Abstract: A system comprises a battery, a load and a power converter for converting battery power from the battery into load power for application to the load. A system controller enables selection between a continuous discharge mode and a discontinuous discharge mode of the battery. In this way, the battery can be operated in different ways according to the most appropriate battery discharge characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple data transmission protocol and a data receiving device (10, 10?, 10?, 10??) for a power over Ethernet system (100?) using the simple data transmission protocol. The device (10, 10?, 10?, 10??) comprises a port and a simple logic unit. The port is configured for receiving power and data transmitted to the device (10, 10?, 10?, 10??) via an Ethernet connection (16?). The simple logic unit is configured to decode data encoded in a characteristic of one or more data packets received at the port. The data can be encoded in data packet length, data packet duration, number of data packets in a predetermined interval, and/or sequence of data packets. The simple data transmission protocol can reduce power consumption as in contrast to the Ethernet protocol MAC does not need to be decoded for information transfer. Hence only simple logic functions are required.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a functional device (10) powered by a constant current driver (12). The device (10) comprises constant current driver (12), electrical energy storage unit (14), functional unit (16), and control unit (18). The device (10) is controlled by the control unit (18) such that the constant current driver (12) provides a constant current to the functional unit (16) and the storage unit (14) in dependence of a pulse width modulated voltage signal. Current is provided to the storage unit (14) for charging the storage unit (14) during at least part of off periods of the pulse width modulated voltage signal. During on periods of the pulse width modulated voltage signal, current is provided to the functional unit (16) and no current is provided to the storage unit (14). This allows providing the device with a constant current driver with less idle periods and lower current supply.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power providing system (1) comprising a power providing device (2) like a PSE and an electrical device (4) like a PD. In a classification mode in a first phase the power providing device provides one or several voltage pulses and the electrical device draws one or several classification current pulses for indicating the class of the electrical device, wherein in a second phase the power providing device provides one or several voltage pulses for indicating the class of the power providing device. Thus, the indication of the classes of the electrical device and of the power providing device is decoupled in two different phases, which can lead to an improved mutual classification procedure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a management unit (1) and a method for operating such a unit in a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) installation. The management unit (1) comprises at least one first port (12a) to which an external device (2) can be connected, and it is adapted to control the power delivered at a first port (12a) in dependence on predetermined switching rules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an application device comprising an integrated energy storage, an application controller and a method of operating an application system, supporting different operation modes. In a first operation mode, AC power is provided via a distribution line to operate the application device. In a second mode, the AC power transmission at the distribution line is replaced by data communication, wherein the application device is run by energy from the energy storage during the second operation mode. Preferably in a third operation mode, DC power from the energy storage of an application device may be provided via the distribution line to another application device.

Abstract: A DC-powered device controller (101), comprising a DC-power unit (102) configured to be electrically connected via a wired power line (105) to an external DC-power supply device (104), a control unit (112) connected with the DC-power unit and configured to receive from a DC-voltage monitoring unit (108) response signals indicative of a current voltage amount of the DC-power and to receive, from a mark-event timer unit (110), an extended-mark-time signal when a measured mark-event time exceeds a predetermined mark-event duration threshold, and to enable delivery of the currently received DC-power to an external electrical load unit (106) in event of either one of a) detecting that the current response signal is indicative of the currently received voltage amount falling into an operating voltage interval, and b) detecting that the extended-mark-time signal has been received.

Abstract: A radio-power distribution controller (300) for controlling far-field radio-power delivery from an external radio-power-supply-device (302) to at least one external radio-power receiving device (300) that has a power-converter for converting a received radio-energy amount into an electrical operation power amount for operating the radio-power receiving device is provided and comprises a radio-power monitoring unit (306), which is configured to determine a duration of a received power-delivering radio signal, to determine, an estimate of a received radio-energy amount, which has been received by the radio-power receiving device (300). Upon determining that the estimate of the received radio-energy amount is below a threshold energy amount, it provides a radio-power-shortage signal.

Abstract: A lighting device (100), comprising a light source (104) configured to be driven by electrical power, an energy-storage unit (106) configured to store electrical energy, to receive the electrical power from a power interface and to deliver the electrical power to the light source and to the power interface (108) allowing, in a connected state, an energy-transfer operation between the energy-storage unit (106) and an external second energy-storage unit (110) of an external electrically driven device (102) that can be connected to the power interface (108) and a control unit (116) configured to determine if the power interface (108) is in the connected state, to determine a current light-output state of the lighting device (100), and to control, in the connected state, the energy-transfer operation in an energy-transfer direction depending on the current light-output state of the lighting device (100).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Power over Ethernet system (100) which supports additional optical communication via optical fibres. The powered devices (d1, d2, d3) may comprise circuitry to process optical signals, in particular triggering activation of the powered device (d1, d2, d3) after being in a low power state. The power supplying devices (s1-s6) may relay optical signals via direct optical paths. Optical paths in the network may improve timing accuracy of applications. The overall power consumption of the system may be improved in particular during low activity situations in which the system is primarily used for data communication. The additional optical communication paths may provide redundant paths and thus may increase the network's robustness.

Abstract: The invention relates to powering one or more devices, in particular in the context of Power-over-Ethernet (PoE). In an embodiment of the invention, it is proposed to equip each node (11) with a PD interface (22) that can signal multiples of the standard defined unity load (25 k? with tolerances) during the detection process and increase the load during a sequence of detection attempts. In that way, several nodes (11) can share one PSE outlet and determine the number of neighboring loads (11). At the same time, each node (11) will offer full functionality during “normal” stand-alone wiring. This powering concept can be combined with full or limited data communication capabilities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adaptive power providing device and a method for adaptively providing power to multiple power receiving devices. A power providing device detects at its plugs or ports power drawn by the power receiving devices and adjusts the related port power budget if the drawn power consistently grows over time, thereby avoiding overpower switch-off.

Abstract: A power distribution system receives an AC power supply (10) and supplies power to a plurality of electrical loads (A1-A4, . . . , J1-J4) over a distribution network. The system has a plurality of DC power supplies (13) for use when the AC power supply is unavailable. A system controller (14) controls the plurality of DC power supplies to supply a time-averaged DC current which is equal to or smaller than an RMS current rating of the power lines (W1, W2) of the distribution network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy management device (40) and a method of operating the same. The energy management device (40) comprising a buffer controller (41) and an energy buffer unit (45) wherein the buffer controller is configured to connect the energy buffer unit (45) to operate a load device upon detecting that the load device is in an accepting operational state and the voltage provided by a power supply device is between the first and second threshold, during a power negotiation period between the power supply device (10) and the load device (20).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cable (12) and a male connector (10, 20) attachable to the cable (12) for transmission of power and data for use in power focused applications, in particular lighting applications. The male connector (10, 20) comprises a contact for power transmission (P), a contact for data communication (D) and optionally a contact for configuration signaling (C), wherein a conversion circuit (11, 21) is configured to translate the configuration signaling (C) to be transmitted via a single twisted pair of signaling wire together with the power transmission (P), and/or the data communication (D). Providing conversion circuitry within the connector allows to combine two or more signals received via respective connectors of the male connector and generate a combined signal to be transmitted over a single pair of twisted signal wire, the connector allows the usage of a cable with much higher flexibility.

Abstract: A radio-power distribution controller (300) for controlling far-field radio- power delivery from an external radio-power-supply-device (302) to at least one external radio-power receiving device (300) that has a power-converter for converting a received radio-energy amount into an electrical operation power amount for operating the radio-power receiving device is provided and comprises a radio-power monitoring unit (306), which is configured to determine a duration of a received power-delivering radio signal, to determine, an estimate of a received radio-energy amount, which has been received by the radio-power receiving device (300). Upon determining that the estimate of the received radio-energy amount is below a threshold energy amount, it provides a radio-power-shortage signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1) enabled to provide power to a powered device (2) via a wired data link (3). The apparatus (1) is configured to provide the power to the powered device (2) in accordance with a configuration determined based on at least one parameter transmitted by the powered device (2) via the wired data link (3) in a power cycle. Further, the apparatus (1) comprises a memory (12) for storing an information about the configuration and a controller (10) for controlling the apparatus (1) on the basis of the stored information to provide power in accordance with the same configuration to the powered device (12) in a subsequent power cycle after a power outage. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for operating the apparatus (1).

Abstract: A method, computer program product and device for generating a power signal are provided. In a power distribution system (e.g. PoE), a device (2) (e.g. PD) comprising at least one capacitor (e.g. bulk capacitor) parallel to a load (26) of the device, is powered by a power supply (1) (e.g. PSE). The power supply (1) is arranged for powering the device (2) when at least a minimum current (e.g. MPS) is drawn by the device (2) from the power supply (1). The device (2) determines, by measuring the voltage over the at least one capacitor, whether the current is drawn (partially) from the at least one capacitor. In which case the device (2) is controlled to draw current such that at least a minimum current is drawn from the power supply (1) and the power supply (1) remains powering the device (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a control system (4) for controlling lighting units (30, 31, 32, 33) of a lighting system (1), wherein the lighting units are assigned to different areas and the control system is adapted to control the lighting units in accordance with a lighting command, which defines desired power levels, and depending on occupancy information, which is indicative of a degree of occupancy of the areas, such that different lighting units are set to their desired power levels at different times, even if the provided lighting command requests to set the lighting units to their respective desired power levels at substantially the same time. This can reduce the likelihood of, for instance, blown fuses or damaged components of the lighting system, while, because of the consideration of the occupancy information, the delay in setting the lighting units to their desired power levels may be not or only hardly visible.

Abstract: Powered devices for use in a power distribution system are provided. The power distribution system may comprise a power providing device for providing power at an output voltage to the powered device over an output interface, and an electrical conductor for transmitting the power between the power providing device and the powered device. The powered device may be assigned to a power class corresponding to a predetermined first power limit and a predetermined second power limit. The predetermined first power limit may relate to a maximum power that the powered device may consume, and the predetermined second power limit may relate to the maximum power that the power providing device may provide.