Power over ethernet on data pairs and spare pairs

A Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) controller, for use in a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, comprising:

• a first output port (OUT1) for being coupled to data wire pairs;
• a second output port (OUT2) for being coupled to spare wire pairs;
• a first switch control port configured to supply a first control voltage to a first switch that selectively couples a PoE voltage to the data wire pairs;
• a second switch control port configured to supply a second control voltage to a second switch that selectively couples the OUT1 to the OUT2;
• and
• processing circuitry configured for performing the method comprising:
• keeping the first switch and the second switch off during a detection and classification routine, performed via the OUT1 and the OUT2;
• performing the detection and classification routine to determine if the PoE voltage should be applied to both the data wire pairs and the spare wire pairs, or to only the data wire pairs, or to neither the data wires pairs or the spare pairs;
• keeping the second switch off while turning on the first switch to supply the PoE voltage to only the data wire pairs if it is determined that the PoE voltage should only be provided to the data wire pairs;
• and
• turning on the second switch and the first switch to supply the PoE voltage to both the data wire pairs and the spare wire pairs if it is determined that the PoE voltage should be provided to both the data wire pairs and the spare wire pairs.

A method performed by a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) controller, connected in a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, the PSE controller comprising a first output port (OUT1) coupled to data wire pairs, a second output port (OUT2) coupled to spare wire pairs, a first switch control port for supplying a first control voltage to a first switch that selectively couples a PoE voltage to the data wire pairs, a second switch control port for supplying a second control voltage to a second switch that selectively couples the OUT1 to the OUT2, and processing circuitry configured to control signals at the OUT1, OUT2, first switch control port, and second switch control port, the method comprising:

• keeping the first switch and the second switch off during a detection and classification routine, performed via the OUT1 and the OUT2;
• performing the detection and classification routine to determine if the PoE voltage should be applied to both the data wire pairs and the spare wire pairs, or to only the data wire pairs, or to neither the data wires pairs or the spare pairs;
• keeping the second switch off while turning on the first switch to supply the PoE voltage to only the data wire pairs if it is determined that the PoE voltage should only be provided to the data wire pairs;
• and
• turning on the second switch and the first switch to supply the PoE voltage to both the data wire pairs and the spare wire pairs if it is determined that the PoE voltage should be provided to both the data wire pairs and the spare wire pairs.