Feed arrangement for a subscriber loop with multi-level current regulation capability
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorBrian G. Wall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A feed arrangement for a telephone subscriber loop. The feed arrangement includes an input for connection to a power supply and an output for connection to the TIP and RING conductors of the subscriber loop. A control element regulates the current in the subscriber loop to a target value selected in a set of possible target values. When the control element senses that an additional telephone instrument becomes active in the subscriber loop, a new target value is selected. The new target value is such that the current is sufficient to power all the telephone instruments that are currently active in the subscriber loop while low enough to avoid an excessive power dissipation at the feed arrangement and also to limit the power consumption.
Claims25
A feed arrangement for a subscriber loop having a plurality of conductors, comprising:
- a) an output for connection to the conductors of the subscriber loop to impress across the conductors a voltage differential;
- and
- b) a control element operative for:
- i. deriving a data element indicative of a rate of change of a current in the subscriber loop;
- ii. processing the data element indicative of a rate of change of a current in the subscriber loop to derive a variation in a number of CPEs active in the subscriber loop;
- iii. determining a target loop current on the basis of the variation in a number of CPEs active in the subscriber loop;
- and
- iv. regulating a magnitude of a current in the subscriber loop to the target loop current.
In combination:
- a) a power supply;
- b) a feed arrangement for a subscriber loop having a plurality of conductors, including:
- i) an input connected to said power supply;
- ii) an output for connection to the conductors of the subscriber loop to impress across the conductors a voltage differential;
- and
- iii) a control element operative for:
- a. deriving a data element indicative of a rate of change of a current in the subscriber loop;
- b. processing the data element indicative of a rate of change of a current in the subscriber loop to derive a variation in a number of CPEs active in the subscriber loop;
- c. determining a target loop current on the basis of the variation in a number of CPEs active in the subscriber loop;
- and
- d. regulating a magnitude of a current in the subscriber loop to the target loop current.
A method for regulating a magnitude of a current in a subscriber loop, comprising:
- a) deriving a data element indicative of a rate of change of the current in the subscriber loop;
- b) processing the data element indicative of a rate of change of the current in the subscriber loop to derive a variation in a number of CPEs active in the subscriber loop;
- c) determining a target loop current on the basis of the variation in a number of CPEs active in the subscriber loop;
- and
- d) regulating the magnitude of the current to the target loop current.
A feed arrangement for a subscriber loop having a plurality of conductors, comprising:
- a) output means for connection to the conductors of the subscriber loop to impress across the conductors a voltage differential;
- and
- b) control means for:
- i. deriving a data element indicative of a rate of change of a current in the subscriber loop;
- ii. processing the data element indicative of a rate of change of a current in the subscriber loop to derive a variation in a number of CPEs active in the subscriber loop;
- iii. determining a target loop current on the basis of the variation in a number of CPEs active in the subscriber loop;
- and
- iv. regulating a magnitude of a current in the subscriber loop to the target loop current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.