Abstract: The present invention relates to a powered device (331a, 331b, 531a) with two interfacing connections. The powered device (331a, 331b, 531a) comprises power switching units (350a, 350b, 550a1, 550a2) for forwarding the data signal as well the power received on the input to the output. Forwarding may be based on a detection of the powering state of the PD. In another embodiment, the Power-over-Ethernet input/output ports function bi-directionally, thereby allowing the user to daisy-chain devices in any direction. As power switching units, relays or solid-state power switches may be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for disconnecting a bias current circuitry (140) in a way that there is no bias current flowing anymore for the transmit output of a network controller (110), e.g. Ethernet controller. Also, the data connection, e.g., TX+ and TX? lines in or at an Ethernet connector (120), are connected to a control circuitry (130) to simulate an active connection by taking over supply of link activation pulses, e.g., link integrity test (LIT) pulses. These two measures will allow the user to save the bias current on the transmit output and maintain the link activation signals to keep the link up towards a network controller (110).

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a LED lighting system comprising a power supply circuit for supplying a power supply current to a LED strip (200). The power supply circuit (100) includes input terminals (K1, K2) for receiving a power voltage from a power supply voltage, output terminals (K3, K4) connected to the input terminals of the LED strip (200), a sensing module (106) coupled between the output terminals (K3, K4) for measuring an impedance of the LED strip (200). The sensing module is adapted to drive a switch (104) and to transmit a measured impedance value to a driver module (108). The driver module (108) is adapted to generate the power supply current depending on the length of the LED strip (200), as reflected by the measured impedance value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power distribution system, such as a Power over Ethernet power distribution system. A powered device provides a pulse,such as a Maintain Power Signature, when in standby such that a power providing device remains providing power to it. To increase energy efficiency, the MPS can be cycled (60 ms pulse every 300 ms to 400 ms) according to the IEEE802.3af/at standards. By introducing a controllable switch, for electrically decoupling at least part of the powered device from the power providing device, and a pulse generator, the MPS can be generated in a more energy efficient way and/or can be shortened (e.g. to 5 ms). As an example, the controllable switch can decouple the bulk capacitor of the powered device during MPS generation to prevent the bulk capacitor from filtering out the MPS.

Abstract: The invention relates a system for controlling distribution of power to load elements via network connections (e.g. LAN). Low cost luminaires or other load elements can be powered via LAN connections (e.g. by power over Ethernet (PoE)) without featuring an Internet Protocol (IP) node. This is attractive because with such a system the installation cost down benefits of PoE can be applied also to installations that do not require advanced controls. This means that to switch them on or off, the power supply on the LAN port of the switch must be enabled or disabled. When load elements and load controllers (e.g. lighting controllers or light switches) are connected to the same switch, they are automatically paired to each other. This can be achieved through use of a network management protocol capability that some network switches have. This allows for easy installation and automatic intuitive commissioning.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power splitter for a variable number of loads, a power splitting method for a variable number of loads and a software product for power splitting. It is possible to provide power splitting for a variable number of loads, which allows for an efficient distribution of power while reducing unnecessary overhead, with the determination of an overall power demand for the variable number of loads being concentrated in the power splitter, which may then request the desired amount of power from the power supply.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power distribution system comprising a power providing device (3) for providing power and a powered device (4, 5, 6) like a luminaire to be powered by the power providing device. The power providing device and the powered device are operable in a maximum power mode and a normal operation mode, wherein in the maximum power mode the powered device consumes an amount of power maximally consumable by the powered device and the power providing device measures the power consumed by the powered device. This measured power allows for an allocation of an amount of power in the operational mode, which is really maximally needed, wherein it is not necessary to allocate a larger amount of power, which is large enough to consider, for instance, a maximally assumed length of an electrical connection (8) connecting the devices, thereby improving the power budget allocation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (1) comprising a controlling device (4) like a sensor for controlling a controlled device (5) like a luminaire, a trigger unit (7) for generating a trigger signal, and an assigning unit (6) for assigning the controlling device and the controlled device to each other, if the trigger signal has been generated, wherein the controlling device controls the controlled device, if they have been assigned to each other. This allows an installer to generate assignments between the controlling device and the controlled device very easily. The installer just needs to connect the controlling and controlled devices, which should be assigned to each other, to the system and actuate the trigger unit. For instance, it can relatively easily be defined which luminaires should react on signals from which sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates a method and apparatus for distributing power in DC- grid systems, wherein power negotiations are done in a daisy chained system. Multiple mechanisms are presented mitigating the issue of stepwise exploring the power requests along a chain and still keeping the negotiation quick and without many cycles required.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for improved backwards compatible DMX communications. In some embodiments, methods and apparatus related to extensions of the DMX protocol enable error detection by enhanced DMX slave devices while maintaining full compatibility with non-enhanced DMX slave devices. The methods and apparatus may utilize a packet checksum byte that is incorporated within a start code packet and that is a checksum of a plurality of bytes in the start code packet. A plurality of bytes within the start code packet may optionally be interleaved according to an interleaving scheme in some variations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a powered device (2) like a luminaire for being used in a power distribution system (100), which is preferentially a PoE system and which comprises a power sourcing device (1) for sourcing a power to the powered device. The powered device comprises an electrical load like an LED and an electrical load power providing unit for generating from the sourced power an electrical load power and for providing the electrical load power to the electrical load, wherein the electrical load power providing unit is adapted to generate the electrical load power with a power level such that an input current drawn by the powered device from the power sourcing device is maximized below a predefined upper input current threshold. This allows increasing the power consumption of the powered device in comparison to the power consumption of powered devices in accordance with the PoE standard IEEE 802.3at.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a LED lighting system comprising a power supply circuit for supplying a power supply current to a LED strip (200). The power supply circuit (100) includes input terminals (K1, K2) for receiving a power voltage from a power supply voltage, output terminals (K3, K4) connected to the input terminals of the LED strip (200), a sensing module (106) coupled between the output terminals (K3, K4) for measuring an impedance of the LED strip (200). The sensing module is adapted to drive a switch (104) and to transmit a measured impedance value to a driver module (108). The driver module (108) is adapted to generate the power supply current depending on the length of the LED strip (200), as reflected by the measured impedance value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a powered device (2) like a luminaire for being used in a power distribution system (100), which is preferentially a PoE system and which comprises a power supply device (1). The powered device includes an electrical load like a light source, a voltage measurement unit for measuring a voltage received by the powered device, and an electrical load power providing unit for transforming power supplied by the power supply device to an electrical load power to be provided to the electrical load, wherein the power level of the electrical load power depends on the measured voltage. This allows adapting the power intake to the really received voltage, which may be reduced due to losses like cable losses, which in turn can lead to an increased intake power in comparison to the in-take power of powered devices in accordance with the actual Po E IEEE 802.3at standard.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a load control system in which a power cable of a DC or AC is used for on/off control and dimming of connected load devices without adding significant hardware structure. The control is achieved through a change in the DC or AC bus voltage. A grid controller can perform on/off control and dimming for an entire group of connected load devices by changing the bus voltage. Connected load devices that do understand or want to make use of this feature will be unaffected. In order to reduce the effects of voltage drop, a calibration procedure is provided. The calibration procedure first triggers the connected load devices into a calibration mode and then initiates a number of predefined output level commands that allow the load devices to build an individual correction for the undesired voltage drop.

Abstract: An article of manufacture (130) for protecting a capacitive power transfer system (100) from electrical breakdowns is disclosed. The article of manufacture comprises a non-conductive layer (210) made of a first type of non-conductive material, and a protection layer (220) made of a second type of non-conductive material, wherein a breakdown voltage of the second type of non-conductive material is higher than a breakdown voltage of the first type of non-conductive material, wherein the protection layer covers only a portion of the non-conductive layer, where in the non-conductive layer and the protection layer form an insulating layer (130) of the capacitive power transfer system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for disconnecting a bias current circuitry (140) in a way that there is no bias current flowing anymore for the transmit output of a network controller (110), e.g. Ethernet controller. Also, the data connection, e.g., TX+ and TX? lines in or at an Ethernet connector (120), are connected to a control circuitry (130) to simulate an active connection by taking over supply of link activation pulses, e.g., link integrity test (LIT) pulses. These two measures will allow the user to save the bias current on the transmit output and maintain the link activation signals to keep the link up towards a network controller (110).

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for improved backwards compatible DMX communications. In some embodiments,methods and apparatus related to extensions of the DMX protocol enable error detection by enhanced DMX slave devices while maintaining full compatibility with non-enhanced DMX slave devices. The methods and apparatus may utilize a packet checksum byte that is incorporated within a start code packet and that is a checksum of a plurality of bytes in the start code packet. A plurality of bytes within the start code packet may optionally be interleaved according to an interleaving scheme in some variations.

Abstract: A sensor device includes at least one autonomous streaming module. Predetermined internal events of the autonomous streaming module or predetermined external events from streaming data at an interface to a smart shell of the autonomous streaming module are detected. An operational mode of a component or subsystem within the smart shell of the autonomous streaming module is controlled in response to the detection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for transmitting power inductively from a transmitter (11) to a receiver (10), the receiver (10) comprising a signal generator for generating a signal, triggered by an event reflecting that the receiver intends to receive power from the transmitter, wherein said signal intends to activate said transmitter from standby mode to activated mode; and comprising a signal transmitting coil (103) for transmitting said signal to said transmitter; said transmitter (11) comprising a signal receiving coil (112); a detector (114) for detecting said signal received by the receiving coil; and a unit (115) for activating the transmitter from standby mode to activated mode upon the detection of said signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor device or sensor node and a method of controlling operation of the sensor device, wherein the sensor device comprises at least one autonomous streaming module and wherein predetermined internal events of the autonomous streaming module or predetermined external events from streaming data at an interface to a smart shell of the autonomous streaming module are detected, and an operational mode of a component or subsystem within the smart shell of the autonomous streaming module is controlled in response to the detection.