Power Supply Apparatus Skipping Probing Phase After Outage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply systems via wired data links, such as Power over Ethernet (PoE), require a probing phase at the start of each power cycle to determine the power configuration of connected devices, leading to unnecessary delays during power outages when the same device is still connected.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus that stores the power configuration for a connected device during a normal power cycle and uses this stored configuration to provide power after a power outage, eliminating the need for a probing phase by monitoring the connection integrity to ensure the same device remains connected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a probing phase is executed at the start of each power cycle to determine power configuration, then the apparatus ensures appropriate power delivery to the powered device, but the startup time of the powered device is increased due to unnecessary delays during power outages when the same device remains connected
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus stores the power configuration parameters (such as power class, voltage, current) in a memory device before a power outage occurs. When power is restored, the controller retrieves these pre-stored parameters and immediately applies them without requiring a probing phase, thereby reducing startup time while ensuring appropriate power delivery to the same connected device
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus creates a copy of the power configuration parameters from the powered device during normal operation and stores it in its memory. This copied configuration is then reused after power outages, eliminating the need to re-determine the configuration through a probing phase, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and startup time
2Adaptability or versatility
If the apparatus always executes a probing phase at the beginning of each power cycle, then it can adapt to newly connected devices, but the productivity of the system is reduced due to repeated configuration determination even when no device change occurred
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus performs the configuration determination action in advance by storing the power parameters in memory before any power outage. This preliminary action allows the system to skip the probing phase during subsequent power cycles, improving productivity while maintaining adaptability through the stored configuration data
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus serves itself by maintaining a local copy of the powered device's configuration parameters in its memory. This self-stored information enables the apparatus to quickly re-establish power without external intervention or repeated probing, thereby improving system productivity while preserving adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) enabled to provide power to a powered device (2) via a wired data link (3). The apparatus (1) is configured to provide the power to the powered device (2) in accordance with a configuration determined based on at least one parameter transmitted by the powered device (2) via the wired data link (3) in a power cycle. Further, the apparatus (1) comprises a memory (12) for storing an information about the configuration and a controller (10) for controlling the apparatus (1) on the basis of the stored information to provide power in accordance with the same configuration to the powered device (12) in a subsequent power cycle after a power outage. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for operating the apparatus (1).