High power and data delivery in a communications network with safety and fault protection

A system comprising:

• at a location remote from a central hub,
• a power receiver operable to receive power comprising a series of high voltage power pulses separated by fault sensing periods sent over an electrically conductive medium;
• an optical transceiver module operable to send and receive data over an optical fiber transmission medium;
• and
• a single cable comprising an electrically conductive component and an optical fiber component, wherein the electrically conductive component is connected to the power receiver and the optical fiber component is connected to the optical transceiver module;
• wherein the system is operable to receive power and data from the central hub over the single cable;
• wherein the power receiver is operational to perform an operational sensing procedure during the fault sensing periods between the high voltage power pulses;
• wherein a low voltage is applied to the electrically conductive component during the fault sensing periods between the high voltage power pulses, and
• wherein the power receiver is operable to:
• transmit on the single cable a data signal to the central hub, the data signal indicating an operating status based upon the operational sensing procedure performed between the high voltage power pulses, and
• use the power received via the electrically conductive component of the single cable to supply power to the optical transceiver module.

A system comprising:

• at a location remote from a central hub,
• a power receiver operable to receive power comprising a series of high voltage power pulses separated by fault sensing periods sent over an electrically conductive medium, wherein each high voltage power pulse in the series of high voltage power pulses has a duration proportional to a voltage level during pulse power periods to limit shock current of a line to ground fault to less than 10 mA;
• an optical transceiver module operable to send and receive data over an optical fiber transmission medium;
• and
• a single cable comprising an electrically conductive component and an optical fiber component, wherein the electrically conductive component is connected to the power receiver and the optical fiber component is connected to the optical transceiver module;
• wherein the system is operable to receive power and data from the central hub over the single cable;
• wherein the power receiver is operational to perform an operational sensing procedure during the fault sensing periods between the high voltage power pulses;
• wherein the power receiver is operable to:
• transmit on the single cable a data signal to the central hub, the data signal indicating an operating status based upon the operational sensing procedure performed between the high voltage power pulses, and
• use the power received via the electrically conductive component of the single cable to supply power to the optical transceiver module.

A system comprising:

• at a location remote from a central hub,
• a power receiver operable to receive power comprising a series of high voltage power pulses separated by fault sensing periods sent over an electrically conductive medium, wherein each high voltage power pulse in the series of high voltage power pulses has a duration proportional to a voltage level during pulse power periods to limit a line-to-line fault to about 0.5A for 1 millisecond;
• an optical transceiver module operable to send and receive data over an optical fiber transmission medium;
• and
• a single cable comprising an electrically conductive component and an optical fiber component, wherein the electrically conductive component is connected to the power receiver and the optical fiber component is connected to the optical transceiver module;
• wherein the system is operable to receive power and data from the central hub over the single cable;
• wherein the power receiver is operational to perform an operational sensing procedure during the fault sensing periods between the high voltage power pulses;
• wherein the power receiver is operable to:
• transmit on the single cable a data signal to the central hub, the data signal indicating an operating status based upon the operational sensing procedure performed between the high voltage power pulses, and
• use the power received via the electrically conductive component of the single cable to supply power to the optical transceiver module.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor and a memory;
• a connector for a combined cable for data and power, the combined cable comprising an electrically conductive component and an optical fiber component;
• and
• a power receiver;
• wherein the memory contains instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
• receive a series of high voltage power pulses separated by fault sensing periods sent over the electrically conductive component of the combined cable;
• perform an operational sensing procedure during the fault sensing periods between the high voltage power pulses;
• transmit on the combined cable a data signal to a central hub, the data signal indicating an operating status based upon the operational sensing procedure performed between the high voltage power pulses;
• and
• supply power to an optical transceiver module operable to send and receive data over the optical fiber component of the combined cable.