PoE system for the distribution of high voltage power
OwnerNorman Boemiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system comprising PoE apparatus including midspans, switches and routers that can provide high powered PoE connections that enable the recovery of DC power in sufficient quantities that allow it to be converted to AC power by way of an inverter. The invention also provides a method for providing AC power, data and light to office workstations using a single PoE connection. The invention further comprises a common mode signaling system that operates independently of any TCP/IP signal transmitted through an Ethernet connection wherein said signaling system is adapted to communicate with and control PoE powered devices.
Claims21
A power distribution unit for outputting high voltage AC power, the power distribution unit comprising
- an Ethernet port configured to receive an Ethernet cable, wherein the Ethernet cable is configured to provide low voltage DC power from a power source to the Ethernet port;
- at least one additional Ethernet port configured to receive an associated at least one additional Ethernet cable, wherein the associated at least one additional Ethernet cable is configured to provide low voltage DC power to the at least one additional Ethernet port;
- an inverter to receive a combination of the low voltage DC power received from the Ethernet port and the low voltage DC power received from the at least one additional Ethernet port, and to invert the combined low voltage DC power to provide the high voltage AC power;
- an electrical connection to ground;
- an AC outlet to provide the high voltage AC power and the electrical connection to ground to devices connected thereto;
- and
- a residual current device (RCD) connected to the AC outlet for monitoring the high voltage AC power of the AC outlet and disabling the high voltage AC power from the AC outlet when a power leak is detected.
A method of providing high voltage AC power to a remote site via a power distribution unit that includes an Ethernet port, at least one additional Ethernet port, an inverter, an AC outlet and a residual current device, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the Ethernet port, an Ethernet cable providing low voltage DC power and an electrical connection to protective earth from a power source;
- receiving, at the at least one additional Ethernet port, an associated at least one Ethernet cable providing low voltage DC power;
- receiving, at the inverter, a combination of the low voltage DC power from the Ethernet port and the low voltage DC power from the at least one additional Ethernet port and inverting the combined low voltage DC power into high voltage AC power;
- providing the high voltage AC power and the electrical connection to protective earth to devices connected to the AC outlet;
- utilizing the residual current device to detect a leak in the high voltage AC power being output via the AC outlet;
- and
- shutting down the outputting of the high voltage AC power in the event a leak is detected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.