Patent ID: 9024473
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for combining power to a load from multiple power supplies via power over Ethernet (PoE), the power supplies being coupled to associated power sourcing equipment (PSE) providing PoE, the associated PSE comprising at least a first PSE and a second PSE, each PSE providing power at its power output terminals, each PSE having at least one of a first power limit or a first current limit, the method comprising: providing at least a first power supply and a second power supply, the first power supply being coupled to the first PSE and the second power supply being coupled to the second PSE; coupling an output of the first power supply to a first load power terminal for supplying power to the first load by only the first power supply until it is detected that at least one of a power or a current supplied by the first PSE to the first power supply equals a first power threshold or a first current threshold, respectively, and, in response, limiting a power or current output of the first power supply to the first load to ensure that the current supplied by the first PSE does not exceed the first power limit or the first current limit; and automatically detecting by the second power supply that the power or current output of the first power supply has been limited and, in response, coupling the second power supply to the first load power terminal for supplying additional power to the first load while the power or current supplied by the first power supply remains limited.