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: 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: A method for monitoring power delivered to a powered device over communication cabling, the method comprising: enabling a first supply power; enabling a second supply power; for the enabled first supply power, providing a first maintain power signature (MPS) functionality arranged to disable the enabled first supply power in the event that the current drawn from the enabled first supply power is less than the first undercurrent threshold; for the enabled second supply power, providing a second maintain power signature (MPS) functionality arranged to disable the enabled second supply power in the event that the current drawn from the enabled second supply power is less than the second undercurrent threshold; receiving an indication that the powered device presents a single powered device interface to both the first and the second PSE; and controlling one of the provided first and second MPS functionality responsive to the received indication.

Abstract: A PoE system PSE, constituted of: a power source input; a classification functionality arranged to determine the class of a PD; a memory arranged to store thereon the determined class; a timing functionality arranged to output the length of a power interruption to the power source input; and a control circuitry; wherein, responsive to an indication of the timing functionality that the power interruption length is greater than a predetermined time value, the control circuitry is arranged to initiate the class determination of the classification functionality, and wherein, responsive to an indication of the timing functionality that the power interruption length is not greater than the predetermined time value, the control circuitry is arranged to: supply power from the power source input to the PD responsive to the stored determined class; and not initiate the class determination of the classification functionality prior to the power supplying.

Abstract: A power over Ethernet (PoE) connection check method comprising: for a first time period, generating a first detection power over the first set of wires while not generating a second detection power over the second set of wires and obtaining a first indication of a power attribute over the first set of wires; during a second time period, generating the first detection power and generating a second detection power, greater than the first detection power, over the first set of wires; during the second time period, obtaining a second indication of the power attribute over the first set of wires; determining a first difference between the first indication and the second indication; and controlling a first power enable circuit and a second power enable circuit to provide power to the powered device over the first and second sets of wires respectively, responsive to the determined difference.

Abstract: A reverse power feeding PSE in electrical communication with a DPU, the PSE constituted of: a control circuitry; and a detection and classification signal circuitry, arranged to: output a detection signal; output a classification signal; and output an additional signal exhibiting a voltage below an operating range, and wherein the control circuitry is arranged to: responsive to the output first detection signal, detect a valid signature resistance; responsive to the output first classification signal, receive a classification current and determine the class of the DPU; responsive to the output additional signal, detect the absence, or presence, of an off-hook phone; responsive to the detection of the absence of an off-hook phone, and further responsive to the detection of the valid signature resistance, output power exhibiting a voltage within the operating range; and responsive to the detection of the presence of an off-hook phone, not output power.

Abstract: A reverse power feeding PSE in electrical communication with a DPU, the PSE constituted of: a control circuitry; and a detection and classification signal circuitry, arranged to: output a detection signal; output a classification signal; and output an additional signal exhibiting a voltage below an operating range, and wherein the control circuitry is arranged to: responsive to the output first detection signal, detect a valid signature resistance; responsive to the output first classification signal, receive a classification current and determine the class of the DPU; responsive to the output additional signal, detect the absence, or presence, of an off-hook phone; responsive to the detection of the absence of an off-hook phone, and further responsive to the detection of the valid signature resistance, output power exhibiting a voltage within the operating range; and responsive to the detection of the presence of an off-hook phone, not output power.

Abstract: A PSE control circuitry arranged to: control the power source to output a detection signal; responsive to the detection signal, determine the resistance of a signature resistive element; in the event that the determined resistance is within a predetermined range, control a power source to output power to the load; in the event that the determined resistance is outside the predetermined range, prevent the power source from outputting power for a predetermined disconnect time period; detect the amount of power drawn from the power source; in the event that the detected power amount is less than a predetermined minimum power draw value, control the power source to cease output of power for a predetermined power down time period, the predetermined power down time period less than the predetermined disconnect time period; immediately subsequent to both time periods, control the power source to output the detection signal.

Abstract: A PoE system PSE, constituted of: a power source input; a classification functionality arranged to determine the class of a PD; a memory arranged to store thereon the determined class; a timing functionality arranged to output the length of a power interruption to the power source input; and a control circuitry; wherein, responsive to an indication of the timing functionality that the power interruption length is greater than a predetermined time value, the control circuitry is arranged to initiate the class determination of the classification functionality, and wherein, responsive to an indication of the timing functionality that the power interruption length is not greater than the predetermined time value, the control circuitry is arranged to: supply power from the power source input to the PD responsive to the stored determined class; and not initiate the class determination of the classification functionality prior to the power supplying.

Abstract: A method for monitoring power delivered to a powered device over communication cabling, the method comprising: enabling a first supply power; enabling a second supply power; for the enabled first supply power, providing a first maintain power signature (MPS) functionality arranged to disable the enabled first supply power in the event that the current drawn from the enabled first supply power is less than the first undercurrent threshold; for the enabled second supply power, providing a second maintain power signature (MPS) functionality arranged to disable the enabled second supply power in the event that the current drawn from the enabled second supply power is less than the second undercurrent threshold; receiving an indication that the powered device presents a single powered device interface to both the first and the second PSE; and controlling one of the provided first and second MPS functionality responsive to the received indication.

Abstract: A power over Ethernet (PoE) connection check method comprising: for a first time period, generating a first detection power over the first set of wires while not generating a second detection power over the second set of wires and obtaining a first indication of a power attribute over the first set of wires; during a second time period, generating the first detection power and generating a second detection power, greater than the first detection power, over the first set of wires; during the second time period, obtaining a second indication of the power attribute over the first set of wires; determining a first difference between the first indication and the second indication; and controlling a first power enable circuit and a second power enable circuit to provide power to the powered device over the first and second sets of wires respectively, responsive to the determined difference.

Abstract: A twin power sourcing equipment constituted of: a first power sourcing equipment; and a second power sourcing equipment arranged for connection to a powered device over respective power paths; the first and second power sourcing equipments arranged to: simultaneously perform detection of the powered device; and in the event that at least one of the first and second power sourcing equipments detects the presence of the powered device, alternately perform detection of the powered device to detect a signature impedance; and in the event that each of the alternate detection is indicative of the presence of the signature impedance, provide power to the powered device simultaneously by the first and second power sourcing equipment. Power is not provided to the powered device in the event that the simultaneous detection is indicative of the absence of the powered device on each of the first path and the second path.

Abstract: A PSE control circuitry arranged to: control the power source to output a detection signal; responsive to the detection signal, determine the resistance of a signature resistive element; in the event that the determined resistance is within a predetermined range, control a power source to output power to the load; in the event that the determined resistance is outside the predetermined range, prevent the power source from outputting power for a predetermined disconnect time period; detect the amount of power drawn from the power source; in the event that the detected power amount is less than a predetermined minimum power draw value, control the power source to cease output of power for a predetermined power down time period, the predetermined power down time period less than the predetermined disconnect time period; immediately subsequent to both time periods, control the power source to output the detection signal.

Abstract: A twin power sourcing equipment constituted of: a first power sourcing equipment; and a second power sourcing equipment arranged for connection to a powered device over respective power paths; the first and second power sourcing equipments arranged to: simultaneously perform detection of the powered device; and in the event that at least one of the first and second power sourcing equipments detects the presence of the powered device, alternately perform detection of the powered device to detect a signature impedance; and in the event that each of the alternate detection is indicative of the presence of the signature impedance, provide power to the powered device simultaneously by the first and second power sourcing equipment. Power is not provided to the powered device in the event that the simultaneous detection is indicative of the absence of the powered device on each of the first path and the second path.

Abstract: A lighting circuit constituted of: a single dimming input; a pulse width modulation acceptance circuit arranged to convert a pulse width modulated dimming signal received at the single dimming input into a local dimming signal, the local dimming signal exhibiting a predetermined format; an analog voltage level acceptance circuit arranged to convert an analog voltage dimming signal received at the single dimming input into the local dimming signal exhibiting the predetermined format; and a luminaire driving circuit responsive to the local dimming signal.

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.