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: An interchangeable power over Ethernet module having a plurality of configurations, and a single unified pin out, the power over Ethernet module comprising: at least one circuitry managing the supply of power over Ethernet to at least one port; a first set of connections associated with a first one of the plurality of configurations, the first one of the plurality of configuration comprising supervisory control circuitry, the first set of connections being operably connected to the supervisory control circuitry; the first set of connections being connected together in a second one of the plurality of configurations.

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.

Abstract: A system for generating, delivering and distributing electrical power to network elements over a data communication network infrastructure within a building, campus or enterprise. Consolidating power distribution and data communications over a single network simplifies and reduces the cost of network element installation and provides a means of supplying uninterrupted or backup power to critical network devices in the event of a power failure. The invention includes power/data combiners that combine a data communication signal with a low frequency power signal. The combined signal is transported over the LAN infrastructure where a power/data splitter extracts the data signal and the power signal and generates two separate outputs. The power over LAN system of the present invention operates with high bandwidth data communication networks, i.e., 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 1000 Mbps.

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 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: This invention discloses a local area network including a hub, a plurality of nodes, communication cabling connecting the plurality of nodes to the hub for providing data communication, and a power supply distributor operative to provide at least some operating power to at least some of the plurality of nodes via the communication cabling.

Abstract: A pulse width modulation (PWM) controller suitable for use with a variety of open loop topology power supply circuits including ring generator circuits. The controller and the circuit realized therefrom utilizes an open loop topology to achieve the desired output voltage waveform. The PWM controller is suitable for realizing a plurality of different open loop converter topologies such as such as buck, boost, forward and push-pull topologies. The PWM controller is adapted to provide the required signals to control the various possible open loop converter topologies. The controller functions to generate a PWM signal that is used to generate a half wave sine wave signal. The controller includes the necessary functionality to control the duty cycle of the generated PWM signal so as to produce a full wave sine wave at the output of the output bridge circuit.

Abstract: A controller and ring generator circuit realized therefrom utilizing an open loop flyback topology to achieve a desired output voltage waveform. A characteristic feature of the controller is that it provides the required signals to control a ring generator circuit having an open loop fly back topology. The controller functions to generate a PWM signal that is used to switch the primary of a transformer on and off. The controller includes the necessary functionality to control the duty cycle of the generated PWM signal so as to produce a sine wave output on the secondary of the transformer. The controller also includes overcurrent protection circuitry that tracks the load current by sensing the current through the primary winding. In addition, the circuit permits negative current in the secondary by use of a synchronous rectifier circuit coupled to an additional secondary transformer winding. An output bridge circuit creates a full sine wave from the generated half wave output.