POE Powered Video Camera System with Power Limiting Control Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power supply systems for video surveillance cases, which use Power Over Ethernet (POE) technology, face limitations in power transmission capacity, leading to potential service disruptions when components malfunction or demand excessive power, causing the remote power supply to stop power delivery.

Innovation Solution

A power supply system that includes a powered device to split the supply voltage and data signal, with a control circuit that manages power absorption by switching power supply lines and informs a control circuit to stop or reduce power when excessive demand is detected, allowing for efficient power management within predetermined limits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If POE technology is used to provide power and data through the same network cable, then installation time and costs are reduced, but the maximum power transmission limit causes service disruption when components demand excessive power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation time and costsVSAvoidservice continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit proactively monitors power consumption of components and preemptively reduces or stops power supply to non-essential components when the total power consumption approaches the POE limit, preventing service disruption before it occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the power consumption of video camera and case components, and the control circuit adjusts power distribution based on this feedback to ensure the total power remains within the POE limit while maintaining service reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple components (fans, heating elements, sensors) are powered simultaneously through POE, then the case can maintain proper temperature and functionality, but the total power consumption may exceed the POE limit, causing remote power supply to stop

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecase component functionalityVSAvoidtotal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit selectively activates or deactivates specific case components (fans, heating elements, sensors) based on environmental conditions and power availability, providing partial functionality when power is limited to stay within POE constraints

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The power distribution to case components is dynamically adjusted by the control circuit based on real-time power consumption monitoring and environmental conditions, allowing the system to adapt between full functionality and power-saving mode

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the remote power supply stops power delivery to prevent failures, then component protection is achieved, but the surveillance service is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent protectionVSAvoidsurveillance service availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit preemptively reduces power consumption of case components before the POE limit is exceeded, preventing the remote power supply from stopping power delivery and thus avoiding surveillance service interruption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2898663B1System for supplying power to surveillance video cameras and protection cases for such video cameras
Publication Date: 2017.05.17 VIDEOTEC SPA
  • EP2898663B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2898663B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2898663B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a power supply system for video cameras (2) and for protection cases (1) for video cameras. The system comprises a first device (13), called as powered device since it receives power from a remote device, able to split a supply voltage (131) and a data signal (130) from a power supply input line (18). A plurality of power supply lines (14a-14e) are connected to a first output of the powered device (13) and they supply a plurality of electric components (7, 8, 9,10) via the supply voltage (131) extracted by the powered device (13). The system further comprises a power supply equipment (19) connected to the powered device (13) so as to receive as input the supply voltage and the data signal split by the powered device. The power supply equipment (19) supplies on an output line (20) an output voltage and the data signal, and it informs a control circuit (16) about the electric power requested on the output line (20), that is by the video camera connected to this line. The control circuit (16) is operatively connected to the power supply lines (14a-14e) of the electric components (7, 8, 9,10) and it stops or reduces power absorption from one or more power supply lines (14a-14e) in case the electric power requested by the electric components and by the power supply equipment exceeds a predetermined value. A case and a method for powering it are also described.