Meshed Power over Ethernet for Reconfigurable Building Device Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical distribution systems in buildings require complex and costly rewiring for fixture or device additions/moves, and newer low-voltage DC devices like LED lights are inefficient in AC systems, necessitating costly conversions.
Innovation Solution
A mesh Power over Ethernet (PoE) system with a wireless mesh network design, cloud-based management, and embedded control software in each device, allowing easy integration and control of multiple devices without physical connections or separate power supplies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional high voltage AC wiring systems are used for building electrical distribution, then power delivery capability is sufficient, but installation complexity and cost increase significantly when adding or moving fixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical electrical wiring systems with a wireless mesh network system. Devices communicate and receive power instructions wirelessly through mesh network protocols, eliminating the need for physical rewiring when adding or moving fixtures. The system uses wireless communication packets to deliver power control commands and device data, substituting the mechanical wiring infrastructure with wireless electromagnetic communication.
2Use of energy by moving object
If low voltage DC devices like LED lights are used, then energy efficiency improves, but compatibility with existing AC distribution systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces PoE network switches and wireless mesh gateways as intermediary devices that bridge AC power infrastructure with low-voltage DC devices. These intermediaries receive AC power, convert it to PoE power, and distribute it through the network to LED and other low-voltage devices. The intermediaries also handle protocol translation between traditional AC systems and modern DC devices, enabling compatibility without direct connection.
3Ease of manufacture
If Power over Ethernet is used to supply power to devices, then installation simplicity improves, but power supply capability to multiple devices deteriorates due to oversubscription limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power distribution system into multiple PoE network switches, each with its own power budget. Instead of relying on a single centralized power source, the system divides total power capacity across multiple switch units. Each switch independently manages power allocation to connected devices, and the wireless mesh network coordinates power distribution across the segmented architecture, enabling scalable power delivery to thousands of devices.
4Ease of operation
If a centralized server is used for PoE system management, then control capability is strong, but system cost and onsite infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the centralized server functionality from the onsite infrastructure and relocates it to cloud-based servers. The wireless mesh gateways maintain local control capabilities for immediate device management, while cloud servers handle centralized monitoring, analytics, and coordinated control across multiple buildings. This extraction eliminates the need for expensive onsite servers while preserving both local responsiveness and centralized management capabilities through hybrid cloud-edge architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a system for providing power and controlling a plurality of components, comprising: a driver, wherein the driver provides for the control of the system and a gateway; a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors collect sensor specific data and are in communication with the driver; a Power over Ethernet (POE) switch, wherein the POE switch is in communication with the plurality of sensors; and a plurality of devices in communication with the driver and the POE switch; wherein the plurality of devices and the plurality of sensors are routers for wireless connection between the plurality of sensors and the plurality of devices to the driver.