System and method of classification in power over ethernet systems
AssigneeSilicon Laboratories Inc.
InventorsD. Matthew Landry, Russell J. Apfel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is disclosed that includes receiving a classification voltage at a powered device from a network. The classification voltage includes a baseline voltage level that is below an operating voltage range of the powered device and includes a sequence of distinct signal elements derived from the classification voltage. The method further includes detecting a number of signal elements of the sequence of distinct signal elements. A current is drawn until the number of signal elements exceeds a predetermined number.
Claims22
A method of classifying a powered device, the method comprising:
- transmitting a classification voltage comprising a plurality of distinct signal elements from a power equipment device to a powered device through a network;
- monitoring a current drawn by the powered device in response to the classification voltage;
- detecting a change in the monitored current;
- and
- determining a power level related to the powered device from a plurality of power classifications based on the monitored current and based on timing of the change relative to a number of distinct signal elements of the plurality of distinct signal elements that have been transmitted to the powered device prior to the detected change.
A power source equipment device comprising:
- a power injector to provide a power supply to a powered device through a network connection;
- a detector to determine a current drawn by a powered device;
- and
- control circuitry to initiate transmission of a classification signal including a plurality of distinct signal pulses to the powered device, the control circuitry to determine a power level of the powered device from a plurality of device classifications based in part on the current and based in part on a timing of a change in the current drawn by the powered device relative to a number of distinct signal pulses sent to the powered device prior to the change.
A method of classifying a powered device, the method comprising:
- transmitting a classification signal from a power source equipment device to the powered device through a network, the classification signal comprising a plurality of distinct signal elements;
- monitoring a current drawn by the powered device;
- and
- determining a power classification related to the powered device from a plurality of power classifications based on the monitored current and based on timing of a change in the monitored current relative to a number of distinct signal elements of the classification signal that have been transmitted to the powered device prior to the change in the monitored current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.