Patent ID: 8866337
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: H02J,H03K

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a plurality of power controller devices configured to receive power from a power source device; a first multiplexer unit and a second multiplexer unit coupled to the plurality of power controller devices, wherein the first multiplexer unit is configured to receive power from the power source device via each of the plurality of power controller devices for a first power distribution path and wherein the second multiplexer unit is configured to receive power from the power source via each of the plurality of power controller devices for a second power distribution path; a multiplexer control unit coupled to the first multiplexer unit and to the second multiplexer unit, and configured to control the first multiplexer unit and the second multiplexer unit so as to output power from the first power distribution path, the second power distribution path or from both the first and second power distribution paths; a plurality of power subsystems each comprising a first power transistor unit configured to receive power from the first multiplexer unit over the first power distribution path and a second power transistor unit configured to receive power from the second multiplexer unit over the second power distribution path; and a plurality of ports each of which is configured to couple to a powered device and to supply power to the powered device from a corresponding power subsystem; wherein the multiplexer control unit is configured to control the first and second multiplexer units to supply power to the at least one of the plurality of ports according to the type of powered device connected to the at least one of the plurality of ports.