Splitting of combined delivery power, data, and cooling in a communications network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems are limited in range and power capacity, requiring local power sources for remote devices, and lack integrated thermal management, leading to complex and expensive cable systems for high-power devices.
Innovation Solution
A system that delivers power, data, and cooling over a single cable using a splitter to distribute these resources from a central hub to multiple remote devices, enabling high-power, long-distance connectivity with reduced cabling costs and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If power capacity is increased to meet high-power device needs, then power delivery capability is improved, but cooling requirements increase and system complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power delivery, data transmission, and cooling delivery into a single integrated cable system. The cable includes power conductors, data communication conductors, and cooling conduits (liquid cooling channels or vapor chambers) all within one cable structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate power cables, data cables, and cooling systems, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining high power delivery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single cable performs multiple functions simultaneously: it delivers electrical power, transmits data signals, and provides thermal management through integrated cooling conduits. This multi-functional design allows one cable to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate systems, addressing the contradiction between high power capability and system simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If point-to-point architecture is used for combined function cables, then direct connectivity is improved, but cable system complexity and cost worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The cable system is segmented into functional modules: power delivery modules with conductors, data communication modules with communication conductors, and cooling modules with conduits. These segmented functional elements are integrated within a single cable structure, allowing for standardized, modular deployment that simplifies system architecture while maintaining direct connectivity capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated cable acts as an intermediary that consolidates multiple functions (power, data, cooling) into a single transmission medium. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for complex multi-cable arrangements and simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a unified interface between power sources, data networks, and cooling systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate cables are used for power, data, and cooling, then functional independence is improved, but installation complexity and cost worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power delivery, data transmission, and cooling delivery into a single integrated cable structure. The cable contains distinct conductors for power and data, and separate conduits for cooling fluid circulation, all within one unified cable. This reduces installation complexity by eliminating the need to manage multiple separate cables while preserving functional independence through dedicated conductors and conduits for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The single cable is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously with dedicated internal pathways: power conductors for electrical delivery, data conductors for communication, and cooling conduits for thermal management. This multi-functional design simplifies installation while maintaining the ability to independently control and optimize each function.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes delivering power, data, and cooling on a cable from a central network device to a splitter device for splitting and transmitting the power, data, and cooling to a plurality of remote communications devices over a plurality of cables, each of the cables carrying the power, data, and cooling, receiving at the central network device, monitoring information from the remote communications devices on the cable, processing the monitoring information, and allocating the power, data, and cooling to each of the remote communications devices based on the monitoring information. A system is also disclosed herein.