Facilitating communication and power transfer between electrically-isolated powered device subsystems
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorFrederick R. Schindler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system employing power over Ethernet (PoE) technology may include at least one powered device and power sourcing equipment (PSE). The powered device may include a first powered device (PD) subsystem and a second powered device (PD) subsystem that is electrically isolated from the first PD subsystem. The powered device may also include an interface connecting the first PD subsystem and the second PD subsystem. The PSE may be operable to provide power to one or more of the PD subsystems through a link connecting the PSE to the powered device. Also, the first PD subsystem may be operable to receive a communication from and transfer power to the second PD subsystem through the interface while maintaining the electrical isolation.
Claims19
A system comprising:
- a powered device comprising:
- a first powered device (PD) subsystem comprising a first controller and a first powered component;
- a second powered device (PD) subsystem electrically isolated from the first PD subsystem, the second PD subsystem comprising a second controller and a second powered component;
- an interface connecting the first PD subsystem and the second PD subsystem wherein the first PD subsystem is operable to:
- receive a communication from the second PD subsystem through the interface;
- and
- transfer power to the second PD subsystem through the interface;
- and
- a power sourcing equipment (PSE) connected to the powered device by a link and operable to provide power to both the first PD subsystem and the second PD subsystem through the link.
A method comprising:
- receiving a first amount of power at a first powered device (PD) subsystem from power sourcing equipment (PSE), the first amount of power received on a link connecting the PSE to a powered device, the powered device comprising the first PD subsystem and a second powered device (PD) subsystem, the second PD subsystem electrically isolated from the first PD subsystem and powered by the PSE over the link connecting the PSE to the powered device;
- receiving an identification of a second amount of power from the second PD subsystem, the second amount of power representing a power deficit of the second PD subsystem;
- based on the first amount of power and the second amount of power, determining whether to transfer power from the first PD subsystem to the second PD subsystem;
- maintaining electrical isolation between the first PD subsystem and the second PD subsystem when power is transferred from the first PD subsystem to the second PD subsystem;
- wherein the first PD subsystem comprises a first controller and a first powered component and the second PD subsystem comprises a second controller and a second powered component.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first powered device (PD) subsystem comprising a first controller and a first powered component, the first PD subsystem operable to receive a first amount of power from power sourcing equipment (PSE), the first amount of power received on a link connecting the PSE to the first PD subsystem;
- a second powered device (PD) subsystem comprising a second controller and a second powered component, the second PD subsystem electrically isolated from the first PD subsystem, the second PD subsystem operable receive a second amount of power from the PSE on the link, the link further connecting the PSE to the second PD subsystem;
- and
- an interface connecting the first PD subsystem and the second PD subsystem wherein the first PD subsystem is operable to receive a communication from the second PD subsystem through the interface and to transfer power to the second PD subsystem through the interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.