Method of providing a remote power feed to a terminal in a local area network, and corresponding remote power feed unit, concentrator, repeator, and terminal
Claim Score by NHIP
Abstract
A method for sending a remote power feed to a terminal in a local area network. A repeater of the local area network produces a detectiontest signal in a line to which a remote terminal is connected, and the signal has an energy level that will not damage the terminal. The presence of a remote terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed via the repeater is detected by detecting the presence of a predetermined impedance in the terminal, and power is supplied to the terminal via the repeater in response to detection of the presence of the terminal.
Term
Term ended
Expired 2 November 2020, 5.9 years ago.
- Priority
- Filed
- Granted
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- Today
63 claims: 9 independent, 54 dependent
- 1A method of providing a remote power feed to a terminal in a local area network, the method comprising:producing at least one detection an alternating current test signal on at least two conductors of a line for connecting the local area network to a remote terminal, that the test signal having an energy such that the terminal cannot be damaged under any circumstances, detecting the presence of a remote terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed by detecting the presence of predetermined impedance in the remote terminal on the basis of a current created by the test signal in that said line, and sending a power supply current in that said line when the presence of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is detected.
- 26Broadest claimClaim Score 77, broad(NHIP)A terminal adapted to be connected to a local area network and to receive a remote power feed via a line, wherein the terminal includes at least one predetermined impedance connected to at least two conductors of the line and which identifies terminals adapted to receive a remote power feed, wherein the predetermined impedance is a very much higher capacitance than that of terminations routinely connected to the ends of the lines in terminals that are not adapted to receive a remote power feed but are adapted to be connected to the local area network.
- 27A repeater adapted to receive a remote power feed and adapted to be included in a line between a network equipment unit including a remote power feed unit and another network equipment unit in a local area network, the repeater including a power supply unit powered by a remote power feed and whose input is connected in parallel with the power supply input of the other network equipment unit to the conductors of the line that provide the remote power feed, and the power supply unit having an input impedance whose modulus is very much higher than the modulus of the input impedance of the power supply unit which is characteristic of equipment units adapted to receive a remote power feed likely to be connected downstream of that repeater.
- 28A concentrator adapted to be inserted into a line between a network equipment unit including a remote power feed unit and at least one other network equipment unit in a local area network, the concentrator including, for each of its ports adapted to be connected to another network equipment unit, a remote power feed unit which includes:means for producing at least one detection an alternating current test signal on at least two conductors of a line for connecting the concentrator to another network equipment unit, that the test signal having an energy such that the other network equipment unit cannot be damaged under any circumstances, means for detecting the presence of another equipment unit adapted to receive a remote power feed by detecting the presence of a predetermined impedance in that other equipment unit on the basis of a current created by the test signal in the line, and means for sending a power supply current in the line when the presence of another equipment unit adapted to receive a remote power feed is detected.
- 30A method of providing a remote power feed to a terminal in a local area network, the method comprising:producing at least first and second test signals on at least two conductors of a line for connecting the local area network to a remote terminal, the test signals having an energy such that the terminal cannot be damaged under any circumstances, detecting the presence of a remote terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed by detecting the presence of predetermined impedance in the remote terminal in compliance with a predetermined impedance threshold, on the basis of a current created by at least one of the test signals in said line, and sending a power supply current in said line when the presence of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is detected.
- 45A method of providing a remote power feed to a terminal in a local area network, the method comprising:producing at least one test signal on at least two conductors of a line for connecting the local area network to a remote terminal, the test signal having an energy such that the terminal cannot be damaged under any circumstances, detecting the presence of a remote terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed by detecting the presence of predetermined impedance in the remote terminal on the basis of a current created by the test signal in said line, and sending a power supply current in said line when the presence of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is detected;said method further comprising the step of subsequently producing a disconnect test signal superimposed on the power supply current provided over said line to detect the removal of said remote terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed.
- 48A method of providing a remote power feed to a terminal in a local area network, the method comprising:producing at least one test signal on at least two conductors of a line for connecting the local area network to a remote terminal, the test signal having an energy such that the terminal cannot be damaged under any circumstances, detecting the presence of a remote terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed by detecting the presence of predetermined impedance in the remote terminal on the basis of a current created by the test signal in said line, and sending a power supply current in said line when the presence of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is detected;wherein the step of detecting the presence of predetermined impedance includes detecting predetermined capacitive impedance.
- 50A method of providing a remote power feed to a terminal in a local area network, the method comprising:producing at least first and second test signals on at least two conductors of a line for connecting the local area network to a remote terminal, the test signals having an energy such that the terminal cannot be damaged under any circumstances, detecting the presence of a remote terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed by detecting the presence of first predetermined impedance and second predetermined impedance in the remote terminal on the basis of a current created by at least one of the test signals in said line, and sending a power supply current in said line when the presence of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is detected.
- 57A method of providing a remote power feed to a terminal in a local area network, the method comprising:producing at least one test signal on at least two conductors of a line for connecting the local area network to a remote terminal, the test signal having an energy such that the terminal cannot be damaged under any circumstances, detecting the presence of a remote terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed by (i) detecting the presence of first predetermined impedance in the remote terminal on the basis of a current created by the test signal in said line, and (ii) detecting the presence of a second predetermined impedance, and sending a power supply current in said line when the presence of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is detected.
Independent claims9
103 paragraphs in 5 sections, as filed
id="REI-00003" date="20130625"
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
id="REI-00003"
0001The present application is a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,087 which is based on application Ser. No. 09/703,654, filed Nov. 2, 2000.
0002The present invention relates generally to a data processing local area network, for example an Ethernet network. To be more precise, the invention relates to a method of providing a remote power feed to a terminal in a data processing local area network and also to a remote power feed unit, a concentrator, a repeater (also known as a hub), and a terminal adapted to implement the method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
0003<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a diagram showing, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example only, an Ethernet data processing local area network which includes a local area network server <b>1</b>, a switch <b>2</b>, a repeaterconcentrator <b>3</b> and N terminals <b>4</b><sub>1 </sub>to <b>4</b><sub>N</sub>4-1 to 4-N which include telephones operating in Voice over IP (VoIP) mode. The server <b>1</b> is connected to the Internet <b>0</b> and receives packets complying with the Internet protocol (TCP/IP). The packets of a given call are routed via the switch <b>2</b> and the repeaterconcentrator <b>3</b> to a terminal such as the telephone <b>4</b><sub>1</sub>4-1 which is connected to the repeater by a 8-wire line L terminated with RJ45 connectors.
0004The terminals connected to a data processing local area network (for example personal computers, printers, etc.) are conventionally connected locally to the mains electrical power supply. 110 V or 220 V power cords independent of the data connections are therefore used to supply power to the terminals. This solution makes installation of the local area network more difficult: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li id="ul0001-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0002" list-style="none"><li id="ul0002-0001" num="0005">Using two cables causes problems of congestion which can additionally impede the free movement of persons.</li><li id="ul0002-0002" num="0006">It creates electrical hazards.</li></ul></li></ul>
0007In the case of a telephone, a local connection to the mains electrical power supply has the additional drawback that the telephone is out of service in the event of a mains power outage, in particular in the event of a fire or natural disaster. This is why conventional telephones receive a remote power feed from their local exchange, which includes emergency batteries.
0008It is therefore desirable for some of the terminals connected to a data processing local area network to be provided with a remote power feed via the same connection as is used to send and receive data. It is also desirable to be able to install the remote power feed unit anywhere on the line L (either inside or outside a repeater <b>3</b>), to enable easy addition to an existing network.
0009One way of transmitting a remote power feed current is to use two of the eight wires of the line L: four other wires form two pairs of wires respectively used to transmit and to receive data. Another method, referred to as a phantom circuit, connects the two terminals of a power supply generator in the remote power feed unit to respective center-taps of a winding of a transformer connected to the pair for receiving data and a winding of another transformer connected to the pair for sending data. At the terminal, the supply voltage is obtained between respective center-taps of a winding of a transformer connected to the pair for receiving data and a winding of another transformer connected to the pair for sending data.
0010In both cases, providing a remote power feed to the terminal via the data processing local area network has the disadvantage that the remote power feed unit supplies power to a terminal “blind”. The RJ45 connector at the end of the line L could be plugged into a terminal other than a telephone (for example a personal computer, a printer, etc.). There is a risk of damaging the electrical circuits of that terminal. The RJ45 connector of a terminal is generally used in the following manner: <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none"><li id="ul0003-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0004" list-style="none"><li id="ul0004-0001" num="0011">Four of the eight wires are separated into two pairs for respectively sending and receiving data. The terminal includes a transformer having one winding connected to the receive pair and a transformer having one winding connected to the send pair, each of these windings having a center-tap which can be connected to a reference potential via a low-resistance resistor.</li><li id="ul0004-0002" num="0012">Four other wires are not used and are grounded, often via a combination of resistors and capacitors, to eliminate any crosstalk induced by the data signals in the first four wires and to reduce unwanted electromagnetic emission. If a relatively high remote power feed voltage, for example 48 volts, is applied to that combination of resistors and capacitors, or to the resistors connected to the center-taps of the transformers, the resistors can be destroyed by the current flowing in them.</li></ul></li></ul>
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
0013The invention therefore aims to solve this problem by proposing a method of providing a remote power feed to a terminal in a data processing local area network and systems for implementing the method which prevent all risk of damage if a terminal is plugged in which is not one of the terminals adapted to receive a remote power feed via the network.
0014The invention firstly provides a method of providing a remote power feed to a terminal in a local area network, the method entailing: <ul id="ul0005" list-style="none"><li id="ul0005-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0006" list-style="none"><li id="ul0006-0001" num="0015">producing at least one detectiontest signal on at least two conductors of a line for connecting the local area network to a remote terminal, that signal having an energy such that the terminal cannot be damaged under any circumstances,</li><li id="ul0006-0002" num="0016">detecting the presence of a remote terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed by detecting the presence of predetermined impedance in the remote terminal on the basis of a current created by the test signal in that line, and</li><li id="ul0006-0003" num="0017">sending a power supply current in that line when the presence of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is detected.</li></ul></li></ul>
0018The above method prevents all risk to the terminals because the remote power feed current is sent only if the terminal has been identified as one which is adapted to receive a remote power feed. The intensity and duration of the detectiontest signal are chosen so that the operation of detecting the terminal cannot cause any damage if the terminal is not one which is adapted to receive a remote power feed.
0019In one particular embodiment of the invention, to detect a predetermined impedance in the remote terminal, the presence of a capacitor in the remote terminal is detected.
0020The resulting method is particularly simple to implement. The capacitance of the capacitor is chosen so that it is significantly different from that of the line. Measuring a capacitive impedance then indicates a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed. The capacitor can shunt two conductors used for the remote power feed without affecting transmission of the remote power feed current, which is a direct current.
0021In another particular embodiment of the invention, to detect a predetermined impedance in the remote terminal, the presence of a short-circuit in the remote terminal is detected.
0022The resulting method is particularly simple to implement, and therefore advantageous, when the short-circuit can be applied between two conductors of the line which are chosen so that the short-circuit does not impede either the remote power feed or sending and receiving data.
0023In a preferred embodiment of the invention, to detect the presence of a capacitor in the remote terminal: <ul id="ul0007" list-style="none"><li id="ul0007-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0008" list-style="none"><li id="ul0008-0001" num="0024">an alternating current test signal is applied to the line and it is verified that the remote terminal does not behave like an open circuit for that signal,</li><li id="ul0008-0002" num="0025">a direct current test signal is applied to the line and it is verified that the remote terminal behaves like an open circuit for that signal, and</li><li id="ul0008-0003" num="0026">the method concludes that a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is present if the results of both tests are positive.</li></ul></li></ul>
0027In one particular implementation of the invention a remote power feed method is suited to a line including two pairs for sending/receiving data and each enabling the transmission of a remote power feed current in common mode and other conductors which can also be used for a remote power feed. In the method, detecting a remote terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed entails: <ul id="ul0009" list-style="none"><li id="ul0009-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0010" list-style="none"><li id="ul0010-0001" num="0028">performing a first test to detect if the terminal is adapted to receive a remote power feed via the two pairs for sending/receiving data,</li><li id="ul0010-0002" num="0029">performing a second test to detect if the terminal is adapted to receive a remote power feed via the other conductors that can also be used for a remote power feed,</li><li id="ul0010-0003" num="0030">sending a remote power feed current in the two pairs for sending/receiving data only if the first test shows that the terminal is adapted to receive a remote power feed via those two pairs, and</li><li id="ul0010-0004" num="0031">sending a remote power feed current in the other conductors that can also be used for a remote power feed only if the second test shows that the terminal is adapted to receive a remote power feed via those other conductors.</li></ul></li></ul>
0032In one particular embodiment of the invention the first test consists of detecting the presence of a first predetermined impedance in the terminal on the basis of a current created by a first test signal in the two pairs for sending/receiving data and the second test consists of detecting the presence of a second predetermined impedance in the terminal on the basis of a current created by a second test signal in the other conductors.
0033One of the two predetermined impedances is preferably a short-circuit and the other predetermined impedances is preferably a capacitance.
0034The resulting method enables the remote power feed current to be increased, because it enables up to eight conductors of an Ethernet line to be used and can discriminate between several types of terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed that have different power consumptions. For example: <ul id="ul0011" list-style="none"><li id="ul0011-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0012" list-style="none"><li id="ul0012-0001" num="0035">If it detects that the terminal is not one which is adapted to receive a remote power feed via the available conductors in an Ethernet line, but is adapted to receive a remote power feed via a phantom circuit using the pairs for sending and receiving data, this means that the terminal has a low power consumption, in which case it is possible and sufficient to send a remote power feed current via the phantom circuit.</li><li id="ul0012-0002" num="0036">If it detects that the terminal is adapted to receive a remote power feed via the available conductors in an Ethernet line and is also adapted to receive a remote power feed via a phantom circuit using the pairs for sending and receiving data, this means that the terminal has a high power consumption, in which case it is possible and necessary to send a remote power feed current via the phantom circuit and a remote power feed current via the available conductors.</li></ul></li></ul>
0037The invention secondly proposes a terminal adapted to implement the above remote power feed method, the terminal including at least one predetermined impedance connected to at least two conductors of the line and which identifies the terminals adapted to receive a remote power feed.
0038The predetermined impedance preferably includes a very much higher capacitance than that of terminations routinely connected to the ends of the line in terminals that are not adapted to receive a remote power feed but are adapted to be connected to the local area network concerned.
0039The invention thirdly proposes a remote power feed unit for implementing the method and which includes: <ul id="ul0013" list-style="none"><li id="ul0013-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0014" list-style="none"><li id="ul0014-0001" num="0040">means for producing at least one detectiontest signal on at least two conductors of a line for connecting the local area network to a remote terminal, that signal having an energy such that the terminal cannot be damaged under any circumstance,</li><li id="ul0014-0002" num="0041">means for detecting the presence of a remote terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed by detecting the presence of a predetermined impedance in the remote terminal on the basis of a current created by the test signal in that connection, and</li><li id="ul0014-0003" num="0042">means for sending a power supply current in the line when the presence of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is detected.</li></ul></li></ul>
0043One particular advantage of the above remote power feed unit is that it can be installed anywhere on the line (inside or outside a repeater), because it can operate entirely independently of the units of a repeater.
0044Another object of the present invention is to propose a repeater and a concentrator which can be inserted (separately or together) between a remote power feed unit and a terminal (or another equipment unit adapted to receive a remote power feed, such as a repeater or a concentrator) without interfering with discrimination or the remote power feed.
0045The present invention fourthly proposes a repeater adapted to receive a remote power feed and adapted to be included between a network equipment unit including a remote power feed unit and another network equipment unit in a local area network, <ul id="ul0015" list-style="none"><li id="ul0015-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0016" list-style="none"><li id="ul0016-0001" num="0046">the repeater including a power supply unit powered by a remote power feed and whose input is connected in parallel with the power supply input of the other network equipment unit to the conductors of the line that provide the remote power feed, and</li><li id="ul0016-0002" num="0047">the power supply unit having an input impedance whose modulus is very much higher than the modulus of the input impedance of the power supply unit which is characteristic of equipment units adapted to receive a remote power feed likely to be connected downstream of that repeater.</li></ul></li></ul>
0048The resulting repeater does not interfere with discriminating between an equipment unit that is adapted to receive a remote power feed and an equipment unit that is not adapted to receive a remote power feed, because the power supply input impedance detected by an upstream remote power feed unit remains approximately the same when the power supply input impedance of the repeater is connected in parallel with that of another network equipment unit. Also, the other network equipment unit and the repeater both receive a remote power feed from the upstream remote power feed unit, because their respective power supply inputs are connected in parallel to the conductors of the line that provide the remote power feed.
0049The present patent application fifthly proposes a concentrator adapted to be inserted into a line between a network equipment unit including a remote power feed unit and at least one other network equipment unit in a local area network, <ul id="ul0017" list-style="none"><li id="ul0017-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0018" list-style="none"><li id="ul0018-0001" num="0050">the concentrator including, for each of its ports adapted to be connected to another network equipment unit, a remote power feed unit which includes: <ul id="ul0019" list-style="none"><li id="ul0019-0001" num="0051">means for producing at least one detectiontest signal on at least two conductors of a line for connecting the concentrator to another network equipment unit, that signal having an energy such that the other network equipment unit cannot be damaged under any circumstances,</li><li id="ul0019-0002" num="0052">means for detecting the presence of another equipment unit adapted to receive a remote power feed by detecting the presence of a predetermined impedance in that other equipment unit on the basis of a current created by the test signal in the line, and</li><li id="ul0019-0003" num="0053">means for sending a power supply current in the line when the presence of another equipment unit adapted to receive a remote power feed is detected.</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul>
0054The resulting concentrator provides a remote power feed to downstream equipment units that are adapted to receive a remote power feed and does not provide a remote power feed to equipment units that are not adapted to receive a remote power feed because it includes an additional remote power feed unit specific to each of its ports, that additional remote power feed unit operating in a similar manner to but independently of the upstream remote power feed unit in a network equipment unit such as an Ethernet switch or another concentrator.
0055In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the concentrator is itself adapted to receive a remote power feed and includes at least one predetermined impedance connected to at least two conductors of the line connected to the upstream network equipment unit and which is characteristic of the power supply input of equipment units that are adapted to receive a remote power feed.
0056The resulting concentrator can be inserted into a line without compromising the advantages for that line of the remote power feed, because it can itself be detected as adapted to receive a remote power feed and therefore receive a remote power feed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
0057Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent on reading the following description, which is given with reference to the corresponding accompanying drawings, in which:
0058<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, already commented on, is a diagram showing the architecture of an Ethernet local area network in which the method of the invention can be used.
0059<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a remote power feed unit located in a concentrator and of a first embodiment of a terminal receiving a remote power feed, where the remote power feed is provided via a common mode phantom circuit on the pairs for sending and receiving data.
0060<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows the principle of detecting a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed.
0061<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a block diagram of a variant of the terminal receiving a remote power feed, that variant enabling use of a local power supply under normal circumstances and a remote power feed in the event of failure of the local power supply, in particular in the event of a mains power outage.
0062<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a more detailed block diagram of the first embodiment of the remote power feed unit shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.
0063<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a diagram showing changes of state occurring in the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>.
0064<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a remote power feed unit located in a concentrator and a second embodiment of a terminal receiving a remote power feed, where the remote power feed is provided via a common mode phantom circuit on the pairs for sending and receiving data and simultaneously via at least one other available pair.
0065<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a more detailed block diagram of the second embodiment of the remote power feed unit shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>.
0066<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a diagram showing changes of state occurring in the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>.
0067<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is a block diagram of one embodiment of a repeater in accordance with the invention and shows its use in a line in which the remote power feed is provided only by a phantom circuit.
0068<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> is a block diagram of the same embodiment of a repeater according to the invention but this time used in a line in which the remote power feed is provided via a phantom circuit plus two available pairs.
0069<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> is a block diagram of one embodiment of a concentrator according to the invention adapted to receive a remote power feed and shows its use in a line where the remote power feed is provided by a phantom circuit plus two available pairs, fed with power by a remote power feed unit located in an Ethernet switch.
0070<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 13 to 16</figref> show preferred embodiments of parts of the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>.
MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION
0071<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a remote power feed unit located in a concentrator <b>3</b> and a first embodiment of a terminal <b>5</b><sub>1 </sub>adapted to receive a remote power feed, where the remote power feed is provided via a common mode phantom circuit on pairs for sending and receiving data. The line L<b>3</b> includes four pairs: <ul id="ul0020" list-style="none"><li id="ul0020-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0021" list-style="none"><li id="ul0021-0001" num="0072">pairs A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b> are not used,</li><li id="ul0021-0002" num="0073">pairs B<b>1</b>, B<b>2</b> are not used,</li><li id="ul0021-0003" num="0074">pairs C<b>1</b>, C<b>2</b> are used to send data to the network, in differential mode, and</li><li id="ul0021-0004" num="0075">pairs D<b>1</b>, D<b>2</b> are used to send data to the terminal, in differential mode.</li></ul></li></ul>
0076The pairs C<b>1</b>, C<b>2</b> and D<b>1</b>, D<b>2</b> are also used in common mode to provide a remote power feed to the terminal <b>5</b><sub>1 </sub>via a phantom circuit.
0077The concentrator <b>3</b> includes a remote power feed unit <b>31</b> and a combiner <b>32</b>. The unit <b>31</b> is adapted to detect the presence of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed. The combiner <b>32</b> includes two transformers <b>33</b> and <b>34</b> respectively transmitting a signal Tx to be sent to a terminal and a signal Rx received from a terminal. The transformers each have a first winding and a second winding. The first windings are respectively connected to the pairs D<b>1</b>, D<b>2</b> and C<b>1</b>, C<b>2</b>. They each have a center-tap connected to a respective output of the remote power feed unit <b>31</b> adapted to detect the presence of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed. The second windings are connected to other units of the concentrator <b>3</b>, not shown.
0078The terminal <b>5</b><sub>1 </sub>includes a splitter <b>20</b> and a power supply unit <b>22</b>. The splitter <b>20</b> includes two transformers <b>41</b> and <b>40</b> respectively for transmitting a signal Tx′ to be sent to the concentrator <b>3</b> and for transmitting a signal Rx′ received by the terminal <b>5</b><sub>1</sub>. They each have a first winding and a second winding. The first windings are respectively connected to the pairs D<b>1</b>, D<b>2</b> and C<b>1</b>, C<b>2</b>. They each have a center-tap connected to a respective input of the power supply unit <b>22</b>.
0079An impedance <b>21</b> shunts the power supply input <b>22</b>. The impedance <b>21</b> makes it possible to recognize the terminal as one that is adapted to receive a remote power feed. The impedance <b>21</b> and the frequency of the detectiontest signal are chosen so that the modulus of the impedance <b>21</b> is very much less than 75 ohms. The impedance <b>21</b> is chosen so that it does not short-circuit the DC voltage applied to the power supply <b>22</b> and is easy to distinguish from terminations routinely connected to the available conductors of the RJ45 connectors of terminals. The impedance <b>21</b> is preferably a capacitor with a capacitance of not less than 1 microfarad, for example 50 microfarads. If the power supply unit <b>22</b> is a DC-DC converter which reduces the voltage, the capacitor <b>21</b> can be the filter capacitor provided as standard at the input of a DC-DC converter, because the power supply unit <b>22</b> shunts the impedance <b>21</b>. In this case, there is no need to add a component to constitute the impedance <b>21</b>, which simplifies the production of the terminal.
0080IEEE Standard 802.3 requires the pairs for sending and receiving data to be able to withstand a common mode voltage of 25 V at a frequency up to 500 kHz, which means that a sinusoidal test signal at a voltage of a few volts and at a frequency of the order of 10 kHz does not interfere with the transmission of payload data.
0081<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows the principle of discriminating terminals that are adapted to receive a remote power feed and terminals that are not. For example, a terminal <b>5</b><sub>1 </sub>that is adapted to receive a remote power feed includes a capacitor <b>21</b> having a capacitance of 50 microfarads. That capacitance must be distinguished from an Ethernet line termination, for example on a personal computer PC. That termination typically includes, for each pair P<b>1</b>, P<b>2</b> of the line, two resistors <b>37</b> and <b>38</b>, each having a resistance of 75 ohms and each having one terminal connected to one conductor of the pair in question and another terminal connected to a reference potential via a capacitor <b>39</b> whose capacitance is less than or equal to 100 nanofarads. In a variant (not shown), both ends of the line are connected to a short-circuit connected to the reference potential via a 75 ohms resistor in series with a capacitor having a capacitance less than or equal to 100 nanofarads.
0082Each conductor of the pair P<b>1</b>, P<b>2</b> has a resistance of the order of 20 ohms. For a sinusoidal signal at 10 kHz, for example, the modulus of the impedance Z<sub>term </sub>measured at the end of the line is therefore always significantly greater than 150 ohms when a conventional termination is connected to the pair. On the other hand, it is always significantly less than 150 ohms when a capacitance of 1 microfarad or more is connected to the pair. It is therefore sufficient to determine if the modulus of the impedance Z<sub>term </sub>is less then or greater than 150 ohms, for example, to determine whether a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is present at the end of the line or not.
0083In a variant, instead of providing a remote power feed via a phantom circuit, and depending on the power required by the terminal, a remote power feed can be provided: <ul id="ul0022" list-style="none"><li id="ul0022-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0023" list-style="none"><li id="ul0023-0001" num="0084">via A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b> only, or</li><li id="ul0023-0002" num="0085">via B<b>1</b>, B<b>2</b> only, or</li><li id="ul0023-0003" num="0086">via A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b>, B<b>1</b> and B<b>2</b> simultaneously, or</li><li id="ul0023-0004" num="0087">via A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b>, B<b>1</b>, B<b>2</b> and the phantom circuit simultaneously.</li></ul></li></ul>
0088In a variant, the unit <b>31</b> and the combiner <b>32</b> can be in a separate module and completely independent of the repeater <b>3</b>, that module being simply inserted into the line L.
0089<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> shows the block diagram of a variant <b>5</b><sub>2 </sub>of a terminal according to the invention using a local power supply under normal circumstances and a remote power feed in the event of failure of the local power supply, in particular in the event of a mains power outage. The remote power feed circuit uses the available pair A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b>, for example, but operation is exactly the same if it uses a phantom circuit supported by the pairs for sending and receiving data.
0090Components that are identical to those of the terminal <b>5</b><sub>1 </sub>are identified by the same reference numbers. The terminal <b>5</b><sub>2 </sub>further includes a conventional mains power supply unit <b>24</b> providing a DC voltage of 50 volts, for example, if the remote power feed voltage is 48 volts. The positive pole of the mains power supply unit <b>24</b> is connected to a positive input of the power supply unit <b>22</b> via a diode D<b>1</b>. The positive pole of the remote power feed circuit is connected to the positive input of the power supply unit <b>22</b> via a diode D<b>2</b>. In normal operation, the diode D<b>1</b> conducts and the diode D<b>2</b> does not conduct, because of the difference between the two supply voltages. In the event of a mains power outage, the voltage provided by the mains power supply unit <b>24</b> disappears, the diode D<b>2</b> conducts and the diode D<b>1</b> does not conduct. The power supply unit <b>22</b> can therefore continue to operate from the remote power feed.
0091A capacitor <b>23</b> shunts the diode D<b>2</b> to pass an alternating current signal for detecting the terminal type. Its capacitance is chosen so that it offers a negligible impedance to the detectiontest signal, for example 1 microfarad. A terminal with a local power supply backed up by a remote power feed can therefore be detected as a terminal with a permanent remote power feed.
0092The remote power feed current can be reserved for essential functions of the terminal during mains power outages and not for other, non-essential functions which consume large quantities of energy.
0093<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a more detailed block diagram of the first embodiment of the remote power feed unit <b>31</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. The first embodiment includes: <ul id="ul0024" list-style="none"><li id="ul0024-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0025" list-style="none"><li id="ul0025-0001" num="0094">a switch <b>44</b> having three inputs and one output, which output is connected to the center-tap of the transformer <b>33</b> via a resistor R<b>2</b> shunted by a capacitor C<b>1</b>,</li><li id="ul0025-0002" num="0095">an AC test voltage generator <b>45</b> providing a sinusoidal signal at a voltage of a few volts and at a frequency of 10 kHz, for example, having one terminal connected to the center-tap of the transformer <b>34</b> and another terminal connected to a first terminal of a resistor R<b>1</b>; the second terminal of the resistor R<b>1</b> is connected to a first input of the switch <b>44</b>,</li><li id="ul0025-0003" num="0096">a DC voltage generator <b>46</b> providing a voltage of 48 V, for example, for remote power feeding a terminal, having a negative terminal connected to the center-tap of the transformer <b>34</b> and a positive terminal connected to a first terminal of a resistor R<b>3</b> via an inductor <b>49</b>; the second terminal of the resistor R<b>3</b> is connected to a second input of the switch <b>44</b>,</li><li id="ul0025-0004" num="0097">a DC test voltage generator <b>47</b> producing a voltage of 5 volts, for example, having a positive terminal connected to the center-tap of the transformer <b>34</b> and a negative terminal connected to a third input of the switch <b>44</b>, and</li><li id="ul0025-0005" num="0098">a logic circuit <b>43</b> having a first input connected to the second terminal of the resistor R<b>1</b>, two further inputs respectively connected to the terminals of the resistor R<b>2</b> and the capacitor C<b>1</b>, and an output which controls the switch <b>44</b>.</li></ul></li></ul>
0099In the above example: <ul id="ul0026" list-style="none"><li id="ul0026-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0027" list-style="none"><li id="ul0027-0001" num="0100">R<b>1</b>=75 ohms,</li><li id="ul0027-0002" num="0101">R<b>2</b>=1 ohm,</li><li id="ul0027-0003" num="0102">R<b>3</b>=10 ohms,</li><li id="ul0027-0004" num="0103">C<b>1</b>=1 microfarad.</li></ul></li></ul>
0104The inductor <b>49</b> in series with the generator <b>46</b> has an inductance such that, if the generators <b>45</b> and <b>46</b> are connected to the remote terminal simultaneously, the attenuation of the AC test signal caused by the generator <b>46</b> is negligible. In other embodiments this function can be implemented by an active circuit.
0105The resistance of R<b>2</b> is chosen to define the maximum remote power feed current in the line and the capacitance of C<b>1</b> is chosen to transmit the AC detectiontest signal with negligible attenuation. The voltage of the AC generator <b>45</b> and the resistance of the resistor R<b>1</b> are chosen to pass a test current that is not hazardous for any terminal that might be connected to the end of the line, in particular if it is a terminal not adapted to receive a remote power feed. The DC test voltage provided by the generator <b>47</b> is very much lower than the remote power feed voltage and is therefore not hazardous to terminals which are not adapted to receive a remote power feed. Also, it is insufficient to start up the power supply of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed, which is therefore seen as an open circuit during the direct current test.
0106<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a diagram showing changes of state that occur in the embodiment of the unit <b>31</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. When the unit <b>31</b> is started up, it is in a state S<b>1</b> and performs an alternating current test to detect the presence of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed: the logic circuit <b>43</b> operates the switch <b>44</b> to connect only its first input to its output. The remote power feed voltage is not applied to the line L, and there is therefore no risk to a conventional terminal. The switch <b>44</b> transmits an alternating current. The logic circuit <b>43</b> compares the AC voltage at the second terminal of the resistor R<b>1</b> with a threshold voltage corresponding to a modulus of the impedance Z<sub>term </sub>equal to 50 ohms, for example. There are two possible outcomes: <ul id="ul0028" list-style="none"><li id="ul0028-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0029" list-style="none"><li id="ul0029-0001" num="0107">Event <b>102</b>: the modulus is greater than 50 ohms, this is an open circuit for the alternating current, there is therefore no terminal connected to the end of the line and the circuit <b>43</b> remains in state S<b>1</b> to continue the alternating current test.</li><li id="ul0029-0002" num="0108">Event <b>101</b>: the modulus is less than 50 ohms, there is a short-circuit for alternating current at least, and therefore there may be a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed connected to the end of the line, or a short-circuit between two conductors of the line; the circuit <b>43</b> goes to the state S<b>2</b> for discriminating between these two possibilities, by means of a low voltage direct current test of short duration. During this test the power supply unit <b>22</b> has a high resistance because the input voltage it receives is too low to start it up.</li></ul></li></ul>
0109The test conducted in state S<b>2</b> has two possible outcomes: <ul id="ul0030" list-style="none"><li id="ul0030-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0031" list-style="none"><li id="ul0031-0001" num="0110">Event <b>105</b>: the resistance is greater than 50 ohms, which is an open circuit for the direct current, and there is therefore no conventional terminal connected to the end of the line; the terminal is one adapted to receive a remote power feed or a terminal with a local power supply backed up by a remote power feed. The circuit <b>43</b> goes to a state S<b>4</b> to remote power feed the terminal and continues the alternating current test to detect disconnection of the terminal which has been detected.</li><li id="ul0031-0002" num="0111">Event <b>104</b>: the modulus is less than 50 ohms, and there is therefore a short-circuit for the direct current in the terminal or on the line; there is therefore either a conventional terminal (having a termination including a short-circuit) connected to the line, or an accidental short-circuit, in which case the remote power feed current must not be sent; the circuit <b>43</b> goes to state S<b>3</b> to detect disappearance of the short-circuit.</li></ul></li></ul>
0112In state S<b>3</b>, the circuit <b>43</b> performs a low DC voltage test of short duration to detect the disconnection of a conventional terminal, for example at periods of one second. The unit <b>31</b> provides a direct current of sufficiently low amplitude and sufficiently short duration to test for the presence of a conventional terminal with no risk of damaging it. The circuit <b>43</b> operates the switch <b>44</b> to connect only its second input to its output, for a period of only 150 milliseconds. At the end of 100 milliseconds (required to enable any capacitor to charge), the circuit <b>43</b> measures the voltage across R<b>2</b>. If the voltage is zero, the circuit is an open circuit for the direct current. The remote power feed voltage is not applied to the line L during this test. The test voltage applied is 5 volts in this example. This does not represent any danger to the terminal. The logic circuit <b>43</b> compares the DC voltage measured across the resistor R<b>2</b> with a single threshold voltage, corresponding to a resistance of 50 ohms, for example.
0113The test is repeated until the modulus of the impedance exceeds 50 ohms (Event <b>106</b>): the circuit <b>41</b> then reverts to state S<b>1</b> so that it can detect the connection of a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed.
0114In state S<b>4</b> the unit <b>31</b> supplies a remote power feed current to the terminal adapted to receive a remote feed that it has detected, and detects the occurrence of two events: <ul id="ul0032" list-style="none"><li id="ul0032-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0033" list-style="none"><li id="ul0033-0001" num="0115">disconnection of the terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed which has been detected, or</li><li id="ul0033-0002" num="0116">failure of the line or the terminal, producing a short-circuit for direct current.</li></ul></li></ul>
0117The circuit <b>43</b> operates the switch <b>44</b> to connect its first and third inputs simultaneously to its output. A remote power feed current is therefore supplied to the line L. The generator <b>45</b> provides a permanent alternating current superimposed on the remote power feed direct current to monitor the presence of the terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed that has been detected. A direct current flows in the resistor R<b>2</b> for as long as the terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed that has been detected is connected to the line L. The circuit <b>43</b> monitors the voltage drop across the resistor R<b>2</b>. It compares the AC voltage at the second terminal of the resistor R<b>1</b> with a threshold voltage corresponding to a modulus of the impedance Z<sub>term </sub>equal to 50 ohms. It also compares the DC voltage across R<b>2</b> with a threshold voltage corresponding to a resistance of 50 ohms.
0118Two events can occur in state S<b>4</b>: <ul id="ul0034" list-style="none"><li id="ul0034-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0035" list-style="none"><li id="ul0035-0001" num="0119">Event <b>107</b>: the modulus of the alternating current impedance rises above 50 ohms, the circuit is an open circuit for the alternating current, and the terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed has therefore been disconnected; the circuit <b>43</b> reverts to state S<b>1</b>. Because the remote power feed voltage is no longer applied to the line, any other terminal can be connected in complete safety.</li><li id="ul0035-0002" num="0120">Event <b>108</b>: the DC resistance is less than 50 ohms and there is therefore a short-circuit either on the line or in the terminal. The circuit <b>43</b> goes to a state S<b>5</b> in which it stops the remote power feed for 30 seconds, for example, to prevent the remote power feed current from causing any damage. It then reverts to state S<b>1</b> in which the tests previously conducted are repeated.</li></ul></li></ul>
0121<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the remote power feed unit <b>31</b>′ located in a concentrator <b>3</b>′ and a second embodiment of a terminal <b>5</b><sub>2 </sub>adapted to receive a remote power feed. This second embodiment is used to power terminals requiring a current that is too high to be provided only by the phantom circuit using the pairs for sending and receiving data or only by the available two pairs. The remote power feed current can be divided equally between the four pairs of the line, i.e. the phantom circuit plus the available two pairs. This enables the remote power feed current to be doubled. However, it is then necessary to verify that the terminal is adapted to receive a remote power feed current on all the pairs. If the remote power feed unit were to test only the phantom circuit and were then to apply the remote power feed voltage to all the pairs, it could destroy terminations at the ends of the available pairs in terminals adapted to receive a remote power feed only via the phantom circuit.
0122The remote power feed unit <b>31</b>′ for detecting a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 7 and 8</figref> verifies that the terminal is adapted to receive a remote power feed via the phantom circuit and that the terminal is further adapted to receive a remote power feed via the available two pairs. It can therefore distinguish between terminals of three types: <ul id="ul0036" list-style="none"><li id="ul0036-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0037" list-style="none"><li id="ul0037-0001" num="0123">a terminal which is not adapted to receive a remote power feed,</li><li id="ul0037-0002" num="0124">a terminal that is adapted to receive a remote power feed only via the phantom circuit, and</li><li id="ul0037-0003" num="0125">a terminal that is adapted to receive a remote power feed via the phantom circuit and via the two available pairs.</li></ul></li></ul>
0126The skilled person knows how to adapt the unit <b>31</b>′ to permutate the test on the available pairs and the test on the phantom circuit to distinguish between terminals of three types: <ul id="ul0038" list-style="none"><li id="ul0038-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0039" list-style="none"><li id="ul0039-0001" num="0127">a terminal that is not adapted to receive a remote power feed,</li><li id="ul0039-0002" num="0128">a terminal that is adapted to receive a remote power feed only via the available pairs, and</li><li id="ul0039-0003" num="0129">a terminal that is adapted to receive a remote power feed via the phantom circuit and via the two available pairs.</li></ul></li></ul>
0130In this example the unit <b>31</b>′ has four ports. Two ports are connected to the center-taps of respective transformers <b>33</b> and <b>34</b>. The common mode phantom circuit uses the two pairs C<b>1</b>, C<b>2</b> and D<b>1</b>, D<b>2</b> for sending and receiving data. A third port is connected to the available conductors A<b>1</b> and B<b>1</b>. A fourth port is connected to the available conductors A<b>2</b> and B<b>2</b>.
0131In the terminal <b>5</b><sub>2</sub>, the ends of the conductors A<b>1</b> and B<b>1</b> are connected together to a first port of the power supply <b>22</b> and are connected via a short circuit <b>51</b> to the center-tap of the transformer <b>41</b>, i.e. to one terminal of the phantom circuit. The ends of the conductors A<b>2</b> and B<b>2</b> are connected together to a second port of the power supply unit <b>22</b> and are connected via a short circuit <b>52</b> to the center-tap of the transformer <b>40</b>, i.e. to the other terminal of the phantom circuit. As previously, a capacitor <b>21</b> shunts the two ports of the power supply unit <b>22</b>.
0132The unit <b>31</b>′ sends half the remote power feed current via the phantom circuit and the other half via the pairs A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b>, B<b>1</b>, B<b>2</b>. The AC test signal is superimposed on the remote power feed current.
0133<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a more detailed block diagram of the second embodiment of the remote power feed unit shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>. The remote power feed unit <b>31</b>′ for detecting terminals adapted to receive a remote power feed includes, in addition to the components constituting the unit <b>31</b> previously described: <ul id="ul0040" list-style="none"><li id="ul0040-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0041" list-style="none"><li id="ul0041-0001" num="0134">a resistor R<b>4</b> connected at one end to the common point of the resistor R<b>3</b> and the inductor <b>49</b>, and</li><li id="ul0041-0002" num="0135">a second switch <b>48</b> having one input, one output and one control input.</li></ul></li></ul>
0136The logic circuit <b>43</b> is replaced by a logic circuit <b>43</b>′ which controls the switches <b>44</b> and <b>48</b>. The input of the switch <b>48</b> is connected to a second end of the resistor R<b>4</b>. R<b>4</b> has the same resistance as R<b>3</b>; R<b>3</b> and R<b>4</b> divide the remote power feed current equally between the phantom circuit and the circuit via the pairs A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b>, B<b>1</b>, B<b>2</b>. The output of the switch <b>48</b> is connected to the conductors A<b>2</b> and B<b>2</b> of the line L. The conductors A<b>1</b> and B<b>1</b> are connected to the common point of the generator <b>45</b>, the generator <b>47</b>, the generator <b>46</b> and the center-tap of the transformer <b>34</b>.
0137<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a diagram showing changes of state occurring in the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>. On start-up, and until the terminal has been identified as adapted to receive a remote power feed via the phantom circuit and via the available pairs, the input of the switch <b>48</b> is not connected to its output. The generator <b>46</b> therefore does not apply any voltage to the terminal. The states are the same as for the unit <b>31</b>, except that event <b>105</b>, which detects an open circuit for direct current which indicates that the terminal is a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed via the phantom circuit (or has a local power supply backed up by the remote power feed), is not followed immediately by state S<b>4</b> in which the terminal receives the remote power feed.
0138The unit <b>31</b>′ goes to a state S<b>4</b>a in which the circuit <b>43</b>′ carries out a short duration low DC voltage test to test also the available pairs A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b>, B<b>1</b>, B<b>2</b>. It operates the switch <b>44</b> to connect only its second input to its output for only 150 milliseconds. The logic circuit <b>43</b>′ verifies that there is a DC voltage on the conductors A<b>2</b>, B<b>2</b>. <ul id="ul0042" list-style="none"><li id="ul0042-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0043" list-style="none"><li id="ul0043-0001" num="0139">Event <b>111</b>: The circuit <b>43</b>′ has detected a return DC voltage on the conductors A<b>2</b>, B<b>2</b> because the phantom circuit (at the center-tap of the transformer <b>40</b>) is connected to those conductors in the terminal by the short-circuit <b>52</b>. This means that the terminal is also adapted to receive a remote power feed via the available pairs. The circuit <b>43</b>′ operates the switch <b>48</b> so that it connects its input and its output. The generator <b>46</b> therefore applies a remote power feed voltage to the available pairs. The circuit <b>43</b>′ then goes to a state S<b>4</b>b analogous to the state S<b>4</b> previously described, in which it provides a remote power feed to the terminal via the phantom circuit in addition to the remote power feed via the available pairs.</li><li id="ul0043-0002" num="0140">Event <b>110</b>: The circuit <b>43</b>′ has not detected a DC voltage on the conductors A<b>2</b>, B<b>2</b> because the phantom circuit is not connected to those conductors in the terminal. This means that the terminal is not adapted to receive a remote power feed via the available pairs. The circuit <b>43</b>′ leaves the switch <b>48</b> open. The generator <b>46</b> therefore applies no remote power feed voltage to the available pairs and there is no risk of damaging the terminal. The circuit <b>43</b>′ then goes to a state S<b>4</b>b identical to the state S<b>4</b> previously described, in which it provides a remote power feed to the terminal via the phantom circuit only.</li></ul></li></ul>
0141<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is a block diagram of one embodiment of a repeater RP<b>1</b> according to the invention, and shows its use in a line in which the remote power feed is provided only via a phantom circuit. In a repeater <b>3</b>, each port includes a remote power feed unit <b>31</b> as previously described and providing the remote power feed and detection functions. The port considered in this example is connected to a terminal <b>4</b><sub>1 </sub>via the repeater RP<b>1</b>, which is necessary because of the length of the line. The concentrator <b>3</b> is connected to the repeater RP<b>1</b> by a line section L<b>1</b>. The terminal <b>4</b><sub>1 </sub>is connected to the repeater RP<b>1</b> by a line section L<b>2</b> and includes: a splitter consisting of two transformers <b>40</b> and <b>41</b>, a power supply unit <b>22</b> and a capacitor <b>21</b> shunting the input terminals of the power supply unit <b>22</b>, as previously described.
0142The repeater RP<b>1</b> includes: <ul id="ul0044" list-style="none"><li id="ul0044-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0045" list-style="none"><li id="ul0045-0001" num="0143">a splitter <b>139</b> and a combiner <b>132</b>,</li><li id="ul0045-0002" num="0144">a power supply unit <b>122</b>, and</li><li id="ul0045-0003" num="0145">two regenerators <b>35</b> and <b>36</b>.</li></ul></li></ul>
0146The combiner <b>132</b> includes two transformers <b>133</b> and <b>134</b> respectively transmitting a signal to be sent to the terminal <b>4</b><sub>1 </sub>and a signal received from the terminal <b>4</b><sub>1</sub>. Each has a first winding and a second winding. The first windings are connected to respective data transmission pairs of the line L<sub>2</sub>. Each has a center-tap. The second winding of the transformer <b>133</b> is connected to differential outputs of the regenerator <b>35</b>. The second winding of the transformer <b>134</b> is connected to differential inputs of the regenerator <b>36</b>.
0147The splitter <b>139</b> includes two transformers <b>140</b> and <b>141</b> respectively transmitting the signal to be sent to the concentrator <b>3</b> and the signal received from the concentrator <b>3</b>. Each has a first winding and a second winding. The first windings are connected to respective data transmission pairs of the line L<sub>1</sub>. The center-tap of the first winding of the transformer <b>140</b> is connected to a first input of the power supply unit <b>122</b> and to the center-tap of the transformer <b>133</b>. The center-tap of the first winding of the transformer <b>141</b> is connected to a second input of the power supply unit <b>122</b> and to the center-tap of the transformer <b>134</b>. The second winding of the transformer <b>141</b> is connected to differential outputs of the regenerator circuit <b>36</b>. The second winding of the transformer <b>140</b> is connected to differential outputs of the regenerator circuit <b>35</b>.
0148The connections between the center-taps of the transformers <b>140</b>, <b>141</b>, <b>133</b>, <b>134</b> enable the phantom circuit of the section L<b>1</b> to be connected directly to the phantom circuit of the section L<b>2</b> to carry the remote power feed direct current and test signals (direct current and alternating current). There is no capacitor connected to the input of the power supply unit <b>122</b> of the repeater. The power supply unit is designed to have an input impedance whose modulus is very much higher than 50 ohms during the alternating current test. The repeater RP<b>1</b> must receive a remote power feed from the remote power feed unit <b>31</b> only when a terminal <b>4</b><sub>1 </sub>adapted to receive a remote power feed is actually connected to the repeater RP<b>1</b>. The repeater RP<b>1</b> on its own must therefore not be detected as a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed. The skilled person knows how to design a power supply unit <b>122</b> having an input impedance very much higher than 50 ohms for the alternating current test signal. For example, the input stage of the power supply unit can include an inductor or an active circuit equivalent to an inductor.
0149During the alternating current test (state S<b>1</b>, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>), the remote power feed unit <b>31</b> detects a closed circuit for alternating current if and only if a terminal <b>4</b><sub>1 </sub>adapted to receive a remote power feed is connected, by means of the capacitor <b>21</b> in the terminal <b>4</b><sub>1</sub>. Thereafter, during the direct current test (state S<b>2</b>), the power supply unit <b>122</b> and the power supply unit <b>22</b> each have a high resistance because they receive an input voltage which is too low to start them. If the remote power feed unit <b>31</b> finds that there is no direct current short-circuit, it concludes that a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is connected. The repeater is therefore transparent vis-à-vis the remote power feed unit <b>31</b>.
0150<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> is a block diagram of the same embodiment of a repeater according to the invention, but showing its use in a line where the remote power feed is provided by a phantom circuit plus two available pairs A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b> and B<b>1</b>, B<b>2</b>. The two available pairs are used only in the line section L<b>1</b> because they provide the surplus energy corresponding to the requirements of the circuits of the repeater RP<b>1</b>. The two conductors A<b>1</b> and A<b>2</b> together connect the center-tap of the transformer <b>33</b> to the center-tap of the transformer <b>140</b>. The two conductors B<b>1</b> and B<b>2</b> together connect the center-tap of the transformer <b>34</b> to the center-tap of the transformer <b>141</b>.
0151<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> is a block diagram of one embodiment of a concentrator <b>3</b>′ according to the invention. In an Ethernet switch <b>2</b>′, a remote power feed unit <b>231</b> and a combiner consisting of two transformers <b>201</b> and <b>202</b> analogous to those previously described for a concentrator <b>3</b> provide the remote power feed and detection functions for the port in question of the switch <b>2</b>′. The concentrator <b>3</b>′ is connected to that port. It has N ports connected to N respective terminals <b>5</b><sub>1</sub>, . . . , <b>5</b><sub>N </sub>by individual lines L.
0152The concentrator <b>3</b>′ is adapted to receive a remote power feed, and it receives its remote power feed via a phantom circuit on two pairs D<b>1</b>, D<b>2</b>, C<b>1</b>, C<b>2</b> plus two available pairs B<b>1</b>, B<b>2</b>, A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b> of the line to the switch <b>2</b>′ powered by the remote power feed unit <b>231</b> in the switch <b>2</b>′.
0153In the concentrator <b>3</b>′, each port includes a respective remote power feed unit <b>231</b><sub>1</sub>, . . . , <b>231</b><sub>N </sub>analogous to the unit <b>31</b> previously described and a respective combiner <b>232</b><sub>1</sub>, . . . , <b>232</b><sub>N</sub>, analogous to the combiner <b>32</b> previously described; they provide the remote power feed and detection functions. The concentrator <b>3</b>′ further includes: <ul id="ul0046" list-style="none"><li id="ul0046-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0047" list-style="none"><li id="ul0047-0001" num="0154">a splitter <b>240</b>,</li><li id="ul0047-0002" num="0155">a power supply unit <b>222</b>,</li><li id="ul0047-0003" num="0156">a capacitor <b>221</b> shunting the input of the power supply unit <b>222</b>, and</li><li id="ul0047-0004" num="0157">a conventional concentrator <b>200</b>.</li></ul></li></ul>
0158For example, the combiner <b>232</b><sub>1 </sub>includes two transformers <b>233</b> and <b>234</b> respectively transmitting a signal to be sent to a terminal <b>6</b><sub>1 </sub>and a signal received from the terminal <b>6</b><sub>1</sub>. They each have a first winding and a second winding. The first windings are connected to respective data transmission pairs of the line L to the terminal <b>6</b><sub>1</sub>. Each has a center-tap. The second winding of the transformer <b>233</b> is connected to differential outputs of the concentrator circuit <b>200</b>. The second winding of the transformer <b>234</b> is connected to differential inputs of the concentrator circuits <b>200</b>.
0159The splitter <b>239</b> includes two transformers <b>240</b> and <b>241</b> respectively transmitting the signal received from the concentrator <b>2</b>′ and the signal to be sent to the concentrator <b>2</b>′. They each have a first winding and a second winding. The first windings are connected to respective data transmission pairs D<b>1</b>, D<b>2</b>, C<b>1</b>, C<b>2</b>. The center-tap of the first winding of the transformer <b>240</b> is connected to a first input of the power supply unit <b>222</b>, a first input of each remote power feed unit <b>231</b><sub>1</sub>, . . . , <b>231</b><sub>N</sub>, and the available wires A<b>1</b>, B<b>1</b>. The center-tap of the first winding of the transformer <b>241</b> is connected to a second input of the power supply unit <b>222</b>, a second input of each remote power feed unit <b>231</b><sub>1</sub>, . . . , <b>231</b><sub>N</sub>, and the available wires A<b>2</b>, B<b>2</b>. The second winding of the transformer <b>141</b> is connected to differential outputs of the concentrator <b>200</b>. The second winding of the transformer <b>240</b> is connected to differential inputs of the concentrator <b>200</b>.
0160The concentrator <b>3</b>′ requires a remote power feed regardless of the terminals to which it is connected. Even if none of those terminals is adapted to receive a remote power feed, they require the concentrator <b>3</b>′ in order to be able to operate. The concentrator <b>3</b>′ is detected by the remote power feed unit <b>231</b> as being a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed, because of the capacitor <b>121</b> (whose capacitance is at least equal to one microfarad). This capacitor can be the filter capacitor conventionally included at the input of a power supply unit.
0161<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref> shows part of the block diagram of a variant of the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>. Of the three switches <b>44</b>, the one which is connected to the resistor R<b>3</b>, on the one hand, and to the resistor R<b>2</b>, on the other hand, preferably consists of an electronic circuit <b>44</b>′ shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>. The switch <b>48</b> which is connected to the resistor R<b>4</b>, on the one hand, and to the conductors A<b>2</b> and B<b>2</b>, on the other hand, preferably consists of an electronic circuit <b>48</b>′ identical to the switch <b>44</b>′. The inductor <b>49</b> is preferably replaced with an electronic circuit <b>49</b>′ for blocking an alternating current, namely the respective circuits <b>49</b>′a and <b>49</b>′b shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 14 and 15</figref>.
0162<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is the block diagram of a preferred first embodiment <b>49</b>′a of the electronic circuit <b>49</b>′ for blocking an alternating current. This example includes three silicon diodes D<b>5</b>, D<b>6</b>, D<b>7</b>. The alternating current test signal generator applies to the terminals of the circuit <b>49</b>′a an AC voltage which in this example is equal to 1.2 volts. The current/voltage characteristic of any silicon diode is non-linear and has a threshold of approximately 0.6 volt. Beyond that threshold, the dynamic resistance is negligible. The diodes D<b>5</b>, D<b>6</b>, D<b>7</b> have a combined threshold of approximately 1.8 volts. They therefore have a negligible conductance for the alternating current test signal when the remote power feed current is not flowing through them.
0163That signal is therefore not absorbed by the DC voltage generator <b>46</b> if no terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is connected to the line. If a terminal adapted to receive a remote power feed is connected to the line, the alternating current test signal is absorbed but this is of no importance because at this time the test signal does not need to be used to detect the disconnection of a terminal. The skilled person knows how to adapt the number of semiconductor diodes to suit the voltage of the alternating current test signal.
0164<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> is the block diagram of a preferred second embodiment <b>49</b>′b of the electronic circuit <b>49</b>′ for blocking an alternating current, which includes at least one transistor behaving as a direct current generator. The electronic circuit <b>49</b>′b includes a bipolar transistor T<b>1</b> whose collector and emitter constitute respective terminals of the circuit <b>49</b>′b. The base is connected to a bridge made up of two resistors R<b>6</b> and R<b>7</b> connected between these two terminals. A capacitor C<b>4</b> is connected between the base and the emitter. The time constant of the circuit <b>49</b>′b as a whole is made very much greater than the period of the alternating current test signal. It can be shown by calculation that the circuit then has a negligible conductance for the alternating current signal.
0165<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> is the block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the electronic switching circuits <b>44</b>′ and <b>48</b>′. Each includes, in addition to at least one active component: <ul id="ul0048" list-style="none"><li id="ul0048-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0049" list-style="none"><li id="ul0049-0001" num="0166">means for turning it on and off to activate or deactivate the remote power feed current, and</li><li id="ul0049-0002" num="0167">means for controlling it in such manner as to limit the remote power feed current to a predetermined current that is not hazardous to the line or the generator <b>46</b>.</li></ul></li></ul>
0168To be more precise, in this example, the circuit <b>44</b>′ or <b>48</b>′ includes: <ul id="ul0050" list-style="none"><li id="ul0050-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0051" list-style="none"><li id="ul0051-0001" num="0169">a port <b>71</b> which is coupled to the conductors D<b>1</b> and D<b>2</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>), respectively A<b>2</b> and B<b>2</b>,</li><li id="ul0051-0002" num="0170">a control port <b>72</b> connected to the control circuit <b>43</b>′ (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>),</li><li id="ul0051-0003" num="0171">a port <b>73</b> which is connected to the resistor R<b>3</b>, respectively R<b>4</b>,</li><li id="ul0051-0004" num="0172">an MOS transistor T<b>4</b> whose drain is connected to the port <b>71</b> and whose source is connected to the port <b>73</b> via a resistor R<b>11</b>,</li><li id="ul0051-0005" num="0173">an NPN bipolar transistor T<b>3</b> whose collector is connected to the gate of the transistor T<b>4</b>, whose emitter is connected to a supply voltage −V via a resistor R<b>9</b>, and whose base is connected to the control port <b>72</b>,</li><li id="ul0051-0006" num="0174">an NPN bipolar transistor T<b>5</b> whose collector is connected to the gate of the transistor T<b>4</b>, whose emitter is connected to the port <b>73</b>, and whose base is connected to the drain of the transistor T<b>4</b>, and</li><li id="ul0051-0007" num="0175">a resistor R<b>10</b> connecting the gate of the transistor T<b>4</b> to the port <b>73</b>.</li></ul></li></ul>
0176A binary control signal is applied to the port <b>72</b>. When it turns off the transistor T<b>3</b>, the transistor T<b>4</b> is turned off and the remote power feed is cut off. When it saturates the transistor T<b>3</b>, the transistor T<b>4</b> conducts and the remote power feed is applied. The voltage drop in the resistor R<b>11</b> caused by the remote power feed current turns on the transistor T<b>5</b> when it reaches a threshold voltage. The transistor T<b>5</b> then reduces the conductance of the transistor T<b>4</b>. This current regulation limits the remote power feed current to a maximum current essentially determined by the resistance of the resistor R<b>11</b>, the ratio of the resistances of the resistors R<b>9</b> and R<b>10</b>, and the voltage −V. To complete the protection of the generator <b>46</b> against short-circuits, a fuse can be inserted as close as possible to the positive terminal of the generator <b>46</b>.
0177In a variant, the circuit <b>44</b>′, <b>48</b>′ further includes means for controlling the active component so that it has a negligible conductance for the test alternating current. For example, a capacitor C<b>5</b> can be connected between the gate of the transistor T<b>4</b> and the port <b>73</b>. The transistor T<b>4</b> then behaves as a direct current generator, presenting a high impedance to the alternating current test signal generator, in particular when the transistor T<b>5</b> is not turned on. The time constant of the circuit as a whole is chosen so that the transistor T<b>4</b> has a negligible conductance vis-à-vis the alternating current test signal. There is then no longer any need for the blocking device <b>49</b> or <b>49</b>′.
Contents5
Every citation, both ways
| Document | Relation | Office | Cited during |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP0981227A2 | Cites | European Patent Office (EPO) | Search report |
| US4389694A | Cites | United States of America | Search report |
| US5121482A | Cites | United States of America | Search report |
| US5402073A | Cites | United States of America | Search report |
| US5506900A | Cites | United States of America | Search report |
| US5530748A | Cites | United States of America | Search report |
| US5991885A | Cites | United States of America | Search report |
| US6175556B1 | Cites | United States of America | Search report |
| US6218930B1 | Cites | United States of America | Search report |
| US6643566B1 | Cites | United States of America | Search report |
| US6681013B1 | Cites | United States of America | Search report |
| WO9623377A1 | Cites | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | Search report |
| EP981227A2 | Cites | European Patent Office (EPO) | Search report |
| WO9623377 | Cites | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | Search report |
| Bearfield, J.M., "Control the power interface of USB's Voltage Bus", Electronic Design, US, Penton Publishing, Cleveland, OH, vol. 45, No. 15, Jul. 27, 1997, pp. 80, 82, 84, 86. XP00078289 ISSN: 0013-48728. | Non-patent | – | Search report |
| Richard Glaser et al, IEEE 802.3 DTE Power via MDI Detection and Signature Protocol, Lucent Technologies Apr. 18, 2000. | Non-patent | – | Applicant |
| Robert Leonowich et al, IEEE 802.3af DTE Power via MDI Detection and Signature Tutorial, Alcatel Lucent, Jul. 10, 2000. | Non-patent | – | Applicant |
| Bearfield, J.M., “Control the power interface of USB's Voltage Bus”, Electronic Design, US, Penton Publishing, Cleveland, OH, vol. 45, No. 15, Jul. 27, 1997, pp. 80, 82, 84, 86. XP00078289 ISSN: 0013-48728. | Non-patent | – | Search report |
| Richard Glaser et al, IEEE 802.3 DTE Power via MDI Detection and Signature Protocol, Lucent Technologies Apr. 18, 2000. | Non-patent | – | Applicant |
| Robert Leonowich et al, IEEE 802.3af DTE Power via MDI Detection and Signature Tutorial, Alcatel Lucent, Jul. 10, 2000. | Non-patent | – | Applicant |
12 members in 5 offices
Priority claims21
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9913834 | France | – | |
| 9913834 | France | A | |
| 9913834 | France | A | |
| 0004834 | France | – | |
| 0004834 | France | A | |
| 0004834 | France | A | |
| 0008592 | France | – | |
| 0008592 | France | A | |
| 0008592 | France | A | |
| 70365400 | United States of America | A | |
| 70365400 | United States of America | A | |
| 39166906 | United States of America | A | |
| 0004834 | – | – | – |
| 0008592 | – | – | – |
| 09703654 | – | – | – |
| 9913834 | – | – | – |
| FR19990013834 | – | – | – |
| FR20000004834 | – | – | – |
| FR20000008592 | – | – | – |
| US20000703654 | – | – | – |
| US20060391669 | – | – | – |
Members12
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR2800953A1 | France | A1 | |
| FR2800955A1 | France | A1 | |
| EP1100226A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| FR2811178A1 | France | A1 | |
| FR2811178B1 | France | B1 | |
| US6715087B1 | United States of America | B1 | |
| FR2800955B1 | France | B1 | |
| EP1100226B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| AT458326T | Austria | T | |
| ATE458326T1 | Austria | T1 | |
| DE60043836D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| USRE44325EThis record | United States of America | E |
111 transactions on the USPTO file
Allowed after 2 non-final rejections, 3 final rejections, 1 RCE and 2 appeals.
- Non-final rejections
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- 3
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- 1
- Appeals
- 2
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| Response after Non-Final ActionA... | A... | |
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5 recorded assignments at the USPTO, latest first
- Now
Now: Held by
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD - 2016-01-12
Assignment of assignors interest.
Ownership change- From
- ALCATEL LUCENT
- To
- HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD
Recorded 2016-01-12, Signed 2015-12-31
- 2014-09-30
Release by secured party.
Release- From
- CREDIT SUISSE AG
- To
- ALCATEL LUCENT
Recorded 2014-09-30, Signed 2014-08-19
- 2014-03-28
Assignment of assignors interest.
Ownership change- From
- VERGNAUD GERARDATTIMONT LUCGASS RAYMOND
and 2 moreShow fewer
BODIN JANNICKLAVILLE JEAN-CLAUDE - To
- ALCATEL
Recorded 2014-03-28, Signed 2000-10-24
- 2013-01-30
Security agreement
Security interest- From
- ALCATEL LUCENT
- To
- CREDIT SUISSE AG
Recorded 2013-01-30, Signed 2013-01-30
- 2007-05-23
Change of name.
- From
- ALCATEL
- To
- ALCATEL LUCENT
Recorded 2007-05-23, Signed 2006-11-30
7 legal events, as the office reported them to INPADOC
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Point at a mark for the eventEvents
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| AssignmentAS | AS | |
| Fee paymentFPAY | FPAY | |
| AssignmentAS | AS | |
| AssignmentAS | AS | |
| AssignmentAS | AS | |
| Fee payment procedurePAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITYFEPP | FEPP | |
| AssignmentAS | AS |
Numbers
- Publication
- RE044325
- Publication, DOCDB
- RE44325
- Publication, EPODOC
- USRE44325E
- Application
- 11391669
- Application, DOCDB
- 39166906
- Application, EPODOC
- US20060391669
Titles
- English
- Method of providing a remote power feed to a terminal in a local area network, and corresponding remote power feed unit, concentrator, repeator, and terminal
Classification
- CPC, 2
- H04L12/44
- H04L12/10
- IPC, 3
- G06F1 26
- H04L12 10
- H04L12 44
- USPC, 2
- 713300000
- 713340000