Power Supply (e.g., Battery Feed) Patents (Class 379/413)
  • Patent number: 7103178
    Abstract: A voltage-coupling and loop current supply mechanism controllably turns on an output transistor within the tip amplifier circuitry portion of the speech amplifier to controllably apply a prescribed voltage to the telephone line during on-hook/standby mode. This controllably applied voltage serves as a source of loop current when the phone goes off-hook. The ring lead portion of the tip/ring wireline pair is connected to a controlled current sink, which is coupled to the output of a voltage regulator referenced to the battery voltage. This controlled current sink is used to sink a prescribed loop current from the tip/ring pair when the phone goes off-hook. When the phone goes off-hook and loop current is detected, the voltage-supply mechanism provided by the tip amplifier's output transistor is terminated, and the speech amplifier is placed in its normal speech amplifier mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas L. Youngblood
  • Patent number: 7098723
    Abstract: In a circuit designed to output a varying output voltage, the substrate of the semi-conductor component is connected to a regulator, in particular a switch, connected to a lower potential than the potential of the substrate of the circuit. The circuit can for example be used in a Subscriber Line Interface Circuit (SLIC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Henrik Hellberg, Anders Emericks, Håkan Sjödin
  • Patent number: 7095848
    Abstract: A system for powering up an electronic circuit with telephone line power such that the electronic circuit does not enter a lockup state. The system includes a voltage detector that measures the voltage across the telephone line and a switch coupled with the voltage detector. The voltage detector generates a Reset signal when the measured voltage exceeds a selected voltage level, and the switch applies power to the electronic circuit in response to the generated Reset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Herman Fischer, Lane A. Smith, Michael G. Williams
  • Patent number: 7092517
    Abstract: Control circuit and method for regulating the supply voltage of an SLIC circuit (15), having a monitoring circuit (36) for calculating an SLIC supply voltage which is required to reach a nominal supply current (Inom) for an analogue terminal (2) which is connected to the SLIC circuit (15); and having a DC/DC converter (53), which is controlled by the monitoring circuit (36), for converting a battery voltage (Vbatt) to the calculated SLIC supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stephan Pruecklmayer, Michael Schoenberger
  • Patent number: 7088819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a possibility to localize a telecommunications terminal over a local area network. More specifically, the invention provides a method for associating a port number of a powering equipment to which will be connected a telecommunications terminal with some identification characteristics of said telecommunications terminal. Furthermore, it provides a telecommunications terminal to be connected to a local area network while being localized when remotely powered. It provides also a supervisor engine like a server connected to a local area network and collecting identification characteristics of a telecommunications terminal for its localization over said local area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Raymond Gass
  • Patent number: 7079647
    Abstract: An IP telephone has a power source circuit. A direct current from a network is used to charge an input capacitor via an input current limiting resistor. A resultantly charged voltage is inputted to and is converted by a DC/DC converter to produce an output voltage. In parallel with the input current limiting resistor, a limit removing unit including a switching transistor is arranged. The output voltage is delayed by a delay circuit to activate a driving transistor, which drives the switching transistor. The input voltage to the converter is monitored by an input voltage sensor. Therefore, the telephone power source circuit copes with a plurality of hubs of different power supplying specifications in an internet (IP) telephone network in which telephones are connected to a local-area network of the IEEE802.3 standard and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaharu Tomobe
  • Patent number: 7079773
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for optical transmission line power feed interference compensation for compensating for an electrical interference signal in a power feed conductor (12; 52) and in an associated second conductor (14; 54). The interference signal may be produced by electromagnetic induction or by local variation in earth potential. The compensation is performed by producing a variable compensation signal from an electrical interference signal produced in the second conductor and inputting the variable compensation signal onto the power feed conductor, in order substantially to compensate for or cancel the electrical interference signal produced in the power feed conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Alain Cordier, Tony Farrar, Carol Webb
  • Patent number: 7076055
    Abstract: A comparator-based switchmode power converter monitors the most negative of the tip and ring line voltages, to control the supply voltage to a SLIC. The voltage applied to the SLIC's power terminals is slightly higher than the sensed voltage for different loop signaling conditions, including loop start, ground start balanced ringing. The switchmode converter includes a comparator coupled to a DC-DC output node downstream of a MOSFET switch installed in a DC supply rail of a source of DC supply voltage, and coupled to a power supply terminal of the SLIC. The comparator is also coupled to a set point node, which is coupled through a voltage offset path to each of tip and ring portions of the telephone line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Adtran, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph R. Boudreaux, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7076054
    Abstract: A regulated power supply interface has a current feedback and voltage level shift circuit that monitors power supply output (load) current and controllably diverts current to a current reference node. A differential amplifier-based, voltage feedback and voltage level shift circuit monitors the load voltage and controllably diverts output current to the current reference node. A current mode setpoint circuit has multiple voltage dropping current paths, through one or more of which a summation of the diverted load currents are programmably directed, to generate a control voltage for controlling the operation of a pulse width modulator unit of the regulated power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Adtran Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Stefan Bahl, John S. McGary, Scott L. Smith
  • Patent number: 7072389
    Abstract: An isolation system is provided that is suitable for use in telephony, medical instrumentation, industrial process control and other applications. Preferred embodiments of the invention comprise a capacitive isolation barrier across which a digital signal is communicated. The system provides a means of communication across the isolation barrier that is highly immune to amplitude and phase noise interference. Clock recovery circuitry may be employed on one side of the isolation barrier to extract timing information from the digital signal communicated across the barrier, and to filter the effects of phase noise introduced at the barrier. Delta-sigma converters may be disposed on both sides of the isolation barrier to convert signals between analog and digital domains. An isolated power supply may also be provided on the isolated side of the barrier, whereby direct current is generated in response to the digital data received across the isolation barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Scott, Navdeep S Sooch, David R. Welland
  • Patent number: 7068781
    Abstract: Before any supply of remote power to a telecommunications terminal connected to a local area network, the Ethernet equipment must recognize the power class of the terminal by measuring a specific electrical signature of the terminal via their interconnection. If the Ethernet equipment is unable to supply the required power, then it will send a specific signal via the interconnection which will activate an alarm on the terminal. The possibility to be alerted by a specific alarm from the terminal if no remote power can be supplied to it, will advantageously inform the terminal user of the problem and allow the user to look for an alternative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Michel Le Creff, Gérard Vergnaud, Raymond Gass
  • Patent number: 7068778
    Abstract: An integrated line inductor and line feed resistor is disclosed. A first coil winding and a second coil winding having a select resistance are magnetically coupled to each other. The first coil winding and second coil winding are each operable to transform electric energy between a Subscriber Line Interface Circuit (SLIC) and a tip and ring (T/R) line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Ronald Locker Bentley
  • Patent number: 7058174
    Abstract: A system and method that provides lifeline service to DSL customers when a loss-of-power message is sent to the central office from an integrated access device on the customer premise. If a predetermined number of loss-of-power messages are received then power is provided to the integrated access device from the central office. To this end, a power supply at the central office provides power through an isolator circuit to a relay. The relay is connected through to the twisted pair to the integrated access device. The data connection may also be powered in this manner or, in order to save further wattage, the data connection may be disconnected for the duration of the power outage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Robert Posthuma
  • Patent number: 7054439
    Abstract: According to the invention, means for reducing the interference caused by a voltage or a current in common mode, comprise adders (S3; S4) in each path for adding a first counter-reaction voltage (V1) to the voltage of the relevant path, a bridge (R1, R2) and an inverter (I3) for provision of said first counter-reaction voltage which is equal to half the sum of the voltages (VA, VB), respectively supplied to the inputs (A; B), with an opposing sign. According to the invention, the effect of a delay introduced by the inverter (I3) may be reduced, whereby said stage further comprises means (S5; S6) for adding in addition to the input voltage for each path, a second counter-reaction voltage (Va1; Vb1), and means (R1, R2, I1, S1; I2, S2) for provision of a second counter-reaction voltage (Va1; Vb1) which is a function of the input voltage (VA; VB) at the input corresponding to said path, with an opposing sign and with a delay identical to that generated by the inverter (I3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Bouzidi
  • Patent number: 7050577
    Abstract: A subscriber line interface circuit has a battery-powered, high voltage analog section, that drives tip and ring lines of a subscriber loop, and a mixed signal (low voltage and digital signal processing) section, that monitors and controls the high voltage analog section. An input signal receiving unit of the high voltage analog section conditions input voice and low voltage signaling and ringing signals from the mixed signal section, for application to a dual mode, programmable gain, tip/ring amplifier coupled to the loop. A sense amplifier at the output of the tip/ring amplifier is through an auxiliary amplifier to an analog feedback monitor port for closing a loop to synthesize the circuit's output impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Leonel Ernesto Enriquez, Douglas Youngblood, Edward A. Berrios
  • Patent number: 7046796
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for supplying power over a home phone line network in a manner that is interoperable with other voice and data services operating on the same network. The system includes a power source coupled to the home phone line network. The power source includes an AC signal generator that generates an AC signal at a selected frequency. The power source also includes a band pass filter for removing unwanted harmonics from the AC signal, thereby generating a filtered AC signal for powering one or more devices on the home phone line network. One or more devices attached to the home phone line network, such as a telephone adapter or telephone, receives the filtered AC signal. Each device comprises a second band pass filter and an AC/DC converter. The second band pass filter passes the filtered AC signal to the AC/DC converter and prevents the introduction of undesired harmonics onto the home phone line network from the AC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore F. Rabenko, Charles G. Wier, Steven L. Caine, John H. Gleiter, Kevin L. Miller
  • Patent number: 7039062
    Abstract: A cable receiver system and method which utilizes the combination of time-division multiplexing (“TDM”) and a fast-acquisition-time tuner to enable on/off pulsing of the tuner, thereby resulting in substantially reduced power consumption by the tuner. The tuner may be pulsed on during the allocated time slot to receive the allocated portion of the signal, and then pulsed off the remainder of the time. The tuner generally requires a fast signal acquisition time compared to the received signal's frame rate so that the tuner does not use up an excess amount of the frame outside of the proper time slot when locking in the received signal. The TDM technique permits more efficient use of the high bandwidth network by multiplexing the relatively low bandwidth voice signals. In addition, the implementation of a fast-acquisition-time tuner in the NIU of a cable system permits the tuner to be pulsed off for a substantial amount of the time between the allocated time slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Microtune (Texas) L.P.
    Inventor: Albert H. Taddiken
  • Patent number: 7031463
    Abstract: A circuit provides current from a high voltage output to a low voltage output through a resistor when a load at the low voltage output is removed. The resistor provides current to keep the VBL voltage above the set point of a switching regulator that provides output power to the VBL output. Accordingly, the regulator's output stage provides a switched 0% duty cycle output and saves power until a load is presented again. Presenting a signal to either a shutdown circuit or a sleep pin shuts down the entire controller until a load is presented again. A zener diode is used to clamp the VBL at a voltage higher than the set point of the controller to ensure that the controller operates with a 0% duty cycle output while in a no-load condition. The circuitry can be configured to operate in either a positive or negative powering scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Arris International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason C. Pierce
  • Patent number: 7026730
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an integrated jack unit is provided. The integrated jack unit includes a housing. The integrated jack unit also includes a jack positioned at least in part in the housing. The integrated jack unit also includes a power controller positioned in the housing and coupled to the jack by a line. The line is designated for coupling with a transformer. The integrated jack unit also includes a pin protruding outwardly from the housing. The pin is electrically coupled to the jack through the power controller and the line. The pin is positioned to receive power for the jack from a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Marshall, Anthony L. Randall, Frederick R. Schindler
  • Patent number: 7027594
    Abstract: A network interface device (NID) for connecting a telecommunications line to a subscriber premises. The NID includes an enclosure that houses wiring, connectors, and active telecommunications devices. A cooling device, such as a fan, is used for cooling the active devices within the NID and is powered by a storage capacitor. The capacitor is charged by current from telecommunications signals on the telecommunications line using a power regulating circuit. The active devices within the NID generate heat, and the cooling device maintains a desired operating temperature within the NID. In one embodiment, the NID includes electronic components used for providing DSL service to the subscriber, and the lower frequency voice components of the telecommunications signals received at the NID are used for charging the capacitor. A microserver within the NID senses the current levels provided to the NID and to an active component module (e.g., DSL modem), and senses the electrical charge level at the storage capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Qwest Communications International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Casey, Bruce A. Phillips
  • Patent number: 7013007
    Abstract: A method for generating power signals within a telephone server coupled to a computer system via an interface bus or in-house power connector, to a maximum number of telephones, and to a telephone trunk, the computer system providing a primary voltage signal and a secondary voltage signal, includes receiving the primary voltage signal and the secondary voltage signal from the computer system, generating a ringer power signal in response to the primary voltage, generating a direct inward dialing power signal in response to the primary voltage, the direct inward dialing power signal configured to provide a first operational power signal for telephones from the maximum number of telephones receiving telephone calls directly from the telephone trunk, generating a second operational power signal in response to the primary voltage for telephones from the maximum number of telephones receiving telephone calls from other telephones from the maximum number of telephones, and generating a ringing signal in response to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: AltiGen Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Chouldjian, Joseph Chiu, Leo Liu
  • Patent number: 7003103
    Abstract: A mode-dependent, battery-coupling switch for a subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) selectively adjusts its current requirements to provide optimal current handling capability irrespective of the mode of operation of the SLIC. Where current demands of the SLIC are relatively minimal (e.g., on-hook idle mode), the bias is set at a relatively small, default value. During high current demand, such as ringing and off-hook signaling, the bias is set at a relatively large value, to maintain a low voltage drop across the battery-coupling switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Leonel Ernesto Enriquez, Douglas Youngblood
  • Patent number: 7003102
    Abstract: An improved system and associated components for providing reliable power supply and interconnectivity for digital subscriber line (DSL) applications at sites remote from the central office (CO). The system comprises a line power unit in communication with a subscriber-installable gateway module, the latter incorporating a power extraction circuit adapted to extract power from the Telco line. Home phone network (HPN), homeplug, and wireless modules are also provided within the gateway to permit connectivity between other electronic components within the subscriber's site. Subscriber-installable adapter modules which extract power and perform line interface functions for the various jacks throughout the site are also disclosed. Methods for installing and operating the aforementioned components are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Pulse Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick J. Kiko
  • Patent number: 6996729
    Abstract: A DSL communication apparatus with lifeline functionality is provided, the DSL communication apparatus (3) in particular being suitable for CVoDSL (“Channelized Voice over Digital Subscriber Line”) transmission. The DSL communication apparatus (3) comprises a central processing unit (11) which detects a local power failure state of a local power supply unit (23) being associated with the DSL communication apparatus (3). In this case, the central processing unit (11) changes the operation of the DSL communication apparatus (3) from a normal operation mode to an intermediate operation mode, generates an interrupt for stopping a voice coprocessor unit (8), initializes a download of a lifeline operation firmware from a FLASH memory (12) to the voice coprocessor unit (8), and then starts a new initialization of the voice coprocessor unit (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ingo Volkening, Jochen Kraus, Gunther Fenzl
  • Patent number: 6996134
    Abstract: A method reliably communicates content for multiple subscriber lines via a single physical transmission medium between a telecommunication gateway and equipment at a customer location. In that method, content for two or more subscriber lines of the customer location is received and converted into packetized data for network communications and/or multiplexed to form an added-main-line (AML) signal that includes power. The packetized data or the AML signal is communicated between the customer location and the telecommunication gateway via the single physical transmission medium. External power can be used to extract the content for the two or more subscriber lines from the packetized data in a primary mode of operation, and the power from the AML signal can be used to extract the content for the two or more subscriber lines from the AML signal in a backup mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: General Bandwidth Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Renucci, Matthew A. Pendleton
  • Patent number: 6980648
    Abstract: A telephone system includes a transmission line for connection to at least one telephone and a telephone interface in communication with the transmission line. The telephone interface provides DC power when a telephone connected to the transmission line is in an off-hook state. A controller in communication with the telephone interface generates a pre-defined DC characteristic of the telephone interface, and a regulator in communication with the controller adaptively translates the DC characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alberto Canella, Gerhard Noessing
  • Patent number: 6978014
    Abstract: The apparatus for provides power to selected line drivers in a communication system. Each selected line driver has a respective inherent internal voltage drop. Each selected line driver is coupled with a respective communication loop for providing a respective minimum operational voltage to the respective communication loop. The apparatus includes: (a) a control means coupled with the selected line driver devices for controlling supply voltage to the selected line drivers; and (b) a power supply means coupled with the control means and with the selected line driver devices and cooperating with the control means to deliver a respective supply voltage to respective selected line driver devices. The respective supply voltage is at least equal with the respective minimum operational voltage less the respective inherent internal voltage drop for each respective selected line driver device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Ronald Bentley
  • Patent number: 6975209
    Abstract: An in-line power tap device that can be deployed in a data communication network in which two ports of the in-line power tap device are interchangeably coupled between any two communicating nodes to pass in-line power and data signals. The in-line power tap device also has a pair of tap ports that are coupled to external analyzers to monitor the quality of data signals without interrupting the on-going communication between the two communicating nodes. The apparatus allows one to tap into an Ethernet unshielded twisted pair data transmission line, or other source of data transmission, without disturbing the in-line power transmission and to maintain the integrity of data transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventor: Leonid G. Gromov
  • Patent number: 6973178
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating a bandlimited square waveform for use as a ringing voltage in a telephone network is described. One embodiment comprises a method of generating a ringing voltage signal for transmission to a telephone device. The method comprises calculating a truncated Fourier series representation of a square wave using only low order harmonic frequencies thereof; determining a sampling rate; generating digital sample data using the truncated Fourier series representation and the sampling rate; and converting the digital sample data to an analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Ronald L. Bentley
  • Patent number: 6961592
    Abstract: A protection circuit for a cellular telephone battery includes a first memory for storing battery identification data and a second memory associated with the telephone includes data relating to which battery type may be used by this telephone. When the battery is connected to the telephone, the battery identification data is compared to the battery type data stored in the telephone. The battery is automatically disconnected from the telephone if the two sets of data do not correspond to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Inventor: Gavin Paul O'Connor
  • Patent number: 6959083
    Abstract: An audio signal processor which modifies audio signal components outside the conventional audio frequency band. The processor includes a Delta Sigma Modulator (DSM) that receives a non-interpolated digital audio signal sampled at a frequency of at least 198 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Scott, Andrew W. Krone, Navdeep S. Sooch, David R. Welland
  • Patent number: 6956462
    Abstract: Circuits provide power to network-based devices, such as IP telephones, using spare conductors within existing LAN cables. The circuits, which may comprise diode bridges, are designed to provide power using existing and planned industry guidelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: John J. Jetzt
  • Patent number: 6956945
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is for providing a phantom battery feed to reduce power consumption in a differential amplifier circuit. A voltage signal is driven onto a telecommunications line using a first amplifier and a second amplifier. A phantom battery feed is performed during a negative cycle of the voltage signal. Performing the phantom battery feed comprises: supplying a negative supply terminal of the first amplifier with a supply voltage that is one-half of a full scale supply voltage; and supplying a positive supply terminal of the second amplifier with a supply voltage that is one-half of the full scale supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Legerity, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell J. Apfel
  • Patent number: 6956943
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for reducing the power required by an integrated services hub supporting a plurality of telephone circuits, comprising offsetting ringing of each of the plurality of telephone circuits such that all the telephone circuits do not ring simultaneously. The step of offsetting ringing of each of the plurality of telephone circuits preferably further comprises providing each telephone circuit with a ring cadence comprising a ringing interval and a non-ringing interval and defining a starting point for the ringing interval within each telephone circuit's ring cadence such that the starting point for the ringing interval for at least one telephone circuit falls substantially outside the ringing intervals of the remaining telephone circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Earl Goodrich II, Craig Lyle Mahaney
  • Patent number: 6952785
    Abstract: A data communications device includes a supervisory circuit, a power supply, and a power circuit. The power circuit includes a data communications port, a power supply connection coupled to the power supply, and a power controller coupled to the data communications port and the power supply connection. The power controller is configured to provide a power signal from the power supply connection to the data communications port in response to communication with the supervisory circuit. Upon loss of communication with the supervisory circuit, the power controller is configured to selectively continue to provide the power signal from the power supply connection to the data communications port when a local parameter has a first value, and discontinue providing the power signal from the power supply connection to the data communications port when the local parameter has a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wael William Diab, Roger Karam, Premkumar Jonnala
  • Patent number: 6950514
    Abstract: A voltage reference filter for a subscriber line interface circuit removes unwanted noise on a DC reference voltage sourced by a device, such as a codec, and employed by the subscriber line circuit as a differential mode voltage baseline. The DC reference voltage is coupled via a high pass filter to the sense amplifier. The filter blocks the DC component of the reference voltage and passes noise components to the sense amplifier. The reference port of an amplifier between the sense amplifier and a codec receives the same (noisy) reference voltage AC-coupled to the sense amplifier, and performs common mode rejection of noise components riding on the DC reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Leonel E. Enriquez, Douglas L. Youngblood
  • Patent number: 6947548
    Abstract: Driver circuit for at least one subscriber terminal, comprising a first driver (14) for amplifying the power of a direct-voltage signal applied for supplying power to the subscriber terminal, the first driver (14) being supplied by a first supply voltage (V1), and comprising a second driver (37; 37a, 37b), following the first driver, for modulating high-frequency signal currents onto the power-amplified direct-voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Thomas Ferianz
  • Patent number: 6947554
    Abstract: A programmable access point (110) has a line driver (201), sensors (202), comparator and control logic (203), a power supply (206), and a backup power supply (207). The line driver (201) provides power and communications signals to attached customer equipment and receives its power from either the power supply (206) or the backup power supply (207). The power supplies (206, 207) generate power supply status signals which include a signal indicating whether line driver (201) is receiving power from the power supply (206) or the backup power supply (207) and a signal indicating the reserve capacity of the backup power supply (207). The sensors (202) monitor the power output by the line driver (201). The comparator and control logic (203) receives the power supply status signals and the monitored power output values and generates a control value for line driver (201) which it provides to the line driver (201) which modifies its output responsive to the control value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Kent Freyman, Christopher R. Bach
  • Patent number: 6944291
    Abstract: Vehicles such as airliners or trains can be equipped with a form of local area network in which individual network connections are made to individual passenger seats using standard telephony connectors. Passengers having computers can connect to the network using their own conventional telephone cables. Wireless communications technology is used to link the vehicle network to external ground stations or satellite systems. To meet the DC power requirements of mobile computer users, the vehicle includes a DC power source. A normally unused wire-pair in the telephony connectors brings the DC power to each seatback. A slightly modified connector is used to transfer the DC power to the computer's DC power subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Woollcott Ellington, Jr., Francis Edward Noel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6940970
    Abstract: A ring boost circuit has a first switching device coupled to a ring node. The first switching device is responsive to a ring operation. A charge pump is connected to the ring node, and the charge pump provides a voltage offset to enhance a differential voltage between the ring node and a tip node when the first switching device is activated during the ring operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Brian Albert Wittman
  • Patent number: 6937721
    Abstract: Broadband driver circuit for driving voice and data signals, having a current dividing circuit (37), which divides a current generated by a current source (38), in a manner dependent on a voice and data signal present at a signal input (21), into two base currents (Ib1, Ib2) for driving a first driver transistor (39) and a second driver transistor (40), the two driver transistors (39, 40) being constructed identically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Rudiger Koban
  • Patent number: 6931108
    Abstract: A telecommunication interface integrates DSL and POTS components in a manner which effectively separates their bandwidth requirements from their power requirements. This is accomplished by powering the tip path and ring path amplifiers with a pair of transformer-coupled floating power supply-sourced voltages, and referencing respective like polarity inputs of the amplifiers to a differential voltage pair that is used to operate the subscriber loop, including providing loop current and controllably applying a ringing voltage to the POTS line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Ludeman
  • Patent number: 6925157
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for data transmission and voice signal transmission on a subscriber line, in terminal devices located at least on a network side of the subscriber line, only those parts which evaluate a criterion indicating the beginning of the data transmission are switched into active mode outside the context of data transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Ahrndt, Anke Gerwens, Karl Kloppe, Johann Neumayer
  • Patent number: 6922470
    Abstract: A method and apparatus in a DC-feed controller for controlling a subscriber line interface circuit controlling voltage (alternately, current) on a telephone line comprising a pair of wires. A digital feedback signal is subtracted from a predetermined voltage (alternately, current) limit digital value to provide a digital error signal that represents the difference between the voltage (alternately, current) limit digital value and the digital feedback signal. The digital error signal is multiplied by a predetermined digital gain value to provide a scaled digital error value. The scaled digital error value is integrated over time to generate an integrated digital error signal having a first predetermined number n of significant bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher L. Betty, Donald C. Richardson
  • Patent number: 6917681
    Abstract: A power management circuit for a remote access platform extracts power from a wireline for powering a ring generator that generates a ringing voltage signal that is distributed to a plurality of subscriber circuits. A power-limited voltage converter steps up the wireline voltage to a higher ‘isolating’ voltage, charging a capacitor coupled to the ring generator. A monitor circuit reduces the power that the power-limited voltage converter can draw, if the wireline voltage drops too low. This prevents the wireline voltage from collapsing should the remote terminal be deployed at a distance from wireline voltage source (the central office) greater than its specified capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Adtran, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Robinson, Ralph R. Boudreaux, Jr., John S. McGary, John B. Wilkes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6912282
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling Cisco legacy power to support IEEE 802.3 AF standard power. A network power system capable of delivering data terminal equipment power via a media dependent interface includes power source equipment according to Cisco legacy power and at least one powered device according to IEEE standard power. A power compatibility module is inserted between the power source equipment and the powered device to enable the power source equipment to appear according to IEEE standard power and the powered device to appear according to Cisco legacy power. The module includes switches, a DC/DC converter, an IEEE power source equipment circuit, and an isolator. The module optionally includes a user signaling device for communicating operating conditions of the module to a user. The module may be connected to two ports of the power source equipment to supply adequate power levels to the powered device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Cisco Tehnology, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger A. Karam
  • Patent number: 6885745
    Abstract: A protection arrangement for a telephone subscriber line interface circuit is disclosed. The arrangement is particularly useful for protecting an electronic telephone set from over-voltage and over-current fault conditions. The arrangement provides a FET that operates in saturation mode to connect an office battery to the subscriber line under normal operation. The FET also provides isolation capabilities for protecting the line circuit from an over-current condition on the subscriber line. Over-voltage protection is provided by way of an isolation relay between the line circuit and the subscriber line. Both the FET and isolation relay are operated by a controller that uses timers in the methods of over-voltage and over-current protection that it performs. A further capability of the arrangement is that it resets itself after the fault condition has ended. This feature is particularly useful in the case of fault conditions of short duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Nortel Networks, Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin R. Handforth, Gerard J. Hupe, Donald S. McGinn, Rolf G. Meier, Canute Planthara, Raymond K. Wong
  • Patent number: 6880096
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing electrical power consumption of an electronic unit provided with a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU is returned to a normal operation state at regular intervals when the CPU has been placed in a sleep state. The CPU outputs a clear signal to a monitoring circuit, and makes reference to an actuation signal for an external device, such as, for example, a motor from a control switch to place the CPU in the sleep state at a time other than a time when reference is made to the clear signal and the input signal. When the CPU has been released from the sleep state, reference to an output of the clear signal and the input signal and an output of only the clear signal are repeated at regular intervals and at a predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Sumida
  • Patent number: 6873702
    Abstract: A subscriber's telephone system is presented that includes at least one driver circuit connected to Tip and Ring terminals. An additional network is connected between an output of the driver circuit and the Ring terminal. This additional network includes a suitably dimensioned capacitor and a diode limiter connected in parallel with each other to minimize the overall voltage while maintaining a desired battery mean value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Walter Rossi, Ferdinando Lari, Carlo Antonini, Pietro Consiglio, Luigi Vergani
  • Patent number: 6865271
    Abstract: A line circuit utilizing a differential amplifier whose output is regulated to zero volts D.C. (when the subscriber's set is off-hook) by a negative feedback circuit, for controlling a voltage controlled power supply which provides a constant current feed to the subscriber's loop. The differential amplifier also transmits audio signals received from the subscriber's loop directly to a PABX via an unbalanced terminal. When the loop range exceeds a predetermined threshold, the circuit reverts to a voltage feed operation thereby allowing operation over long loop lengths and the ability to provide on-hook CLASS services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
    Inventor: Chuk Seto