Reverse Power Feeding POTS Detection Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reverse power feeding systems face challenges in safely providing power to customer premise equipment (CPE) due to improper connection of POTS phones, which can lead to unsafe conditions such as fires, and in identifying proper power supply conditions without interfering with detection processes.

Innovation Solution

A powering arrangement that includes a control circuit and current sensing circuit to detect rapid increases in current flow, outputting an error signal to shut down or adjust current limits, and a POTS adapter with an under voltage lockout circuit to prevent parallel resistance and ensure safe power delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If reverse power feeding is implemented to power DPU from CPE, then power supply capability is improved, but safety risks increase due to improper POTS phone connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply capabilityVSAvoidsafety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit performs preliminary detection of the copper pair to verify proper POTS adapter connection before enabling power delivery. This preliminary action prevents improper connections from receiving power, eliminating the safety hazard while maintaining the reverse power feeding capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors current draw characteristics and provides feedback to the control circuit. When abnormal current patterns indicating improper POTS phone connections are detected, the system automatically shuts down power delivery, resolving the safety risk while preserving the power supply function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If current monitoring is implemented to detect improper POTS connections, then safety is improved, but detection precision is insufficient to distinguish proper from improper connections

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddetection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit performs preliminary detection of the copper pair's electrical characteristics before power delivery. By measuring resistance and current draw characteristics in advance, the system can distinguish between proper POTS adapter connections and improper direct POTS phone connections with high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system measures multiple electrical parameters including resistance, current draw, and current change rate over time. By analyzing changes in these parameters rather than single static values, the system achieves precise differentiation between proper and improper connections, enhancing both safety and detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If POTS adapter is required between copper pair and POTS telephone, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit automatically detects whether a POTS adapter is properly connected and self-adjusts power delivery accordingly. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual configuration or additional safety devices, maintaining safety while reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit performs multiple functions: detecting POTS adapter presence, measuring current characteristics, determining connection propriety, and controlling power delivery. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional control circuit, the system maintains safety without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If power is supplied to DPU from multiple CPEs, then power reliability is improved, but detection of DC extraction circuitry becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower reliabilityVSAvoiddetection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit performs preliminary detection of the DC extraction circuitry's signature resistance before power delivery from multiple CPEs is enabled. By detecting the unique electrical signature in advance, the system can identify proper connections even in multi-CPE configurations, maintaining both power reliability and detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system detects the unique electrical characteristics (signature resistance) of the DC extraction circuitry at each CPE connection point. By measuring local electrical properties rather than relying on centralized detection, the system can identify DC extraction circuitry in multi-CPE configurations, maintaining detection capability while preserving power reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Prevents unsafe power draws from improperly connected POTS phones and ensures safe operation by shutting down or reducing current limits, thereby preventing potential fires and maintaining system integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a current sensing circuit to detect rapid increases in current flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical current measurement: Ohm's Law

Implementation Method 2

a POTS adapter with an under voltage lockout circuit to prevent parallel resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage-controlled switching: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP3143758B1Apparatus and method for detection of off-hook phone in reverse power feeding architecture
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 MICROSEMI CORP
  • EP3143758B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3143758B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3143758B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A powering arrangement for use with reverse power feeding arranged to detect an improperly connected POTS phone going off-hook by: measuring a first current flow from a power sourcing equipment; identifying a rapid first increase in current flow from the measured first current flow, the rapid increase defined as a rate of change greater than a predetermined minimum rate of change; identifying a second increase in current flow from the measured first current flow, the identified second increase greater than a predetermined minimum amount; confirming that the identified second increase in current flow is maintained for at least a predetermined amount of time beginning with the identified first increase in current flow; and outputting an error signal to the power sourcing equipment in the event of the identified condition.