Ceiling-Mounted Hybrid Network Enclosure for Long-Distance Power Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing network cabling architecture in large office buildings faces challenges with voltage drop and high costs when providing backup power to subordinate equipment rooms, especially due to the limitations of twisted pair cabling and the need for large gauge conductors, which can be costly and difficult to route through ceilings or ductwork.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid cable with both optical fibers and electrical current carrying wires is used to connect the main equipment room to subordinate equipment rooms, utilizing high voltage DC pulses ('class 4' power) that are stepped up to 400 volts, allowing for efficient power transmission with minimal voltage drop, and a ceiling-mounted enclosure with power conversion equipment to provide backup power without the need for local backup power supplies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If twisted pair cabling is used to connect main equipment room to subordinate equipment rooms, then network connectivity is established, but voltage drop occurs over long distances and power delivery becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the transmission medium by using hybrid cable with higher voltage capability (supporting PoE+ and PoE++) and different conductor configurations, allowing power delivery over extended distances beyond the limitations of standard twisted pair cabling
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid cable combines different conductor types (copper wires for power and optical fibers for data) within a single cable assembly, enabling simultaneous power and data transmission over long distances while overcoming the limitations of pure copper twisted pair cabling
2Loss of energy
If large gauge conductors are used to reduce voltage drop in subordinate equipment rooms, then power delivery improves, but installation cost and difficulty increase due to routing constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power delivery function from the data cabling system by using separate conductors in the hybrid cable specifically designed for power transmission, allowing optimized power delivery without requiring modifications to existing data cable routing infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid cable serves multiple functions simultaneously - carrying both data (via optical fibers) and power (via copper conductors) - allowing a single cable installation to replace what would otherwise require separate power and data cabling systems
3Reliability
If backup power systems are installed in each subordinate equipment room, then power availability during outages is ensured, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the backup power functionality into the existing hybrid cable infrastructure by enabling high-voltage power transmission through the cable itself, eliminating the need for separate backup power systems at each subordinate equipment room while maintaining power availability during outages
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the need for backup power systems in subordinate equipment rooms, lowers costs, and maintains power availability during outages while avoiding excessive voltage drop and compliance issues with building codes.
Implementation Method 1
compartments to terminate high voltage DC pulsing power, to convert the high voltage pulsing power to a lower voltage signal
Data Source
AI summary
A network architecture and a ceiling-mounted enclosure for an office building allows end user devices far from a main equipment room to communicate with servers and outside provider services available within the equipment room. Network cabling includes at least one optical fiber to establish communication between the equipment room and the enclosure and electrical conductors to carry high voltage pulses, exceeding 300 Volts DC, from the equipment room to the enclosure. The enclosure includes a power connection compartment to terminate the high-voltage, a power conversion compartment housing power conversion equipment to convert the high voltage into a lower voltage DC output and/or an AC power output, and a data connection compartment housing data communication equipment to establish communication between the at least one optical fiber and a plurality of ports for twisted pair cable connectors.