Abstract: A synchronizer constituted of a first and second set of three serially coupled latches coupled to a common clocking signal, the first and the ultimate latch of the first set responsive to a first edge of a common clocking signal and the penultimate latch responsive to an opposing edge of the common clocking signal, the second set being respectively responsive to the respective complementary edges of the clocking signal; an input lead arranged to receive a signal to be synchronized, the input lead coupled to the input of the first latch of the first set and to the input of the first latch of the second set; and a filter arranged to pass the output of each of the first set and the second set responsive to the penultimate latch of the set exhibiting a consistent output for two consecutive opposing edges.

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 midspan unit arranged to supply power to a powered device over data communication cabling constituted of a signal conditioner exhibiting a transfer function with a gain of not less than ?0.4 dB as compared with: (K1*(s+R/L1+a)^m)/((s+R/L2+b)^n) over a predetermined frequency range associated with the data transmitted from the powered device. s represents 2*?*(??1)*f, wherein f represents the predetermined frequency range associated with the data terminal equipment to be powered. R represents the signal source impedance in parallel with the load termination impedance. L1 represents the effective inductance of a data transformer winding of the data transmitter of the powered device, the effective inductance determined responsive to power received by the powered device from the power sourcing equipment; and L2 represents the effective inductance of the data transformer winding of the data transmitter of the powered device expected by a receiver of the switch or hub equipment.

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 driving arrangement for a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), the driving arrangement constituted of: a plurality of serially connected first LEDs coupled to a source voltage; a plurality of first electronically controlled switches, each associated with a particular one of the plurality of serially connected first LEDs and arranged to provide, when closed, a bypass current path for the associated first LED; and a control circuitry coupled to a control terminal of each of the plurality of first electronically controlled switches, the control circuitry operative to close a number of the plurality of first electronic switches, the number responsive to a voltage level of the source voltage.

Abstract: A chipset for powering and controlling a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) strings. The chipset includes a controller having a pulse width modulating (PWM) functionality and a data transfer interface circuitry; and at least one dissipative active element array comprising a plurality of dissipative active elements. The dissipative active element array(s) are packaged to be thermally separate from the controller. The PWM functionality is arranged to individually pulse width modulate a current flow through each of the LED strings. Each of the plurality of dissipative active elements is associated with a particular one of the plurality of LED strings and is arranged to limit the current flow of the pulse width modulated current that flows through the particular LED string to a value, the value being responsive to a value output by the controller via the data transfer interface circuitry.

Abstract: A control element for a luminaire constituted of a first and a second manually variable non-momentary impedance and a first and a second time dependent gating circuit, each responsive to a respective manually variable non-momentary impedance and operative to provide a time dependent gating of a respective polarity of an alternating current power signal, the amount of time of the gating reflecting the present value of the respective manually variable non-momentary impedance, wherein the first time dependent gating circuit and the second time dependent gating circuit are restrained to maintain a minimum predetermined power towards the solid state lighting unit.

Abstract: An automated method of controlling a power managed system, such as a power over Ethernet system. The method is constituted of: establishing a power consumption budget for a plurality of loads; defining an overbudget limit and an associated time window; monitoring power consumption of the plurality of loads; determining, at a plurality of time intervals over the associated time window, an indication of excess power consumption for each of the plurality of time intervals, the indication of excess power consumption being a function of the monitored power consumption and the defined power consumption budget; and in the event that an integral over the associated time window of a function of the determined indications of excess power consumption exceeds the overbudget limit, disabling at least one load from consuming power.

Abstract: A PSE configured to determine the end of the start up phase at the PD responsive to a condition of the voltage at the PSE output. In one particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to a PSE output voltage within a predetermined range of the PSE input voltage. In another particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to the voltage drop associated with the PSE current limiter being lower than a predetermined maximum. In yet another particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to the absolute value of the rate of change of the PSE output voltage being lower than a predetermined value. In yet another particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to the absolute value of the rate of change of the voltage drop associated with the PSE current limiter being lower than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A system for location identification in a local area network comprising: a current limited voltage source; a telecommunications outlet; communication cabling connecting the current limited voltage source to the telecommunications outlet; and a location identifier associated with the telecommunications outlet, the location identifier being responsive to a pre-determined voltage level from the current limited voltage source to transmit a multi-bit location data. In one embodiment the multi-bit location data is received at the power sourcing equipment and in another embodiment the multi-bit location data is received at a data terminal equipment connected to the telecommunications outlet.

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 automated method of sampling an electrical condition of each of a plurality channels, the method comprising: driving each of the plurality of channels with a modulated signal; providing a settable flag associated with each of the plurality of channels; selecting one of the plurality of channels; identifying if the settable flag associated with the selected one of the plurality of channels is set; and in the event that the settable flag associated with the selected one of the plurality of channels is not set, and a function of the modulated signal of the selected one of the plurality of channels is active and stable: sampling an electrical condition of the selected one of the plurality of channels; and setting the provided settable flag associated with the selected one of the plurality of channels.

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 secondary side post regulator arrangement for a plurality of LED strings. For each secondary winding, a first electronically controlled switch is provided arranged to control the power output, and a LED string is connected thereto. A second electronically controlled switch is further connected in series with the LED string, arranged to receive a PWM signal, thereby pulsing current through the LED string. A current sensing element is further provided outputting a voltage representation of the current through the LED string, and a synchronized sampling circuit is provided arranged to sample the voltage representation during the on period of the second electronically controlled switch. The sampled and held voltage representation is compared with a reference signal and fed back to control the first electronically controlled switch. The voltage output associated with each secondary winding is controlled, responsive to the reference voltage.

Abstract: A method for communicating settable priority data from a powered device being powered over communication cabling to power sourcing equipment, the method comprising: prior to connecting power to operational circuitry of the powered device, transmitting first multi-bit data from the powered device to the power sourcing equipment; subsequent to the transmitted first multi-bit data, connecting power received over the communication cabling to the powered device operational circuitry; receiving information from the powered device operational circuitry; disconnecting the received power from the powered device operational circuitry; and subsequent to the disconnecting, and prior to reconnecting power to the operational circuitry, transmitting second multi-bit data from the powered device to the power sourcing equipment, the second multi-bit data being a function of the received information, at least one of the first multi-bit data and the second multi-bit data being a function of a settable priority.

Abstract: A method of controlling a power over Ethernet system, the method comprising: sequentially powering a plurality of powered devices over communication cabling; determining a first total power consumption responsive to the powering of the plurality of powered devices; in the event that the determined first total power consumption exceeds a predetermined maximum power level, disabling power from at least one of the powered plurality of powered devices thereby reducing power consumption to less than the predetermined maximum power level; responsive to the disabling power, defining a connection power limit lower than the maximum power level by a guard band; monitoring a second total power consumption subsequent to the disabling power; and enabling power to a powered device only in the event the monitored second total power consumption is less than the connection power limit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing harmful transients resulting from a probing routine for a valid powered device detection signature in a network, the method comprising: operating power sourcing equipment to provide via its output port a pre-detection output voltage; obtaining an indication of the pre-detection output voltage; comparing the indication of the pre-detection output voltage with a pre-determined value; and in the event that the indication of the pre-detection output voltage is less than the pre-determined value; initiating a probing routine for a valid powered device detection signature. The higher voltage of the probing routine is thus not present at the output port in the absence of pre-detection of a potentially valid powered device detection signature.

Abstract: A power control subsystem for controlling the supply of power transmitted to at least one node over communication cabling, the power control subsystem comprising circuitry to control current of a power transmitted over communication cabling, the circuitry being operative to provide current limiting for the power at a first threshold, and delayed over current cut-off of the power at a second threshold, the second threshold being lower than the first threshold.

Abstract: An optical sampling and control element for use with a luminaire exhibiting a cycle and a frame, the optical sampling and control element being constituted of a color sensor in optical communication with the luminaire; and a sampler connected to the outputs of the color sensor, the sampler comprising an integrator arranged to integrate the outputs of the color sensor over a predetermined period less than the frame.

Abstract: A system and method for power over Ethernet comprising: a plurality of power over Ethernet supplying ports; and a management station in communication with each of the plurality of power over Ethernet supplying ports, the management station being operative to: disable at least one first power over Ethernet supplying port of the plurality of power over Ethernet supplying ports on a predetermined scheduled basis. Preferably the management station is further operative to: receive an entry indication; and enable the disabled at least one first power over Ethernet supplying port responsive to the received entry indication.