Abstract: A method of determining an effective resistance between a power sourcing equipment and a powered device, the powered device exhibiting an interface and an operational circuitry, the method comprising: prior to connecting power to the operational circuitry of the powered device, impressing two disparate current flow levels (I1, I2) between the power sourcing equipment and the powered device; measuring the voltage at the powered device interface (VPD1, VPD2) responsive to each of the impressed disparate current levels; measuring the voltage at the power sourcing equipment (VPSE1, VPSE2) responsive to each of the impressed disparate current levels; and determining the effective resistance between the power sourcing equipment and the powered device responsive to the VPD1, PPD2, VPSE1, VPSE2, I1 and I2.

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 fault detection mechanism for a LED string comprising a plurality of serially connected LEDs, the fault detection mechanism comprising: a control circuitry; and a voltage measuring means, in communication with the control circuitry, arranged to measure the voltage drop across at least one LED of the LED string, the control circuitry being operable to: measure the voltage drop, via the voltage measuring means, at a plurality of times, compare at least two of the measured voltage drops, and in the event the comparison of the at least two voltage drops is indicative of one of a short circuit LED and an open circuit LED, output a fault indicator.

Abstract: A power over Ethernet controller comprising: a control circuitry; at least one powering port, each of the at least one powering port comprising a unique means for controlling a switch associated therewith; and at least one current limiter, each of the at least one current limiter being associated with a unique one of the at least one powering port, each of the at least one current limiter being operable to limit the current through the controlled switch to a particular one of a plurality of values, each of the values being in excess of 100 mA, the particular value being selected responsive to the control circuitry.

Abstract: A communication network utilizing Power Over Ethernet technology including Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) that includes a multi-purpose device that operates as a current sensing resistor under normal electrical operating conditions and operates as a protection device, e.g., a fuse, under fault conditions, such as, an internal switch failure and an overload occurring simultaneously.

Abstract: A method of classification of power requirements in a power over Ethernet system, the method comprising: providing a first classification voltage for a first classification cycle time, the provided first classification voltage being within a classification voltage range defined by a lower classification voltage limit and upper classification voltage limit; measuring a first current flow responsive to the provided first classification voltage; subsequent to the first classification cycle time, providing a voltage outside of the classification voltage range for a classification indexing time; subsequent to the classification indexing time, providing a second classification voltage for a second classification cycle time, the provided second classification voltage being within the classification voltage range; measuring a second current flow responsive to the provided second classification voltage; determining a classification responsive to the measured first current flow and the measured second current flow; and

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 system for supplying additional power to a module having an internal power supply, the system comprising: a module having an associated power supply, the power supply not being designed to accommodate power sharing; at least one load associated with the module, the load receiving power from the power supply; a variable current limited power source connected to the module supplying additional power to the at least one load; and a controller; whereby the variable current limited power supply is responsive to an output of the controller to vary the current limit of the variable current limited power supply.

Abstract: A power over Ethernet controller supporting a plurality of powering modes, the power over Ethernet controller comprising: a pair of power sourcing equipments; and a control circuit; the control circuit being operative to control each of the pair of power sourcing equipment units in one of a first mode and a second mode, the first mode comprising operating the pair of power sourcing equipments as a single power sourcing equipment operable to power a single powered device over communication cabling, and the second mode comprising operating each of the power sourcing equipments of the pair independently so as to each be operable to power an associated powered device over communication cabling.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a supply interface unit for use in a DC power pooling system, the DC power pooling system comprising a plurality of DC electrical power consuming and providing entities, each of the DC electrical power consuming and providing entities having at least a first operative mode in which it may provide more electrical power than it consumes and a second operative mode in which it may consume more electrical power than it provides, and at least one pooling controller, the supply interface unit comprising: a first port and a second port; a controller; at least one controllable switch, operable by said controller to enable current flow from one of said first port to said second port and said second port to said first port; and at least one current limiter, operable by said controller to limit said current flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a DC power pooling system comprising: a plurality of DC electrical power consuming and providing entities, each of the plurality of DC electrical power consuming and providing entities having at least a first operative mode in which it may provide more electrical power than it consumes and a second operative mode in which it may consume more electrical power than it provides; DC electrical power interconnections, interconnecting the plurality of DC electrical power consuming and providing entities and permitting electrical power flow thereto and therefrom; and at least one pooling controller operative to vary at least one of voltage, output impedance and current of electrical power provided by at least one of the plurality of DC electrical power consuming and providing entities.

Abstract: A method for communicating multi-bit data from a powered device being powered over communication cabling to power sourcing equipment, the method comprising: exhibiting a signature indicative of a device to be powered over communication cabling; sensing a voltage level indicative of remote powering over communication cabling; prior to connecting power to operational circuitry, transmitting first multi-bit information; subsequently to the transmitting first multi-bit information, connecting power received over the communication cabling to the operational circuitry; receiving information from the operational circuitry; subsequent to receiving the information disconnecting the received power from the operational circuitry; subsequent to the disconnecting, transmitting second multi-bit information associated with the operational circuitry, the second multi-bit information comprising at least one bit being a function of the received information; and re-connecting power received over the communication cabling to the

Abstract: The present invention provides for a DC power pooling system for an Ethernet network comprising: a plurality of DC electrical power consuming and providing Ethernet nodes, each of the plurality of DC electrical power consuming and providing Ethernet nodes having at least a first operative mode in which it may provide more electrical power than it consumes and a second operative mode in which it may consume more electrical power than it provides; electrical power interconnections, interconnecting the plurality of DC electrical power consuming and providing Ethernet nodes and permitting electrical power flow thereto and therefrom; and at least one controller in communication with the plurality of DC electrical power consuming and providing Ethernet nodes and being operative to employ the communication to govern electrical power provided by at least one of the plurality of DC electrical power consuming and providing Ethernet nodes.

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the apparatus including a power supply which is adapted to receive power from an unregulated source and to provide therefrom regulated power. The apparatus further includes power distribution and control circuitry, which is adapted to identify the powered devices on the LAN, to receive the regulated power and to generate therefrom respective output voltages for supply to the powered devices. The apparatus is housed in a chassis which retains the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry as a single module.

Abstract: An active connector for use in a local area network (LAN) including at least one LAN node. The active connector includes an active connector housing, at least one first plurality of first electrical contacts mounted in the housing and arranged for detachable connection with corresponding electrical contacts of at least one plugs, at least one second plurality of second electrical contacts mounted in the housing and arranged for connection with corresponding electrical contacts of local area network equipment and active power control circuitry located within the housing and coupled to at least some of the first and second electrical contacts, the active power control circuitry being operative for controlling the supply of electrical power over the local area network cabling to at least one node of the local area network.

Abstract: A power supply subsystem for providing electrical power to at least node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising: a management and control unit; a power supply interface for distributing power into the communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication; and current limiting circuitry controlling current of the power distributed into the communication cabling via the power supply interface, wherein the management and control unit is operative to interrogate the at least one node to which it is intended to transmit power over the communication cabling in order to determine whether the node's characteristics allow it to receive power over the communication cabling.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an Ethernet switch node providing power over Ethernet functionality for use in a power pooling system comprising at least one pooling controller, the Ethernet switch node providing power over Ethernet functionality comprising: a DC power source; an electrical load connected to the DC power source; a power sharing circuit responsive to an output of the at least one pooling controller, the power sharing circuit being operative to govern electrical power provided by the DC power source; and a DC electrical power connection to the DC power source and the electrical load, permitting external DC electrical power flow to and from the DC electrical power consuming and providing entity, wherein the Ethernet switch node providing power over Ethernet functionality has multiple modes, including a first operative mode in which the DC power source may provide more electrical power than is consumed by the electrical load.

Abstract: This invention discloses a data communications network including at least one hub, a plurality of nodes connected via network connections to the hub, a power distribution subsystem operative to provide at least some power to at least some of the plurality of nodes via at least some of the network connections. The power distribution subsystem includes a node identification functionality providing identification of nodes via at least some of the plurality of network connections in order to enable an appropriate supply of power to individual nodes and a power supply responsive to the node identification functionality and supplying power to the at least some of the plurality of nodes via the at least some of the network connections.

Abstract: A power supply subsystem for use in a local area network (LAN) includes a direct current (DC) power source, which supplies DC power to at least one of the nodes via at least one of the wire pairs used in communication cabling of the LAN, substantially without interfering with data communications. A signal generator generates a periodic time-varying signal and couples the time-varying signal into the at least one of the wire pairs. A control unit senses a time-varying voltage on the at least one of the wire pairs due to the time-varying signal generated by the signal generator, and responsive to the sensed time-varying voltage, controls the DC power supplied to the at least one of the nodes by the DC power source.

Abstract: Power distribution apparatus, for controlling supply of a current from an electrical power source to at least one load, includes a current sensor, which is coupled to provide an indication of a magnitude of the current flowing to the at least one load. A current limiter is adapted, responsive to the indication, to apply a pulse width modulation to the current drawn from the source so as to maintain the magnitude of the current flowing to the at least one load within a predetermined limit.