Patch Panel System for Extended Power Delivery Distance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional switch devices in datacenters are limited by their form factor, which restricts their ability to power all ports at maximum capacity, leading to the need for additional devices and increased costs and deployment times due to the inability to efficiently power a large number of high-power devices.
Innovation Solution
A patch panel system with a chassis housing multiple power supply units and processing devices that can transmit both data and power via power/data cabling, allowing for extended power delivery distances and increased port capacity, enabling maximum powering levels across multiple ports without the need for additional switch devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional switch devices with two 220-volt PSUs are used, then the device can provide power to approximately 12 ports at maximum powering level, but additional switch devices are required to power more devices, increasing costs and deployment times
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the switching function from the power delivery function by introducing a patch panel as an intermediary device. The switch device handles data switching while the patch panel handles power distribution, allowing each device to be optimized independently and eliminating the form factor limitation on power capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a patch panel as an intermediary component between the switch device and powered devices. This intermediary enables the system to achieve higher overall power capacity by allowing multiple cable runs to converge at the patch panel, effectively aggregating power delivery capability beyond what a single switch device can provide.
2Productivity
If conventional switch devices are used with limited power capacity, then deployment costs increase due to requiring additional devices, but using a single device with high power capacity is limited by form factor constraints
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the network infrastructure into separate switching and power delivery components, the system achieves greater flexibility in scaling power capacity without proportionally increasing device count or complexity. The patch panel serves as a consolidation point that simplifies power management for multiple devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If intermediate or low powering levels are provided to subsets of ports, then some powered devices can be powered, but devices requiring maximum powering level cannot be fully powered
Solution Approach 1:
The patch panel system provides universal power delivery capability across all connected ports, enabling each port to deliver maximum powering level to powered devices regardless of the switch device's native power capacity. This multi-functional approach allows the same infrastructure to serve devices with varying power requirements.
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
The patch panel system effectively extends the power delivery distance and capacity, allowing for efficient powering of a large number of devices at maximum levels, reducing the need for additional switch devices and lowering costs and deployment times in datacenters.
Implementation Method 1
some switch devices may be configured (e.g., via Power over Ethernet (PoE) protocols and/or other powering protocols known in the art) to provide power to connected devices
Implementation Method 2
transmit, to the powered device, both the data and a subset of the power through a second port coupled to the at least one patch panel processing device and via a second cable connected to the second port and the powered device
Data Source
AI summary
A powering patch panel system includes a patch panel device coupled to a power source, and including a first port that is coupled to a networking device via a first cable and a second port that is coupled to the powered device via a second cable. The patch panel device receives data that is directed to the powered device from the networking device through the first port and via the first cable, and receives power from the power source. The patch panel device then transmits both the data and a subset of the power through the second port and via the second cable to the powered device. The first port may be provided by optical-fiber-based port and the first cable may be provided by an optical-fiber-based cable, while the second port may be provided by a hybrid conductive-material/optical-fiber-based port and the second cable may be provided by a hybrid conductive-material/optical-fiber-based cable.