Load Balancing Reverse Power Supply for Twisted-Pair Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication systems using twisted-pair copper wiring, balancing power delivery across customer premise equipment (CPEs) connected to a distribution point (DP) is challenging due to varying communication line lengths, leading to unequal power output from CPEs with different line lengths, as longer lines experience greater power losses.
Innovation Solution
A load balancing reverse power supply system that estimates communication line power losses by measuring resistance and using a controller to adjust power delivery units (PDUs) to ensure substantially equal power output from each CPE, employing a power sharing circuit and DC/DC control unit with a transformer and error amplifier to account for line losses and balance power across CPEs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If power balancing is based solely on power delivered by PDs, then power delivery is simplified, but fairness deteriorates because CPEs with longer communication lines output more total power due to greater communication line power losses
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously measures actual power delivery from each CPE and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust power distribution. The controller monitors power flow through the twisted-pair copper wiring and modifies PD operations to compensate for line losses, ensuring fair power delivery despite varying communication line lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of the PDs based on measured communication line characteristics. By adjusting power delivery parameters according to the specific conditions of each CPE connection, the system compensates for line losses and achieves fair power distribution across all CPEs regardless of their distance from the DP.
2Area of stationary object
If communication line length is increased to expand network coverage, then service area is improved, but power loss increases causing unequal power output from CPEs
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acts as an intermediary that measures actual power delivery conditions and mediates between CPEs with different line lengths. It processes power flow information and adjusts PD operations to compensate for the additional power losses in longer communication lines, enabling fair power distribution across the expanded service area.
3Power
If CPEs with longer communication lines are allowed to deliver more power to compensate for losses, then total power availability is improved, but power delivery equality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different power delivery strategies to different CPEs based on their local conditions. Each CPE's power delivery is individually adjusted according to its specific communication line characteristics, allowing the system to optimize total power availability while maintaining equality through localized compensation for line losses.
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 system effectively balances power output across CPEs, ensuring that each CPE delivers substantially equal power, with an accuracy of less than 5% variation, despite differences in communication line lengths and losses, thereby optimizing power distribution to the main distribution unit (MDU).
Implementation Method 1
a DC/DC control unit with a transformer
Implementation Method 2
error amplifier to account for line losses and balance power across CPEs
Data Source
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AI summary
A power supply unit (120) includes a plurality of the interface ports (132) and a plurality of power delivery units (130), each coupled to one of the interface ports (132) and configured to extract power from data signals communicated over the interface ports (132) by remote devices (110). A sharing circuit (145) is coupled to each of the power delivery units (130) for generating a power supply voltage from the power extracted from the data signals. A controller (155) is configured to generate a communication line power loss estimate for each of the interface ports (132) and configure the power delivery units to balance amounts of power supplied by each of the remote devices (110) based on the communication line power loss estimates.