Power distribution over ethernet connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12273209-B2
Application number	US-202218091748-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2022
Priority date	May 29, 2020
Publication date	Apr 8, 2025
Grant date	Apr 8, 2025

Abstract

In an embodiment, a power delivery system includes a first current limiter and a second current limiter in parallel with each other, wherein a direct current (DC) voltage is provided to each of the first current limiter and the second current limiter; a first transformer electrically coupled to the first current limiter; a second transformer electrically coupled to the second current limiter; first differential signal traces electrically coupled to the first transformer; and second differential signal traces electrically coupled to the second transformer, wherein the DC voltage is transmitted from the first transformer to the first differential signal traces simultaneous with the DC voltage being transmitted to the second differential signal traces by the second transformer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power delivery system comprising:
a first current limiter and a second current limiter in parallel with each other, wherein a direct current (DC) voltage is provided to each of the first current limiter and the second current limiter;
a first transformer electrically coupled to the first current limiter, the first transformer associated with a first return current path;
a second transformer electrically coupled to the second current limiter, the second transformer associated with a second return current path, the second return current path being different from the first current path;
first differential signal traces electrically coupled to the first transformer; and
second differential signal traces electrically coupled to the second transformer, wherein the DC voltage is transmitted from the first transformer to the first differential signal traces simultaneous with the DC voltage being transmitted to the second differential signal traces by the second transformer.

2. The power delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power control circuit configured to inject a detection input voltage to at least one or more of the first current limiter or the second current limiter;
a third transformer electrically coupled to third differential signal traces, the third transformer associated with the first return current path; and
a voltage detection circuit configured to detect a return voltage from the return current path during injection of the detection input voltage by the power control circuit.

3. The power delivery system of claim 2 , further comprising a fourth transformer electrically coupled to fourth differential signal traces and an additional return current path.

4. The power delivery system of claim 3 , wherein the return current path and the additional return current path are electrically coupled.

5. The power delivery system of claim 2 , wherein a reference resistance is applied between the power control circuit and the first current limiter or the second current limiter prior to injection of the detection input voltage.

6. The power delivery system of claim 5 , wherein the return voltage at a first value is indicative of a load device connection, wherein each of the first transformer and the second transformer transmits the DC voltage if the first value is detected, and wherein the reference resistance is removed prior to injection of the DC voltage.

7. The power delivery system of claim 6 , wherein if the return voltage, in response to injection of the DC voltage, is in excess of a pre-set value, then one or more of the first current limiter or the second current limiter is configured to shut off power.

8. The power delivery system of claim 6 , wherein if the return voltage, in response to injection of the DC voltage, is below a pre-set value, then one or more of the first current limiter or the second current limiter is configured to shut off power.

9. The power delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a first surge protector electrically coupled between the first current limiter and the first transformer and a second surge protector electrically coupled between the second current limiter and the second transformer.

10. An apparatus for power delivery over an Ethernet connection, the apparatus comprising:
a first current limiter and a second current limiter in parallel with each other and a first inductor and a second inductor, wherein:
a DC voltage is provided to the first current limiter and the second current limiter;
the first inductor is electrically coupled between an output of the first current limiter and a first wire of a plurality of twisted pair wires;
the second inductor is electrically coupled between an output of the second current limiter and a second wire of the plurality of twisted pair wires;
a third inductor is electrically coupled to a third wire of the plurality of twisted pair wires;
a fourth inductor is electrically coupled to a fourth wire of the plurality of twisted pair wires; and
the DC voltage is transmitted via a first current path comprising the first wire of the plurality of twisted pair wires and the third wire of the plurality of twisted pair wires simultaneous with the DC voltage being transmitted via a second current path comprising the second wire of the plurality of twisted pair wires and the fourth wire of the plurality of twisted pair wires, the first current path being different from the second current path.

11. A power source device comprising:
a DC voltage;
a first current limiter and a second current limiter in parallel with each other;
a third current limiter and a fourth current limiter in parallel with each other;
a first transformer electrically coupled to first differential traces;
a second transformer electrically coupled to second differential traces;
a first inductor electrically connected between the first current limiter and a first trace of the first differential traces;
a second inductor electrically connected between the second current limiter and a first trace of the second differential traces;
a third inductor electrically connected between the third current limiter and a second trace of the first differential traces; and
a fourth inductor electrically connected between the fourth current limiter and a second trace of the second differential traces.

12. The power source device of claim 11 , further comprising an alternating current (AC) to DC converter, wherein an AC voltage is input to the AC to DC converter and the DC voltage is output from the AC to DC converter.

13. The power source device of claim 11 , wherein the DC voltage is supplied by a DC power supply external to the power source device or the DC voltage is generated by a DC to DC converter based on an additional DC voltage supplied to the power source device.

14. The power source device of claim 11 , wherein the first current limiter and the first transformer comprise at least a portion of a first circuit, and the second current limiter and the second transformer comprise at least a portion of a second circuit different from the first circuit.

15. The power source device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a power control circuit configured to inject a detection input voltage to at least one or more of the first current limiter or the second current limiter;
a third transformer electrically coupled to third differential signal traces and a return current path; and
a voltage detection circuit configured to detect a return voltage from the return current path during injection of the detection input voltage by the power control circuit.

16. The power source device of claim 15 , further comprising a fourth transformer electrically coupled to fourth differential signal traces and an additional return current path.

17. The power source device of claim 16 , wherein a reference resistance is applied between the power control circuit and the first current limiter or the second current limiter prior to injection of the detection input voltage.

18. The power source device of claim 17 , wherein the return voltage at a first value is indicative of a load device connection, wherein each of the first transformer and the second transformer transmits the DC voltage if the first value is detected, and wherein the reference resistance is removed prior to injection of the DC voltage.

19. The power delivery system of claim 1 , wherein an AC voltage is input to an AC to DC converter and the DC voltage is output from the AC to DC converter, the DC voltage is supplied

Assignees

• Space Exploration Tech Corp

Inventors

• Salazar Joshua S
• Van Den Akker Anno
• Ruark Robert
• Ren Yong
• Vadathavoor Bhaskar S
• Bakos Krisztian

Classifications

• H02J3/02

  using a single network for simultaneous distribution of AC power at different frequencies · CPC title

• H02H9/044

  Physical layout, materials not provided for elsewhere (varistors H01C7/12; spark-gaps H01T; Ovshinsky devices H10N70/00) · CPC title

• H02H9/02

  responsive to excess current {(current limitation for voltage regulators G05F1/573; disconnection after limiting H02H3/025)} · CPC title

• Y04S20/20

  End-user application control systems · CPC title

• Y02B70/30

  Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level · CPC title