in order of a power allocation priority. When additional power is available, the PSE preferentially allocates power to a PRD or PRDs which have higher priority. The system and method of the present invention minimizes the power allocated to each individual network device, as a result of which the total number of network devices that can be supported with the available power may be maximized.

A combiner for use with a powered device having high power needs, the combiner comprising: a first power input adapted to receive a first power signal over a first set of wire pairs utilized to carry communication data; a second power input adapted to receive a second power signal over a second set of wire pairs, wherein the first power signal is combined with the second power signal to produce a combined high power signal; and a control circuit operable to sense the combined high power signal and to supply the combined high power signal to a powered device in response to the sensed combined high power signal. Also disclosed is a local area network adapted to supply power to powered devices over a plurality of paths utilizing the combiner, the local area network thus supplying high power to a powered device.

A network tap device array capable of being powered by a power-over Ethernet (“POE”) supply is disclosed. The array enables data from multiple nodes in a communications network to be tapped and forwarded to a plurality of monitoring devices. In one embodiment the network tap device array includes a chassis that is configured to receive a plurality of network tap devices that are each powered by a POE supply. Each network tap device includes network ports for receiving and transmitting network data via communication cables and tap ports for forwarding the tapped network data to the monitoring device. In another embodiment, a sub-chassis includes a plurality of network tap devices and an aggregator that aggregates tapped data from each of the tap devices. The aggregator then forwards the aggregated data to the monitoring device. The sub-chassis can be included in a chassis that is configured to receive multiple populated chassis.

A method of determining impedance comprising: supplying power to a powered device from a power sourcing equipment at a first current limited level, Ilim1; measuring, at a plurality of times a voltage associated with the output of the power sourcing equipment; determining a minimum voltage, Vmin1, of the measured plurality of voltages; determining an associated time of the determined Vmin1; removing the supplied power from the powered device; subsequent to the removing, supplying power to the powered device from the power sourcing equipment at a second current limited level, Ilim2, the Ilim2 being different than the Ilim1; measuring, at the determined associated time in relation to the beginning of the supplying power at the Ilim2, a voltage associated with the output of the power sourcing equipment, Vmin2; and determining an impedance responsive to the Vmin1, Vmin2, Ilim1 and Ilim2.

A system for providing power over Ethernet comprising: a plurality of means for receiving a current limited power signal, each of the means receiving a unique current limited power signal; a plurality of means for connecting one end of a cable, the cable comprising a plurality of twisted wire pairs, each of the cables providing a data communication and power path to a particular node connecting jack; a plurality of connectors each for connecting one end of a patch cable, the plurality of connectors being each operatively connected by pairs of conductors to a unique one of the plurality of means for connecting one end of a cable to allow for data communication between the patch cables and the cables; and a plurality of means for injecting the received current limited power signal onto at least one of the pairs of conductors.

Power sourcing equipment providing a plurality of power sources for connection over communication cabling to a single powered device, the power sourcing equipment comprising: a first power source; a second power source; a control circuit; a current sensor adapted to monitor an output current of the first power source, the current sensor being operatively connected to the control circuit; and a voltage regulating means associated with one of the first power source and the second power source, the voltage regulating means being responsive to the control circuit, the control circuit being operative responsive to the monitored output current to operate the voltage regulating means so as to maintain the monitored output current within a pre-determined range.

A PoE-enabled wireless device facilitates providing wireless access to a local area network (LAN) by receiving power from an Ethernet cable. The device includes a first Ethernet port that can receive a power signal. The device also includes a second Ethernet port that facilitates coupling the apparatus to the LAN, and includes a wireless module to provide a wireless network connection to the LAN. Specifically, the wireless module receives power from the power signal of the first Ethernet port to provide the wireless network connection. The wireless device can also include a third Ethernet port for providing power and a network connection to a remote network device. The wireless device can use the third Ethernet port to send an external-reset signal to the remote network device, which facilitates remotely resetting a configuration of the remote network device without having to physically access the remote network device.

A method of classification of power requirements in a power over Ethernet system, the method comprising: providing a first classification voltage for a first classification cycle time, the provided first classification voltage being within a classification voltage range defined by a lower classification voltage limit and upper classification voltage limit; measuring a first current flow responsive to the provided first classification voltage; subsequent to the first classification cycle time, providing a voltage outside of the classification voltage range for a classification indexing time; subsequent to the classification indexing time, providing a second classification voltage for a second classification cycle time, the provided second classification voltage being within the classification voltage range; measuring a second current flow responsive to the provided second classification voltage; determining a classification responsive to the measured first current flow and the measured second current flow; and allocating power responsive to the determined classification.

A POE (power over Ethernet)-prioritized active splitter is disclosed for a prioritized network having different priorities such as a network security system that uses an intelligent POE power supply with a prioritized back-up response, allowing a lower cost UPS (uninterruptible power supply) system to be used, and also providing a longer back-up time period by the UPS system for more critical components of the security system. A simple embodiment operates with only two priority levels, a high priority level for more critical components of the, such as the cable modem, the system router, fire alarm devices, local warning devices and the alarm communicator, while less critical components are supplied with electrical power at the low priority level. In the event of a power outage or disconnection, the critical high priority components remain connected to the Ethernet network to be supplied with electrical power by the UPS system and also to communicate over the twisted wire pairs of the Ethernet network.

A Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) communication system dynamically provides power and data communications over a communications link. In an enterprise environment made up of one or more personal computing devices (e.g., personal or laptop computers), a switch determines an allocated amount of power to be supplied to each device. The system includes a switch, a power supply, and one or more personal computing devices having a PoE control module. The PoE control module can be part of, for example, a Power Source Equipment / Powered Device (PSE / PD) system or a LAN-On-Motherboard / Powered Device (LOM / PD) system. A method of dynamically providing power to personal computing devices includes determining the power requirements of each device based on one or more factors, which can include, for example, battery charge status, power load, power mode, etc., of each device. Various algorithms can be used to decide priority in providing power to the devices.