# US 11,909,320 B2 · Multi-phase pulse power short reach distribution > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,909,320 B2 - Document ID: US11909320B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/166,159 - Filed: 2023-02-08 - Published: 2023-06-15 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-28 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Richard Anthony O'Brien; Joel Richard Goergen; Chad M. Jones; Jason DeWayne Potterf; George Allan Zimmerman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909320B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - H02M 3/1584: {with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel} - G06F 1/18: Packaging or power distribution - H02J 1/106: {for load balancing, symmetrisation, or sharing} - H04L 12/10: Current supply arrangements - H02M 3/1586: {switched with a phase shift, i.e. interleaved} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting multi-phase pulse power from power sourcing equipment to a powered device in a data center, wherein the multi-phase pulse power comprises multiple phases of power delivered in a sequence of pulses defined by alternating low direct current voltage states and high direct current voltage states, and synchronizing the pulses at the power sourcing equipment with the pulses at the powered device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: transmitting multi-phase pulse power from power sourcing equipment to a powered device, wherein transmitting the multi-phase pulse power comprises transmitting, by the power sourcing equipment, multiple phases of power in a sequence of pulses defined by alternating low direct current power states and high direct current power states; and synchronizing the pulses at the power sourcing equipment with pulses at the powered device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the power sourcing equipment transmits said multi-phase pulse power to a plurality of powered devices and wherein the powered devices are installed in one or more racks. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said multi-phase pulse power is transmitted over a distance of less than fifty meters between the power sourcing equipment and the powered device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said synchronizing the pulses at the power sourcing equipment with the pulses at the powered device comprises transmitting a synchronization signal out of band from said multi-phase pulse power. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein said out of band synchronization signal comprises an analog waveform corresponding to a desired state of an isolation switch at the powered device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said multi-phase pulse power is transmitted on at least two wire pairs in a cable and synchronization information is transmitted on another wire in the cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said multi-phase pulse power is transmitted on at least two conductor pairs in a printed circuit board and synchronization information is transmitted on another conductor in the printed circuit board. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein synchronizing the pulses comprising synchronizing a power sourcing equipment modulator switch with a powered device demodulator switch for each of said multiple phases of power. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising controlling timing of the power sourcing equipment modulator switch and the powered device demodulator switch such that each of the high direct current power states is turned on at the power sourcing equipment before a corresponding one of the high direct current power states is turned on at the powered device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said multi-phase pulse power comprises three phases operating at 67% duty cycle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein each of said phases carries one-half of a powered device load current. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said multi-phase pulse power comprises four phases with each of said phases carrying one-third of a powered device load current. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein one of said four phases is lost and each remaining phase adjusts to carry one-half of said powered device load current. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said multi-phase pulse power comprises three-phase pulse power transmitted from the power sourcing equipment to the powered device and wherein said three-phase pulse power is converted to two-phase pulse power at the powered device for powering a plurality of loads at the powered device. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: receiving multi-phase pulse power at a powered device, wherein the multi-phase pulse power comprises multiple phases of power transmitted by power sourcing equipment in a sequence of pulses defined by alternating low direct current power states and high direct current power states; and transmitting said multi-phase pulse power to a plurality of loads at the powered device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein said multi-phase pulse power received at the powered device and said multi-phase pulse power transmitted to said plurality of loads each comprises a different number of phases. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein transmitting said multi-phase pulse power to said plurality of loads comprises distributing said multi-phase pulse power across a line card using bonded bus bar structures. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein said bonded bus bar structures are operable to distribute over 100 watts of power. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein transmitting said multi-phase pulse power to said plurality of loads comprises transmitting said multi-phase pulse power over a distance of less than five meters. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of loads receives power from a Point-of Load (PoL), wherein the PoL receives power from a multi-phase pulse power demodulator and a low voltage power source for initialization. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising synchronizing the pulses over a conductor separate from conductors carrying the multi-phase pulse power. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising performing a safety test on each of said phases of power with the power sourcing equipment at the powered device at a rack level and performing a limited safety test on each of said phases of power between components at the powered device. ### Claim 23 A power distribution system comprising: power sourcing equipment for transmitting multi-phase pulse power, wherein the multi-phase pulse power comprises multiple phases of power transmitted in a sequence of pulses defined by alternating low direct current power states and high direct current power states; a powered device for receiving said multi-phase pulse power; and a cable for transmitting said multi-phase pulse power from the power sourcing equipment to the powered device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The power distribution system of claim 23 wherein the cable comprises at least two wire pairs for transmitting at least two of said phases and at least one wire for transmitting a control signal comprising pulse synchronization information for synchronizing the pulses at the power sourcing equipment with the pulses at the powered device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The power distribution system of claim 23 further comprising an access point operable to receive said multi-phase pulse power from the power sourcing equipment and power an array of access points. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The power distribution system of claim 25 wherein the access point is operable to transmit one of said multi-phase pulse power and Power over Ethernet (PoE) to each access point in said array of access points. ### Claim 27 A method comprising: transmitting pulse power from power sourcing equipment to a powered device, wherein the pulse power is transmitted in a sequence of pulses defined by alternating low direct current power states and high direct current power states; and synchronizing the pulses at the power sourcing equipment with pulses at a powered device; wherein said synchronizing the pulses at the power sourcing equipment with the pulses at the powered device comprises transmitting a synchronization signal out of band from the pulse power. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the out of band synchronization signal comprises an analog waveform corresponding to a desired state of an isolation switch at the powered device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the pulse power is transmitted on at least two wire pairs in a cable and synchronization information is transmitted on another wire in the cable. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the pulse power is transmitted on at least two Printed Circuit Board (PCB) traces on a PCB and synchronization information is transmitted on another trace on one of the PCB, another PCB, or an auxiliary cable.