Abstract: An apparatus includes a power-over-Ethernet (POE) interface to be connected to a powered device (PD) over an Ethernet cable and a control circuit. The control circuit is to measure a voltage provided by the apparatus through the Ethernet cable, determine that the voltage has dropped by at least a given voltage change, based on a determination that the voltage has dropped by at least the given voltage change, determine whether or not a predetermined quantity of Maintain Power Signature (MPS) signals have been missed within a given time frame, and, based on a determination that the predetermined quantity of MPS signals has not been missed within the given time frame, determine that the PD is still connected to the apparatus.

Abstract: A method (50, 70, 600) provides thermal protection for an IC device that has multiple components. For each component, temperatures are sensed (51), each of which associated with a different area of the respective component and a respective temperature sense signal is output indicative of the highest sensed temperature of the respective component. For each of the components, the respective temperature sense output signal is sampled (52) to produce a sequence of discrete sampled temperature values. A sequence of differences between a reference temperature value and each of the discrete sample temperatures is integrated (53) over time to compute, for each of the components, a respective integration output. The respective integration output computed for each of the switches is compared (54) to a threshold value. An action related to the thermal protection function is initiated (55) upon the integration output of an affected component exceeding the threshold value.

Abstract: A mark and hold system comprising a main power supply, a mark voltage power supply and a detection current source. After detection, and optionally classification, the main power supply is disconnected from the PD and instead the PD is connected to the mark voltage power supply. The detection current source draws current through a port resistance of the PSE and the PD. The voltage across the port resistance is monitored to determine whether the PD is still connected to the port.

Abstract: An inrush current limiting method not requiring the use of a sense resistor, the method constituted of: generating a ramped voltage; comparing a first function of a voltage across a port capacitor with the generated ramp voltage; responsive to the outcome of the comparison of the voltage first function with the ramp voltage, controlling an electronically controlled switch coupled to the port capacitor such that the voltage across the port capacitor is a linear function of the generated ramped voltage; comparing a second function of the voltage at a terminal of the electronically controlled switch with a predetermined reference voltage; and responsive to the outcome of the comparison indicating that the second function of the terminal voltage is greater than the predetermined reference voltage, pulling the generated ramp voltage towards a predetermined shutoff voltage.

Abstract: A mark and hold system comprising a main power supply, a mark voltage power supply and a detection current source. After detection, and optionally classification, the main power supply is disconnected from the PD and instead the PD is connected to the mark voltage power supply. The detection current source draws current through a port resistance of the PSE and the PD. The voltage across the port resistance is monitored to determine whether the PD is still connected to the port.

Abstract: An inrush current limiting method not requiring the use of a sense resistor, the method constituted of: generating a ramped voltage; comparing a first function of a voltage across a port capacitor with the generated ramp voltage; responsive to the outcome of the comparison of the voltage first function with the ramp voltage, controlling an electronically controlled switch coupled to the port capacitor such that the voltage across the port capacitor is a linear function of the generated ramped voltage; comparing a second function of the voltage at a terminal of the electronically controlled switch with a predetermined reference voltage; and responsive to the outcome of the comparison indicating that the second function of the terminal voltage is greater than the predetermined reference voltage, pulling the generated ramp voltage towards a predetermined shutoff voltage.

Abstract: An energy consumption reduction apparatus for a bus comprising: a control circuitry comprising a voltage detector in communication with a line of the bus, the voltage detector arranged to detect the voltage on the bus line; and a controllable current source arranged to provide a current to the bus line responsive to a current activation signal of the control circuitry, wherein, responsive to the detected voltage becoming greater than a predetermined low threshold, the control circuitry is arranged to output the current activation signal.

Abstract: A telecommunications outlet providing location identification in a local area network, the telecommunications outlet constituted of: a network side connection adapted to be connected to a networking device via horizontal cabling; a data terminal side connection adapted to be connected to a data terminal equipment; a control circuitry; a memory adapted for storage of multi-bit data; a transmitter in communication with the memory; and a first switch responsive to the control circuitry, the first switch arranged in a first mode to connect data from the network side connection to the data terminal side connection and in a second mode to connect data from the transmitter to the network side connection and disconnect data from the network side connection to the data terminal side connection.

Abstract: A method of color control for a backlight utilizing colored light emitting diodes (LEDs), the method constituted of: providing a plurality of colored LED strings constituted of at least three different colors; lighting each of the plurality of colored LED strings to provide a backlight; providing a period wherein none of the colored LED strings are lit; obtaining during the provided period when none of the colored LED strings are lit, an indication of an ambient light; obtaining during the provided period when the colored LED strings are lit, an indication of the optical output of the colored LED strings; and controlling the lighting of the provided plurality of colored LED strings responsive to the received indication of ambient light and the received indication of the output of the colored LED strings. Preferably, the method is performed in cooperation with an on-board color sensor.

Abstract: A color manager for use with a luminaire constituted of a plurality of different colored light emitting diode based sub-luminaires arranged to produce a combined light. The color manager is constituted of a sampler arranged to output an electrical representation of the optical output of the luminaire, a converter coupled to the output of said sampler and operatively associated with a current selector arranged to select the driving current level of the luminaire from a plurality of current levels. The converter is arranged to convert said electrical representation to a pre-determined calorimetric system in cooperation with a calibration matrix whose values are selected responsive to the selected driving current level. The color manager further comprises a driver operatively associated with the luminaire, the converter and current selector and arranged to drive the luminaire in accordance with the driving current level as selected by the selector.

Abstract: A system for powering and controlling an LED backlight, the system comprising: a control circuitry; a controllable power source responsive to the control circuitry; and a plurality of LED strings receiving power from the controllable power source, the control circuitry being operative to control the output voltage of the controllable power source responsive to a function of an electrical characteristic of at least one of the plurality of LED strings.

Abstract: An extended voltage range LED string driver comprising: an electronically controlled switch exhibiting a first port, a second port and a control port; a source of predetermined voltage connected to the control port of the electronically controlled switch; an LED string driver operatively connected to the first port of the electronically controlled switch; and a means for connecting an LED string to the second port of the electronically controlled switch; the electronically controlled switch being arranged to conduct between the first and the second port only when the voltage at the first port is within a predetermined range of said predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A method of color control for a backlight utilizing colored light emitting diodes (LEDs), the method constituted of: providing a plurality of colored LED strings constituted of at least three different colors; lighting each of the plurality of colored LED strings to provide a backlight; providing a period wherein none of the colored LED strings are lit; obtaining during the provided period when none of the colored LED strings are lit, an indication of an ambient light; obtaining during the provided period when the colored LED strings are lit, an indication of the optical output of the colored LED strings; and controlling the lighting of the provided plurality of colored LED strings responsive to the received indication of ambient light and the received indication of the output of the colored LED strings. Preferably, the method is performed in cooperation with an on-board color sensor.

Abstract: A telecommunications outlet providing location identification in a local area network, the telecommunications outlet constituted of: a network side connection adapted to be connected to a networking device via horizontal cabling; a data terminal side connection adapted to be connected to a data terminal equipment; a control circuitry; a memory adapted for storage of multi-bit data; a transmitter in communication with the memory; and a first switch responsive to the control circuitry, the first switch arranged in a first mode to connect data from the network side connection to the data terminal side connection and in a second mode to connect data from the transmitter to the network side connection and disconnect data from the network side connection to the data terminal side connection.

Abstract: A color manager for use with a luminaire constituted of a plurality of different colored light emitting diode based sub-luminaires arranged to produce a combined light. The color manager is constituted of a sampler arranged to output an electrical representation of the optical output of the luminaire, a converter coupled to the output of said sampler and operatively associated with a current selector arranged to select the driving current level of the luminaire from a plurality of current levels. The converter is arranged to convert said electrical representation to a pre-determined calorimetric system in cooperation with a calibration matrix whose values are selected responsive to the selected driving current level. The color manager further comprises a driver operatively associated with the luminaire, the converter and current selector and arranged to drive the luminaire in accordance with the driving current level as selected by the selector.

Abstract: A method of controlling the output of a luminaire by receiving a first target signal associated with a first frame; generating a first light output control signal for an on time portion of the first frame, the light output control signal responsive to the received first target signal; sampling a light output during the on time portion of the first frame, the light output being responsive to the first light output control signal; receiving a second target signal associated with a second frame, the second frame following the first frame; comparing the received second target signal with the sampled light output of the on time portion of the first frame; and generating an error signal responsive to the comparing.

Abstract: A system for remote identification comprising: a power sourcing device; a power ready patch panel comprising a first resistive element and at least one of a second resistive element, a multi-bit storage device and an open connection; a first electrical path between the power sourcing device and the first resistive element; and a second electrical path between the power sourcing device and the at least one of a second resistive element, a multi-bit storage device and an open connection; the power sourcing device being operable to obtain a value associated with the first resistive element via the first electrical path, and in the event the obtained value is indicative that a multi-bit storage device is connected to the second electrical path, obtain configuration information from the multi-bit storage device via the second electrical path.

Abstract: A method of controlling the output of a luminaire by receiving a first target signal associated with a first frame; generating a first light output control signal for an on time portion of the first frame, the light output control signal responsive to the received first target signal; sampling a light output during the on time portion of the first frame, the light output being responsive to the first light output control signal; receiving a second target signal associated with a second frame, the second frame following the first frame; comparing the received second target signal with the sampled light output of the on time portion of the first frame; and generating an error signal responsive to the comparing.

Abstract: An extended voltage range LED string driver comprising: an electronically controlled switch exhibiting a first port, a second port and a control port; a source of predetermined voltage connected to the control port of the electronically controlled switch; an LED string driver operatively connected to the first port of the electronically controlled switch; and a means for connecting an LED string to the second port of the electronically controlled switch; the electronically controlled switch being arranged to conduct between the first and the second port only when the voltage at the first port is within a predetermined range of said predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A method of driving LED pairs comprising: providing a plurality of LED pairs each exhibiting a parallel reverse anode to cathode arrangement and each comprising a first LED and a second LED; receiving a time varying electrical signal commonly at the anode of the first LED of each of the LED pairs; and individually driving the anode of the second LED each of the provided LED pairs to one of a high value and a low value, wherein the received time varying electrical signal exhibits a high value operative to illuminate the first LED of each of the LED pairs when the anode of the second LED is driven to a low level, and a low voltage level operative to light the second LED of each of the LED pairs when the anode of the second LED is driven to a high level.