Diode bridge configurations for increasing current in a distributed power network

An Ethernet communication system comprising:

• a first communication device having a first power source configured to provide a first supply current and to receive a first return current;
• a second power source configured to provide a second supply current and to receive a second return current;
• an Ethernet cable coupled to the first communication device at a first end, the Ethernet cable being configured to conduct the first supply current through a first pair of wires, the second supply current through a second pair of wires, the first return current though a third pair of wires, and the second return current through a fourth pair of wires, the first supply current and the second supply current being substantially equal and the first return current and the second return current being substantially equal;
• and
• a second communication device coupled to a second end of the Ethernet cable, the second communication device comprising:
• a powered device configured to receive a combined supply current and to provide a combined return current;
• and
• a first diode bridge and a second diode bridge configured to receive and combine the first and second supply currents to provide the combined supply current to the powered device and to receive and divide the combined return current from the powered device into the first return current and the second return current.

An Ethernet communication network comprising:

• means for providing a first supply current over a first wire pair of an Ethernet cable;
• means for providing a second supply current over a second wire pair of the Ethernet cable, the first supply current being substantially equal to the second supply current;
• means for combining the first supply current and the second supply current received from the first wire pair and the second wire pair to provide a combined current;
• and
• means for receiving the combined current.

An Ethernet communication network comprising:

• an Ethernet cable interconnecting a first communication device at a first end and a second communication device at a second end, the Ethernet cable being configured to conduct a first supply current through a first pair of wires and a second supply current through a second pair of wires, the first supply current and the second supply current being substantially equal, the second communication device comprising:
• a first diode bridge configured to pass the first supply current;
• a first powered device coupled to the first diode bridge and configured to receive the first supply current and to provide a third supply current;
• a second diode bridge configured to pass the second supply current;
• a second powered device coupled to the second diode bridge and configured to receive the second supply current and to provide a fourth supply current;
• and
• a DC/DC converter configured to receive a combined supply current that is a sum of the third supply current and the fourth supply current.