Patent ID: 7471014
Filing Date: 2008-12-30
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
1. A powered device operable to receive power via a communication medium, the powered device comprising: first interface electronics operable to receive power from a first power source by a first two sets of twisted pair conductors and second interface electronics operable to receive power from a second power source by a second two sets of twisted pair conductors; power converter electronics having: a load electrically coupled to the secondary windings, the power converter electronics being operable to provide power to the load from one of (i) the first interface electronics and the first two sets of twisted pair conductors, (ii) the second interface electronics and the second two sets of twisted pair conductors, and (iii) both the first interface electronics and the first two sets of twisted pair conductors and the second interface electronics and the second two sets of twisted pair conductors; the power converter electronics further comprises: a first controller electrically coupled to the first primary windings, the first controller configured to control power delivery to the secondary windings via the first primary windings; and a second controller electrically coupled to the second primary windings, the second controller configured to control power delivery to the secondary windings via the second primary windings; and further comprising a communications circuit electrically coupled to the first controller and the second controller, the communications circuit configured to: detect a first amount of current drawn by the first primary windings; detect a second amount of current drawn by the second primary windings; compare the first amount of current to the second amount of current; and based upon the comparison, when the first amount of current drawn is not substantially equal to the second amount of current drawn, transmit a signal to at least one of the first controller and the second controller to adjust an amount of current drawn such that the first amount of current drawn by the first primary windings and the second amount of current drawn by the second primary windings are substantially equal; a power detector operable to detect whether power is provided by a first of two sets of twisted pair conductors, by a second of two sets of twisted pair conductors, or from both the first of two sets of twisted pair conductors and the second of two sets of twisted pair conductors; wherein the power detector comprises: first primary detector windings electrically coupled to the first primary windings and operable to detect a transfer of power between the first primary windings and the secondary windings and in response to detecting a transfer of power, generate a reporting signal indicating the transfer of power between the first primary windings and the secondary windings; second primary detector windings electrically coupled to the second primary windings and operable to detect a transfer of power between the second primary windings and the secondary windings and in response to detecting a transfer of power, generate a reporting signal indicating the transfer of power between the second primary windings and the secondary windings; and secondary detector windings electrically coupled to the first primary detector windings and to the second primary detector windings and electrically coupled to a signal output, the secondary detector windings configured to receive the reporting signal from at least one of the first primary set of detector windings and the second primary set of detector windings and transmit the reporting signal to the signal output.