Abstract: A control system and a vehicle are provided. Each electronic control unit in the control system includes a first data I/O interface, a second data I/O interface, a first performance chip, a second performance chip, and a route selector in communication with the first data I/O interface, the second data I/O interface, the first performance chip, and the second performance chip. The route selector has a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the route selector enables a data communication between the first performance chip and the second performance chip. In the second mode, the route selector enables a data communication with the first performance chip and the first data I/O interface, and further connected to the second performance chip and the second data I/O interface. The control system can flexibly meet different control requirements by controlling the operation modes of the route selector.

Abstract: A control system and a vehicle are provided. Each electronic control unit in the control system includes a first data I/O interface, a second data I/O interface, a first performance chip, a second performance chip, and a route selector in communication with the first data I/O interface, the second data I/O interface, the first performance chip, and the second performance chip. The route selector has a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the route selector enables a data communication between the first performance chip and the second performance chip. In the second mode, the route selector enables a data communication with the first performance chip and the first data I/O interface, and further connected to the second performance chip and the second data I/O interface. The control system can flexibly meet different control requirements by controlling the operation modes of the route selector.

Abstract: A power-sourcing equipment (PSE) has a powered communications interface to which a powered device (PD) is coupled. The PD presents a valid PD signature indicating that the PD is attached and capable of receiving normal operating power from the PSE. Per a power-withholding policy, the PSE operates in a power-withholding state to withhold the normal operating power notwithstanding the valid PD signature, and monitors for a signal via the powered communications interface indicating that the normal operating power should be delivered to the PD. The signal may be an alternative signature generated by a user-activated switch for example. In response to receiving the signal in the power-withholding state, the PSE enters a power-providing state in which it provides the normal operating power to the PD notwithstanding the power-withholding policy. An intermediate device (dongle) may be employed to generate the signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining that all conductors of an Ethernet connection are connected to the same powered device (PD). In one disclosed embodiment, it is first determined that a signal conductor pair of the Ethernet connection is coupled to a valid PD according to a discovery process, and the unused conductor pair of the Ethernet connection is also coupled to a valid PD. However, it is not yet determined whether they are both coupled to the same PD. This disclosure provides for injecting a polluting signal into one of the conductor pairs, and performing the discovery process on the other conductor pair. If the discovery process fails on the other conductor pair as a result of the polluting signal, then it is determined that both of the conductor pairs are indeed coupled to same PD.

Abstract: Systems and method for providing redundancy of communications and/or inline power to a powered Ethernet device are disclosed. A redundancy device is configured to receive in-line data and/or power from a plurality of Ethernet relay uplinks and to monitor communications between the relay uplinks. One of the relay uplinks is established as an active state uplink and passes data and/or power to the power device. Responsive to a switchover communication from a redundant uplink, the redundancy device establishes the redundant uplink as the active uplink, thereby passing data and/or power from the redundant uplink to the power device. The relay uplinks may use packet-based communication to sense when there is a failure in a link, and replace a failed device with a redundant device.

Abstract: Power sourcing equipment in a power over Ethernet (POE) system detects the connection of multiple powered devices to an inline power delivery channel to enable coherent power sharing among the devices. The PSE applies a standard detection signal (such as a detection voltage) to the power delivery channel, then detects and interprets a responsive signal (such as a detection current) which would normally be either zero or a non-zero value indicating the presence of one powered device. The PSE determines whether the second detection signal indicates that multiple powered devices may be connected, for example by detecting its value as a multiple or sub-multiple of a standard responsive signal. If so, the PSE provides additional distinct signals each eliciting a distinct individual response signal from a corresponding powered device, and detects each distinct individual response signal to identify the powered devices connected to the power delivery channel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting ground faults in an Ethernet system. An Ethernet switch is configured to provide inline power to a plurality of ports each having positive and negative rails. Current is injected into selected rails of a port and ground isolation is temporarily broken for the port. A detected mismatch in current levels between the positive and negative rails of the port indicates a ground fault in the port.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for changing power class for a powered device are provided. During operation, a powered device, such as an IP telephone, receives power from a power source via a PoE device. In the event that the powered device detects connection to a second powered device, such as an IP telephone module, the powered device transmits a classification signal to the power source. Based upon the classification signal, the power source performs a powered device classification procedure to reclassify the powered device, such as according to an IEEE 802.3af standard, and provide an increase amount of power to the powered device. The powered device, in turn, provides a portion of the power to the modular device. The modular powered device, therefore, receives power directly from the first powered device and does not require additional equipment in order to operate.

Abstract: A powered device can provide information to another device (such as a power sourcing equipment) via a powered communications interface when operating power is not being provided to the powered device via the powered communications interface, enabling a variety of functions and applications. Relatively low voltages and currents of the type used for detection and classification of the powered device are used in an extended way to achieve the communications. The power sourcing equipment performs additional detections and/or classifications, and the powered device responds by presenting corresponding signatures or identity networks that convey additional information beyond the presence and power requirements of the powered device. As an example, a powered device can present a sequence of signatures signifying that power should be applied to the powered device notwithstanding an active policy of withholding power in furtherance of a power conservation scheme.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide an IP telephone or similar device with a mechanism to receive and at least briefly loop back discovery signals received from a telecommunications device such as an Ethernet switch while not permitting the loop back of data packet signals. No mechanical relays are required and the circuitry can be fully integrated on an integrated circuit using commonly available techniques, if desired.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a printed circuit board having a coaxial via is disclosed. The method includes assembling a plurality of layers configured in a stack so that the plurality of layers has a top signal layer and a bottom signal layer; forming a hollow via through the plurality of layers to connect GND layers in the printed circuit board, forming or inserting into the hollow via a conductor coated with non-conductive material, covering the top layer and bottom layer with dielectric and patterned signal layers, covering the top layer and bottom layer with a masking agent, plating the top layer and bottom layer with a conductive material that connects signal traces within via, and removing the masking agent from the top layer and bottom layer.

Abstract: The operation of a powered device is monitored to detect a failure condition, the powered device connected to power sourcing equipment by a communications channel including inline power delivery from the power sourcing equipment to the powered device. Diagnostic information is captured including (i) configuration and status information identifying the power sourcing equipment, the communications channel, and status of the inline power delivery at the time of detection of the failure condition, and (ii) failure information identifying the failure condition. This diagnostic information is stored as diagnostic information signals in an electronic memory which is electronically accessible by an external user as part of a failure analysis process. By this process, diagnostic information pertaining to the operation of the powered device with the power sourcing equipment and the communications channel is captured and stored, providing greater information for more thorough failure analysis.

Abstract: An Internet Protocol (IP) telephone operates a communications uplink to a switch based on activity on a separate communications downlink (such as to a personal computer) to conserve power when possible. The IP telephone monitors the communications activity of a link partner on the communications downlink, and when the link partner is present and operating at a relatively high data rate, the IP telephone operates the communications uplink at a correspondingly high data rate to support the communications needs of the IP telephone and the link partner. If the monitoring indicates that the link partner has reduced communications activity (which may include becoming entirely disconnected from the communications downlink), the IP telephone transitions to a second operating condition to operate the communications uplink at a relatively low data rate, with a corresponding decrease in the power required for operation of the communications uplink interface circuitry.

Abstract: An apparatus includes power circuitry and hazard detection circuitry connectable to a multi-conductor cable. The power circuitry transfers electrical power from a power-sourcing equipment (PSE) to a powered device (PD) over the multi-conductor cable. The hazard detection circuitry senses an electrical characteristic of the multi-conductor cable and generates a detection signal indicating whether a potentially hazardous abnormal operating condition exists in the multi-conductor cable based on the sensed electrical characteristic. Examples include short-circuit detection circuitry which detects a hazard-producing short-circuit connection between sets of conductors that can cause a “stacking” or additive combining of PSE output voltages, and hot-cable detection circuitry detecting the presence of full operating voltage on the cable under abnormal conditions.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of this disclosure, an Ethernet device is provided that draws current below a predetermined voltage, and as the voltage across the device exceeds the threshold, the device transforms into a high-impedance state, appearing as a high impedance device. Once in the high-impedance state, the discovery process proceeds normally as the current drawn through the high-impedance device is no more than normally occurs due to leakage or other typical conditions. Thus, the IEEE discovery now proceeds normally in the higher voltage ranges (6V to 9V) where the device of this disclosure is effectively out of the circuit, causing no interference.

Abstract: The operation of a powered device is monitored to detect a failure condition, the powered device connected to power sourcing equipment by a communications channel including inline power delivery from the power sourcing equipment to the powered device. Diagnostic information is captured including (i) configuration and status information identifying the power sourcing equipment, the communications channel, and status of the inline power delivery at the time of detection of the failure condition, and (ii) failure information identifying the failure condition. This diagnostic information is stored as diagnostic information signals in an electronic memory which is electronically accessible by an external user as part of a failure analysis process. By this process, diagnostic information pertaining to the operation of the powered device with the power sourcing equipment and the communications channel is captured and stored, providing greater information for more thorough failure analysis.

Abstract: A system provides for indicating/detecting multiple powered devices connected to a power delivery channel of a power sourcing equipment, so that power can be coherently shared among the powered devices. A first operation includes (a) applying a standard first detection signal (such as a detection voltage) to the power delivery channel and (b) detecting and interpreting a second detection signals (such as a detection current) which in a standard response would be either zero or a predetermined value indicating the presence of a single powered device. The interpreting includes determining whether the second detection signal indicates that multiple powered devices may be connected, for example by detecting current values of n*Idet or Idet/n, where n is an integer greater than one.

Abstract: A communications port of a network communications device maintains capability information indicating that under normal operating conditions a communications link is capable of operating in a secure mode in which communications signals of the communications link are unintelligible to an intruder having an unauthorized physical connection (e.g. tap) to the communications link. During operation, the port detects occurrence of a link event of a type that can invoke an automatic communications-mode control mechanism to change the operating of the communications link to a non-secure mode in which communications signals of the communications link are intelligible to such an intruder. An example is Ethernet auto-negotiation which can change from relatively secure 1000BaseT signaling to relatively non-secure 10/100BaseT signaling.

Abstract: An electronic device has a physical port, and a control circuit coupled to the physical port. The control circuit is arranged to electrically sense the physical port, and operate the physical port as one of an Ethernet port and an RS-232 port based on electrically sensing the physical port. In some arrangements, the physical port operates as an Ethernet port at one time and an RS-232 port at another time. In some arrangements, the electronic device senses for Ethernet signals and RS-232 signals concurrently. In other arrangements, the electronic device senses for Ethernet signals and RS-232 signals at different times in an alternating manner.

Abstract: A powered device can provide information to another device (such as a power sourcing equipment) via a powered communications interface when operating power is not being provided to the powered device via the powered communications interface, enabling a variety of functions and applications. Relatively low voltages and currents of the type used for detection and classification of the powered device are used in an extended way to achieve the communications. The power sourcing equipment performs additional detections and/or classifications, and the powered device responds by presenting corresponding signatures or identity networks that convey additional information beyond the presence and power requirements of the powered device. As an example, a powered device can present a sequence of signatures signifying that power should be applied to the powered device notwithstanding an active policy of withholding power in furtherance of a power conservation scheme.