Patent Publication Number: US-2016234029-A1

Title: Power over network device and power over network system including the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/329,116 filed on Jul. 11, 2014, which claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 102145173, filed on Dec. 9, 2013; this application also claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 105201016, filed on Jan. 22, 2016; the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a power over network device and a power over network system including the power over network device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a power over Ethernet (PoE) network, electrical power may be transmitted along with data on a single cable. For example, by using a cable with a register jack (RJ) 45 connector to interconnect a power source equipment (e.g., a network switch) and a powered device (e.g., a wireless router, a webcam, a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device, etc.), the power source equipment is able to transmit data and power simultaneously to the powered device through the cable. The PoE network allows the powered device to operate without having to be connected electrically to a separate power source (e.g., a household power outlet, a battery, etc.). 
     A conventional Ethernet transformer is typically installed in the power source equipment for handling transmission of data and power. As various powered devices are configured to incorporate more functionalities, power consumption of the various powered devices is accordingly increased. As a result, the power source equipments are required to be able to transmit a larger amount of power. In order to meet the larger power requirement, an iron core of the Ethernet transformer may be made larger in size, and copper coils with larger diameters may be adopted for winding. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the disclosure is to provide a power over network device that can enable transmission of a larger amount of power by the conventional Ethernet transformer without greatly increasing the size of the conventional Ethernet transformer. 
     According to the disclosure, the power over network device includes at least one connecting module. The connecting module includes a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors. 
     The power over network device is operable to be electrically connected to one of a power source equipment and a powered device. 
     When the power over network device is electrically connected to the power source equipment, the capacitors of the connecting module are disposed to receive a network signal, and the power transformer of the connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal and a direct current power signal, and to generate, by combining the network signal and the direct current power signal, a power line signal which is to be transmitted to the powered device. 
     When the power over network device is electrically connected to the powered device, the power transformer of the connecting module is disposed to receive a power line signal from the power source equipment, and to extract a direct current power signal from the power line signal for the powered device, the remainder of the power line signal after the direct current power signal has been extracted serve as a network signal, and the capacitors of the connecting module are disposed to receive the network signal, and to block a direct current component of the network signal. 
     Another object of the disclosure is to provide a power over network system that employs the abovementioned power over network device. 
     According to the disclosure, the power over network system is for use with a power source equipment and a powered device, and the power over network system includes a first power over network device and a second power over network device. 
     The first power over network device is electrically connected to the power source equipment, and includes a transmitting-end connecting module. The transmitting-end connecting module includes a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors. 
     The second power over network device is electrically connected to the powered device, and includes a receiving-end connecting module. The receiving-end connecting module includes a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors. 
     The capacitors of the transmitting-end connecting module are disposed to receive a network signal, and the power transformer of the transmitting-end connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal and a direct current power signal, and to generate, by combining the network signal and the direct current power signal, a power line signal which is to be transmitted to the powered device. 
     The power transformer of the receiving-end connecting module is disposed to receive the power line signal from the first power over network device, and to extract the direct current power signal from the power line signal for the power supplier of the powered device, the remainder of the power line signal after the direct current power signal has been extracted serving as a network signal, the capacitors of the receiving-end connecting module being disposed to receive the network signal, and to block a direct current component of the network signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view illustrating a power over network device according to one embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a power over network system according to one embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic circuit diagram of the power over network system according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics. 
       FIG. 1  is a sectional view of illustrating a first power over network device  1  according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first power over network device  1  is for use in a network system that includes a power source equipment (PSE)  800  and a powered device (PD)  900 . The PSE  800  and PD  900  may constitute a power over Ethernet (PoE) network. That is to say, the first power over network device  1  may be electrically connected to one of the PSE  800  and the PD  900 . 
     In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a power over network system includes a first power over network device  1  electrically connected to the PSE  800 , and a second power over network device  2  electrically connected to the PD  900 . 
     The PSE  800  may be implemented using a network switch, and includes a network signal generator  801  and a power supplier  802 . The network signal generator  801  is configured for generating a network signal. The power supplier  802  is configured for generating a direct current (DC) power signal. 
     The PD  900  may be implemented using a wireless router, a webcam, a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device, etc., and serves as a load that is electrically coupled to the PSE  800  using a cable with a register jack (RJ)  45  connector (not shown in the drawings), such that the network signal and the DC power signal can be transmitted to the PD  900  via the cable. The PD  900  includes a network signal receiver  901  and a power receiver  902 . 
     The first power over network device  1  includes a housing  11 , a first connecting module  12  and a second connecting module  12 ′ (see  FIG. 3 , only the first connecting module  12  is shown in  FIG. 1 ). In this embodiment, the first connecting module  12  serves as a transmitting-end connecting module of a transmitter circuit, and the second connecting module  12 ′ serves as receiving-end connecting module of a receiver circuit. 
     The housing  11 , in which the first connecting module  12  and the second connecting module  12 ′ are disposed, includes a base  111 , a circuit board  113 , a plurality of connecting pins  114 , and a connector seat  115 . The base  111  is formed with a containing space  112 , and the circuit board  113  is disposed in the containing space  112 . Each of the connecting pins  114  extends through the circuit board  113  and the base  111 , thereby securing the circuit board  113  to the base  111 . The connector seat  115  is disposed on a top surface of the base  111 , and is coupled to the circuit board  113  via an electrical wire. 
     It is noted that the second power over network device  2  has a structure that is similar to that of the first power over network device  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , each of the first connecting module  12  and the second connecting module  12 ′ includes a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors. 
     Specifically, for the first connecting module  12 , two capacitors  121  and a power transformer  122  are provided. Each of the capacitors  121  includes a first terminal  123  and a second terminal  124  coupled to the power transformer  122 . The second connecting module  12 ′ has a similar structure and includes two capacitors  121 ′ and a power transformer  122 ′. 
     In use, the first terminal  123  of each of the capacitors  121  of the first connecting module  12  is coupled to the network signal generator  801  for receiving the network signal therefrom. The second terminal  123 ′ of each of the capacitors  121 ′ of the second connecting module  12 ′ is coupled to the network signal generator  801  for transmitting a network signal thereto. 
     It is noted that for each of the capacitors  121 ,  121 ′, the coupling of the first terminal  123  and the second terminal  124  effectively forms a filter that is capable of blocking a DC component of a current signal flowing therebetween. Each of the capacitors  121 ,  121 ′ may be configured to have a capacitance of 100 nF±10%, and serves as a high-impedance component in order to ensure that the DC power signal does not flow directly into the network signal generator  801 . 
     The power transformer  122  is coupled to the power supplier  802  to receive the DC power signal therefrom, and is configured to combine the DC power signal from the power supplier  802  and the network signal from the capacitors  121  so as to generate a power line signal. Specifically, for generation of the power line signal, a DC offset voltage of the network signal is changed. 
     The second power over network device  2  includes a housing (not shown in the drawings), a first connecting module  22  and a second connecting module  22 ′. 
     The first connecting module  22  includes two capacitors  221  and a power transformer  222 . Each of the capacitors  221  includes a first terminal  223  and a second terminal  224  coupled to the power transformer  222 . The second connecting module  22 ′ has a structure similar to that of the first connecting module  22 , and includes two capacitors  221 ′ and a power transformer  222 ′. It is noted that, each of the power transformers as described in the disclosure may be implemented using an auto-transformer, or alternatively using other configurations that include an iron core and copper coils. 
     In this embodiment, the first connecting module  22  serves as a receiving-end connecting module of a receiver circuit, and the second connecting module  22 ′ serves as transmitting-end connecting module of a transmitter circuit. 
     The power transformer  222  is coupled to the power receiver  902 , and is disposed to receive the power line signal from the first power over network device  1 . 
     Afterward, the power transformer  222  is configured to extract the DC power signal from the power line signal for the power receiver  902  of the PD  900 , in order to provide the PD  900  with the power for operation. The remainder of the power line signal after the DC power signal has been extracted, which serves as a network signal, is then fed to the capacitors  221 . The capacitors  221  are coupled to the network signal receiver  901 , and are configured to block a DC component of the network signal before transmitting the remainder of the network signal to the network signal receiver  901 . It is noted that each of the capacitors  221  may be configured to have a capacitance of 100 nF±10%, and serves as a high-impedance component in order to ensure that the DC power signal does not flow directly into the network signal receiver  901 . 
     In brief, the first connecting module  12  of the first power over network device  1  and the first connecting module  22  of the second power over network device  2  cooperatively form a circuit loop that is capable of transmitting the power line signal from the PSE  800  to the PD  900 . In this way, the PD  900  may be operable without the need of additional externally coupled power sources such as a battery. 
     In addition to the aforementioned functionality, the power over network system is further capable of transmitting a power line signal from the PD  900  to the PSE  800 . 
     Specifically, the capacitors  221 ′ of the second connecting module  22 ′ are coupled to the network signal receiver  901  to receive a network signal therefrom. The power transformer  222 ′ is coupled to the power receiver  902 , and is configured to receive the DC power signal therefrom and to generate, by combining the network signal and the DC power signal, a power line signal which is to be transmitted to the PSE  800 . 
     Referring back to the first power over network device  1 , the power transformer  122 ′ of the second connecting module  12 ′ receives the power line signal from the power transformer  222 ′ and is configured to supply the network signal to the capacitors  121 ′. The capacitors  121 ′ are configured to block a DC component of the network signal before allowing the remainder of the network signal to flow into the network signal generator  801 . 
     In brief, the second connecting module  22 ′ of the second power over network device  2  and the second connecting module  12 ′ of the first power over network device  1  cooperatively form a circuit loop that is capable of transmitting the power line signal from the PD  900  to the PSE  800 . 
     In this configuration, each of the first power over network device  1  and the second power over network device  2  may be removably connected to the PSE  800  and the PD  900  respectively, such that when a power required for operating the PD  900  is increased (e.g., a wireless router is employed to serve as the PD  900 ), each of the power transformers  122 ,  122 ′ may be replaced with ones having a larger size to accommodate the increased power requirement. 
     In one embodiment, each of the first and second connecting modules  12 ,  12 ′,  22  and  22 ′ may be provided with a surge protector for diverting a power spike (caused by, for example, a lightning strike), in order to protect the first power over network device  1  and the second power over network device  2 . 
     To sum up, in embodiments of the power over network system as described in the disclosure, a pair of capacitors is provided in each of the first and second connecting modules  12 ,  12 ′,  22  and  22 ′ for blocking the DC component of the network signal, and a power transformer is provided in each of the first and second connecting modules  12 ,  12 ′,  22  and  22 ′ for combining the network signal and the DC power signal to generate the power line signal. In such a configuration, the power line signal may be transmitted between the PSE  800  and the PD  900  without employing additional power component for the PD  900  to operate. Moreover, the sizes of the capacitors are relatively smaller than the components that are employed in the conventional power over Ethernet (PoE) network (e.g., an iron core and copper wires), and may allow the housings  11  and  21  to be made smaller to receive the smaller first and second connecting modules  12 ,  12 ′,  22  and  22 ′. 
     In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding various inventive aspects. 
     While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.