Abstract: A redundant powering system for a powered device receiving power over communication cabling, the redundant powering system comprising: a redundant power supply comprising a first power sourcing equipment and a second power sourcing equipment; a powered device; communication cabling connecting the redundant power supply to the powered device, the communication cabling comprising a first path connecting the first power sourcing equipment to the powered device and a second path connecting the second power sourcing equipment to the powered device, the first and second paths at least partially being constituted of a single structured cable, the at least one powered device comprising at least one signature impedance, the redundant power supply being operable so that power is operably supplied to the powered device from only one of the first and second power sourcing equipment.

Abstract: A combiner for use with a powered device having high power needs, the combiner comprising: a first power input adapted to receive a first power signal over a first set of wire pairs utilized to carry communication data; a second power input adapted to receive a second power signal over a second set of wire pairs, wherein the first power signal is combined with the second power signal to produce a combined high power signal; and a control circuit operable to sense the combined high power signal and to supply the combined high power signal to a powered device in response to the sensed combined high power signal. Also disclosed is a local area network adapted to supply power to powered devices over a plurality of paths utilizing the combiner, the local area network thus supplying high power to a powered device.

Abstract: A system for placing and maintaining a computer in a standby mode during power failure, utilizing one of: a powered device controller exhibiting a maintain power signature functionality and arranged to receive power over communication cabling; and a MEMS flywheel energy system to provide a standby power. The standby power is less than the power required for full operation. In one embodiment the system additionally exhibits: a mains power failure sensor; a volatile memory arranged to be powered from the source of standby power in the event of a failure of mains power; and a processor operative responsive to the mains power failure sensor to store status information on the volatile memory and reduce power demand of the processor and associated devices to no more than that available from the source of standby power.

Abstract: A method of controlling the luminance of a luminaire on an individual frame basis, without affecting a slow acting color loop controlling the color temperature of the luminaire, the method comprising: receiving a reference value representative of a target color; receiving a luminance signal defining the luminance of the luminaire per frame; adjusting a modulated signal driving the luminaire directly responsive to the received luminance signal, thereby controlling the luminance of the luminaire per frame; sampling the optical output of the luminaire per frame; comparing a value responsive to the sampled optical output with a value responsive to the received reference value to output a difference signal; and further adjusting the modulated signal driving the luminaire responsive to the compared value so as to reduce the difference signal.

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 method of controlling the output of a luminaire by receiving a first target signal associated with a first frame; generating a first light output control signal for an on time portion of the first frame, the light output control signal responsive to the received first target signal; sampling a light output during the on time portion of the first frame, the light output being responsive to the first light output control signal; receiving a second target signal associated with a second frame, the second frame following the first frame; comparing the received second target signal with the sampled light output of the on time portion of the first frame; and generating an error signal responsive to the comparing.

Abstract: A backlighting system comprising: a controller; at least one luminaire comprising a plurality of LEDs; and at least one thermal sensor in communication with the controller, the controller being operative to control the luminance of the at least one luminaire responsive to the at least one thermal sensor. Preferably, the control of the luminance comprises: in the event that a temperature indication responsive to an output of the at least one thermal sensor is greater than a first pre-determined maximum, reducing the luminance of at least one of the at least one luminaire.

Abstract: A backlighting system comprising: a color manager; a plurality of luminaires, each of the luminaires comprising a LED string and arranged to illuminate a particular portion of a display associated therewith; a color sensor arrange to receive light from one of the luminaires; and a plurality of thermal sensors each associated with a particular luminaire and in communication with the color manager, the plurality of thermal sensors being less than the plurality of luminaires, the color manager, responsive to the plurality of thermal sensors and the color sensor, being operable to calculate color coordinates for each of the plurality of luminaires.

Abstract: Power sourcing equipment providing a plurality of power sources for connection over communication cabling to a single powered device, the power sourcing equipment comprising: a first power source; a second power source; a control circuit; a current sensor adapted to monitor an output current of the first power source, the current sensor being operatively connected to the control circuit; and a voltage regulating means associated with one of the first power source and the second power source, the voltage regulating means being responsive to the control circuit, the control circuit being operative responsive to the monitored output current to operate the voltage regulating means so as to maintain the monitored output current within a pre-determined range.

Abstract: A system for powering and controlling an LED backlight, the system comprising: a control circuitry; a plurality of LED strings; a pulse width modulation functionality associated with the control circuitry and arranged to pulse width modulate a current flow through each of the plurality of LED strings; and a plurality of current limiters responsive to the control circuitry, each of the plurality of current limiters being associated with a particular one of the plurality of LED strings and operative to limit current flow of the pulse width modulated current there-through, the control circuitry being operative in the event of a thermal condition of one of the plurality of current limiters to reduce a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation functionality of the current flow through the one of the plurality of current limiters.

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: 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 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 system for backing up a computer in the event of a mains power failure, the system comprising: sensing means operative to sense a failure of mains power; means for receiving power over data communication cabling; a volatile memory; means for feeding power from the means for receiving power to the volatile memory; and an interrupt generating means for generating an interrupt to a processor responsive to the sensing means, the processor being operative responsive to the generated interrupt to store status information on the volatile memory.

Abstract: A system for placing and maintaining a computer in a standby mode during power failure, the system comprising: a mains power failure sensor; a source of standby power, the source of standby power being less than the power available for full operation; a volatile memory arranged to be powered from the source of standby power in the event of a failure of mains power; and a processor operative responsive to the mains power failure sensor to store status information on the volatile memory and reduce power demand of the processor and associated devices to no more than that available from the source of standby power. In an exemplary embodiment the source of standby power is one of a battery, a capacitor, a flywheel energy storage system and a power over Ethernet connection.

Abstract: A redundant powering system for a powered device receiving power over communication cabling, the redundant powering system comprising: a redundant power supply comprising a first power sourcing equipment and a second power sourcing equipment; a powered device; communication cabling connecting the redundant power supply to the powered device, the communication cabling comprising a first path connecting the first power sourcing equipment to the powered device and a second path connecting the second power sourcing equipment to the powered device, the first and second paths at least partially being constituted of a single structured cable, the at least one powered device comprising at least one signature impedance, the redundant power supply being operable so that power is operably supplied to the powered device from only one of the first and second power sourcing equipment.

Abstract: Power sourcing equipment providing a plurality of power sources for connection over communication cabling to a single powered device, the power sourcing equipment comprising: a first power source; a second power source; a control circuit; a current sensor adapted to monitor an output current of the first power source, the current sensor being operatively connected to the control circuit; and a voltage regulating means associated with one of the first power source and the second power source, the voltage regulating means being responsive to the control circuit, the control circuit being operative responsive to the monitored output current to operate the voltage regulating means so as to maintain the monitored output current within a pre-determined range.

Abstract: A combiner for use with a powered device having high power needs, the combiner comprising: a first power input adapted to receive a first power signal over a first set of wire pairs utilized to carry communication data; a second power input adapted to receive a second power signal over a second set of wire pairs, wherein the first power signal is combined with the second power signal to produce a combined high power signal; and a control circuit operable to sense the combined high power signal and to supply the combined high power signal to a powered device in response to the sensed combined high power signal. Also disclosed is a local area network adapted to supply power to powered devices over a plurality of paths utilizing the combiner, the local area network thus supplying high power to a powered device.

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.