Patent Abstract:
A PoDL system includes a PSE supplying DC power and Ethernet data over a single twisted wire pair to a PD. Prior to coupling the DC voltage source to the wire pair, the PD needs to receive sufficient power to perform a detection and classification routine with the PSE to determine whether the PD is PoDL-compatible. The PSE has a low current, pull-up current source coupled to a first wire in the wire pair via a first inductor. This pull-up current charges a capacitor in the PD to a desired operating voltage, and the operating voltage is used to power a PD logic circuit. The PD logic circuit and a PSE logic circuit then control pull-down transistors to communicate detection and classification data via the first wire. After the handshaking phase, the PSE then applies the DC voltage source across the wire pair to power the PD for normal operation.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/040,592, filed Aug. 22, 2014, by David Dwelley and Andrew J. Gardner. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to Power over Data Line (PoDL) systems, where DC power is transmitted over differential data lines. The invention more particularly relates to a detection and classification scheme for such a PoDL system so that full DC power is only transmitted by the Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) once it is determined that the Powered Device (PD) is PoDL-compatible. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional PoDL system with a PSE  10  and a PD  12 . The PSE  10  is shown as excluding the various AC and DC filters and the master PHY  16  (physical layer); however, the PSE  10  may alternatively be designated as including all of the circuitry on the left side of the twisted wire pair  14 . The master PHY  16  is a transceiver containing conventional circuitry (e.g., transformers, amplifiers, conditioning circuits, etc.) that receives and transmits the relatively high speed Ethernet differential data and ensures that the data signals have the proper characteristics in accordance with the IEEE802.3 physical layer standards for T1 Ethernet. 
         [0004]    The PSE  10  controls the coupling of the DC voltage V IN , generated by a voltage source, to the PD  12 . 
         [0005]    The Ethernet differential data may be generated and received by a host processing system that may be considered part of the PSE  10 . 
         [0006]    The PD  12  is shown as excluding the various AC and DC filters and the slave PHY  18 ; however, the PD  12  may alternatively be designated as including all of the circuitry on the right side of the twisted wire pair  14 . The slave PHY  18  may be identical to the master PHY  16  and is powered by the DC voltage V IN  transmitted by the PSE  10 . The Ethernet differential data on the PD side may be generated and received by a slave processing system that may be considered part of the PD  12 . The PD  12  may contain a DC/DC converter for converting the incoming voltage to a target voltage V OUT . The V OUT  may be used only to power the PD  12  and slave PHY  18  or may be used to power additional equipment. The DC voltage range supplied by the PSE  10  is dictated by the IEEE802.3bu standard. 
         [0007]    The capacitors C PSE  and C PD  smooth the voltages V IN  and V OUT . 
         [0008]    The inductors L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , and L 4  pass DC but block the Ethernet AC differential data, and the capacitors C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , and C 4  pass the AC differential data but block DC. The various inductors and capacitors are referred to as a coupling/decoupling network since they couple the DC and AC to the wire pair  14  and decouple the DC and AC from the wire pair  14 . 
         [0009]    The PoDL system includes circuitry in the PSE  10  and PD  12  that performs a detection and classification routine before the PSE  10  can couple the DC voltage V IN  to the wire pair  14 . The detection and classification signals must be transmitted/received via the coupling/decoupling network. The requirements for detection and classification schemes for PoDL preclude re-using the schemes used for the much older Power over Ethernet (PoE). In PoE, at least two wire pairs in the standard CAT-5 cable are used to transmit the DC voltage and conduct the differential data signals. In a conventional PoE system, a PSE controls the magnitudes of current-limited signals on the wire pairs that are directly used by a PD to power the PD and generate a characteristic response that conveys PoE-related characteristics of the PD. Very limited information can be communicated using this conventional PoE technique. Only after the PD has conveyed that it is PoE-compatible, can the PSE couple the DC voltage source to the wire pairs to fully power the PD. 
         [0010]    What is needed is an improved low-current detection and classification scheme for a PoDL system that can be used to rapidly convey any desired information prior the full DC voltage being coupled across the wire pair. This new detection and classification scheme specifically for use with PoDL should make use of the differences between PoDL (one wire pair) and PoE (two wire pairs). 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    An Ethernet PoDL detection and classification scheme using the wire pair as a half-duplex, serial 1-wire data bus is disclosed. This offers significant advantages over Ethernet PoE schemes currently in use, since any amount of information may be communicated during the low-current handshaking phase. For example, the PSE/PD serial link may also be used as an auxiliary communication channel, separate from the two PHYs, prior to normal Ethernet operation in order to determine the slave PHY&#39;s maximum data rate capability as well as other parameters. 
         [0012]    In a PoDL system, the PD requires a source of power in order to transmit its detection and classification information (or any other information) before the PSE is allowed to supply the full DC voltage via the wire pair. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment of the invention, the PSE includes a low-magnitude, pull-up current source and a pull down MOSFET coupled to a first wire in the wire pair. The other wire in the wire pair acts as a common reference. Logic controlling the pull-down MOSFET is used to transmit data via the first wire to the PD. 
         [0014]    In order to initially isolate the PSE&#39;s DC voltage source from the PD, a first switch in the PSE between the voltage source and the wire pair is opened. The pull-up current bypasses the first switch so is always coupled to the first wire via a first inductor (a low pass filter). 
         [0015]    The pull-up current charges a capacitor through a rectifier in the PD, and the voltage across the capacitor is limited by a shunt regulator to, for example, 4.5 volts. This voltage is used to power PD logic circuitry that carries out the detection and classification routine. The PD logic and the PSE logic communicate via the controlling of the respective pull-down MOSFETs to complete the detection and classification routine without the need for the PSE master PHY or the PD slave PHY (the PHYs are eventually used for normal Ethernet communications via the wire pair). The communication during the handshaking phase is via the control of the pull-down MOSFETs and is of a low enough frequency to pass through the low-pass inductors of the coupling/decoupling network. In contrast, the normal Ethernet communications via the PHYs are a high frequency and pass through the high-pass capacitors of the coupling/decoupling network. Therefore, the present system creates an additional communication channel between the PSE and the PD using frequency division multiplexing. 
         [0016]    As seen, the wire pair is used as a half-duplex 1-wire serial link during the detection and classification phase (and any additional portion of the handshaking phase), where all power for the PD logic is derived from the same pull-up current source in the PSE that is used for the transmission of data. 
         [0017]    After a successful detection and classification routine, the first switch coupling the PSE voltage source to the wire pair is closed to fully power the PD side for normal operation of the system. 
         [0018]    During the low power handshaking phase, the PSE may control the low power pull-up current and measure the corresponding change in voltage to determine the round trip resistance of the wire pair. This resistance may be used to adjust the PoDL voltage applied to the wire pair during normal operation to compensate for the wire pair resistance. 
         [0019]    Other embodiments are disclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional PoDL system using a conventional detection and classification scheme during a handshaking phase. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  together illustrate a PoDL system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing steps conducted when performing a detection and classification routine using the system of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates a PoDL system where multiple PDs are connected in parallel, and the handshaking phase also includes the transmission of information to the PSE regarding the multiple PDs. 
       
    
    
       [0024]    Elements that are the same or equivalent in the various figures are labeled with the same numeral. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    An Ethernet PoDL detection and classification scheme is disclosed where a PSE and a PD communicate binary serial data over a half-duplex, 1-wire link. Data is communicated on the wire using a constant pull-up current source in the PSE and controllable pull-down MOSFETs in the PSE and PD. The PD circuitry receives power during the handshaking phase from the PSE&#39;s pull-up current charging a capacitor in the PD to an operating voltage. The 1-wire serial link uses one of the wires in the wire pair that communicates differential Ethernet data during normal operations. After a successful handshaking phase, the PSE couples a DC voltage source across the wire pair to fully power the PD during normal operation. Therefore, the system includes a novel low frequency communications channel for the handshaking phase and a conventional high frequency channel for the Ethernet data during normal operation. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  together illustrate an example of a PoDL system that makes use of one embodiment of the invention. The operation of the system of FIGS.  2 A/ 2 B will be described with respect to the flowchart of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0027]    The inductors L 1 -L 4  perform the conventional passing of DC (or low frequency signals), and the capacitors C 1 -C 4  perform the conventional passing of relatively high frequency AC differential Ethernet signals during normal operation, as discussed with respect to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    The PSE  20  includes a voltage source  22  that provides a PoDL voltage V PSE . During normal operation of the PoDL system, V PSE  is supplied to the PD  24  via the closed switch SW 1 , the inductors L 1  and L 2 , the wire pair  14 , the inductors L 3  and L 4 , and the closed switch SW 2 . The switches SW 1  and SW 2  may be MOSFETs. However, the switches SW 1  and SW 2  cannot be closed until the system has performed a detection and classification routine that conveys the pertinent PD and PSE characteristics. If, during the detection and classification routine, the PSE  20  discovers that the PD  24  is not PoDL-compatible, the voltage V PSE  will not be applied to the wire pair  14 , and the PD must be powered locally for all functions. 
         [0029]    The invention primarily relates to how the PD can be powered during the detection and classification phase and communicate with the PSE during this phase without the PD being powered by the V PSE  voltage source  22 . 
         [0030]    In step  26  of  FIG. 3 , the PSE  10  is powered up. If the PoDL system is in an automobile, the powering up may occur upon turning the ignition switch. 
         [0031]    The voltage source  22  may be used to supply power to all the circuitry in the PSE  20 , or the PSE  20  may be powered by a different voltage source. In one embodiment, the voltage source  22  provides 5-12 volts. Upon powering up of the PSE  10 , the pull-up current source  27  generates a low current I PUP , such as a few milliamps. The pull-down MOSFET M 1  is initially off. The MOSFET M 1  is later controlled by the PSE logic  30  to transmit digital codes to the PD logic  32  to transmit detection and classification information as well as any other information during the handshaking phase. 
         [0032]    In step  34 , during the detection and classification phase, the switch SW 1  is off (open). The switch SW 1  is only conductive (closed) when the PSE logic  30  supplies a high signal at its SWX_EN terminal. The switch SW 2  on the PD side is also open upon start-up and is only closed when the PD logic  32  supplies a high signal at its SWX_EN terminal. Therefore, at this point, the voltage source  22  is not coupled to the PD side via the wire pair  14 . 
         [0033]    In step  40 , the pull-up current source  27  is coupled to the “top” wire terminal  42  via the inductor L 1 , and the top wire of the wire pair  14  is pulled up in voltage. The pull-up current I PUP  charges the PD capacitor C HOLDUP , via the inductor L 3  and diode D 1 , and the voltage across the capacitor C HOLDUP  ramps up. This voltage is coupled to the voltage input terminal IN of the PD logic  32 . 
         [0034]    In step  44 , the shunt regulator  46  effectively detects the voltage across the capacitor C HOLDUP  by detecting the voltage at node  47 . The voltage at node  47  corresponds to a current through the shunt regulator  46 . The shunt regulator  46  limits this current to a threshold current I LIM  and, by doing so, limits the voltage across the capacitor C HOLDUP  to a target operating voltage for powering the PD logic  32 . In the example, this operating voltage is 4.5 volts. 
         [0035]    A reference voltage REF is generated by the shunt regulator  46 , and this reference voltage is compared to a divided node  47  voltage, set by resistors R DIV1  and R DIV2 . When the voltages match, the hysteresis comparator  48  issues a signal REG — 0V to the PD logic  32  signifying that the desired operating voltage has been achieved. The PD logic  32  then initiates the detection and classification routine. 
         [0036]    During normal operation, when the full V PSE  voltage is being applied to the PD side, the PD logic  32  disables the shunt regulator  46 , via the enable terminal EN, with the signal REG_EN so the shunt regulator  46  becomes an open circuit. 
         [0037]    Other techniques for limiting the voltage across the capacitor C HOLDUP  can be used, such as using zener diodes. 
         [0038]    In step  49 , the shunted voltage is used to power the PD logic  32 . The PD logic  32  includes circuitry for carrying out the detection and classification routine and any other handshaking routine. Such circuitry may include a processor and a memory, or a state machine, or other logic circuits that respond to any PSE inquiries and transmit the pertinent PoDL characteristics to the PSE  20 . 
         [0039]    While the PSE logic  30  and PD logic  32  are communicating while selectively pulling the wire low, via MOSFETs M 1  and M 2 , the capacitor C HOLDUP  provides a charge reservoir for powering the PD logic  32 . Consequently, C HOLDUP  should be large enough to minimize any droop in the target operating voltage resulting from the PD current I CC  during the maximum required low assertion time (t bus     —     low(max) ) of the bus, i.e., 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
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                 CC_droop 
                  
                 
                     
                 
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         [0040]    The resistor/capacitor filtering networks of C SNUB1 , R SNUB1 , C SNUB2 , and R SNUB2  are connected in shunt with the I/O ports of the PSE  20  and PD  24  and are used to damp the resonance of the inductors L 1 -L 4  and capacitors C 1 -C 4 . 
         [0041]    In step  50 , the PSE logic  30  begins its detection/classification routine by transmitting digital codes to the PD logic  32 . The serial bits are transmitted to the PD logic  32  via the 1-wire serial link by controlling the pull-down MOSFET M 1 , and serial bits are transmitted to the PSE logic  30  by controlling the pull-down MOSFET M 2 . The PSE logic  30  includes circuitry for carrying out the detection and classification routine, such as a processor and a memory, or a state machine, or other logic circuits. The PSE logic  30  transmits the pertinent PSE PoDL characteristics and inquiries to the PD logic  32  and appropriately responds to the PD logic&#39;s transmitted PoDL characteristics and inquiries. Turning on the pull down MOSFETs M 1  and M 2  places a logical low voltage on the top wire of the wire pair  14 , while turning off the pull-down MOSFETs allows the voltage on the top wire to rise to a logical high voltage. The bit rate must be relatively slow, compared to the Ethernet bit rates, so that the bits are not filtered out by the low pass inductors L 1  and L 3 . Even with the relatively slow bit rate, the pertinent information for the detection and classification phase may be transmitted in less than 10 ms. 
         [0042]    Prior to initiating communication with the PD  24 , the PSE  20  may choose to simply detect the presence of the PD  24  by applying the pull-up current I PUP  and sensing the subsequent voltage V BUS  across the wire pair  14 . 
         [0043]    In step  52 , the pertinent information transmitted during the handshaking phase may include the PD&#39;s operating voltage requirement, the PD load current requirement, the serial number of the PD (or parallel PDs), and any other relevant operating parameters, including the ambient temperature of the PD  24 . 
         [0044]    In step  56 , the PSE  20  may optionally determine the round trip resistance of the wire pair  14  by either controlling the pull-up current source  27  or the pull-down MOSFET M 1  to supply two different current levels and measuring the resulting voltages V BUS  across the wire pair  14 . In other words, the PSE logic  30  or other circuitry in the PSE  20  may measure the total round-trip resistance between the PSE  20  and PD  24  by observing the incremental change in V BUS(HI)  as I PUP  is changed, as follows: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               R 
               
                 PSE 
                 - 
                 PD 
               
             
             = 
             
               
                 ( 
                 
                   
                     V 
                     
                       
                         BUS 
                          
                         
                           ( 
                           HI 
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         [0045]    The resistance can then be used by the PSE  20  to raise or lower the level of the voltage source  22  such that the optimal voltage is received at the PD  24 . This may obviate the need for a DC/DC converter in the PD  24 . The voltage drop along the wire pair  14  becomes very significant for long lengths of the wire pair  14 . 
         [0046]    The signals on the top wire of the wire pair  14  are supplied to the DATA_IN terminal of the PSE logic  30  via the driver  58 , and the signals on the top wire of the wire pair  14  are supplied to the DATA_IN terminal of the PD logic  32  via the driver  59 . 
         [0047]    In step  60 , it is assumed that the detection/classification phase has been successful and the PSE  20  is ready to supply the full voltage V PSE  across the wire pair  14  to power the PD load  62  and all other PD circuitry. The PSE logic  30  closes the switch SW 1  and the PD logic  32  closes the switch SW 2  so that the full V PSE  is supplied to the PD load  62  and all other PD circuitry via the switch SW 1 , the inductors L 1 /L 2 , the wire pair  14 , the inductors L 3 /L 4 , and the switch SW 2 . 
         [0048]    The master PHY  16  in the PSE  20  is powered by the voltage V PSE  or another supply voltage, and the slave PHY  18  in the PD  24  is powered by the transmitted voltage V PSE . The capacitor C PD  across the PD load  62  smooths the voltage V PSE . The PD load  62  may include a DC/DC converter for generating a target voltage for other circuitry in the PD load  62 . 
         [0049]    In step  68 , in the event of a PD fault, where it is not desired for the PSE  20  to keep transmitting the voltage V PSE , the PSE logic  30  and the PD logic  32  may open the switches SW 1  and SW 2 , and the PD logic  32  may again be powered by the pull-up current source  27 , as previously described, to transmit status information via the 1-wire serial bus, such as the nature of the fault (e.g. temperature fault, over-current fault, or over-voltage fault). 
         [0050]    In step  70 , the PD logic  32  and slave PHY  18  may be optionally powered by an auxiliary voltage source, via diodes D 2  and D 3 , generating V AUX . The auxiliary power source is not needed once the PSE  20  supplies the voltage V PSE  to the PD  24 . By using the auxiliary power source, communication between the PD  24  and PSE  20  may be carried out via the PHYs  16  and  18  while the switches SW 1  and SW 2  are open. 
         [0051]    In step  74 , the PD  24  is fully powered by the voltage V PSE  and high speed differential Ethernet data may be transmitted through the wire pair  14  via the master PHY  16 , the slave PHY  18 , and the capacitors C 1 -C 4 . The PHY&#39;s  16  and  18  ensure the data has the correct characteristics for meeting the IEEE standards for T1 Ethernet. Any suitable host processing system and slave processing system may be coupled to the PHY&#39;s  16  and  18  for processing the Ethernet data. Since the voltage V PSE  is DC, it is blocked by the capacitors C 1 -C 4  so does not affect the high speed differential Ethernet data into the PHYs  16  and  18 . 
         [0052]    During the low current detection/classification phase, either the PSE  20  or PD  24  may limit the bus logic high voltage, but the preferred scheme discussed herein relies upon the PD clamping the bus voltage with the shunt regulator  46 . The shunt regulator  46  may also be used to present a constant voltage signature to the PSE  20  prior to serial communication as well as providing a virtual ground for the purpose of measuring round-trip resistance between the PSE  20  and PD  24 . 
         [0053]    If an auxiliary power source is available to power the slave PHY  18 , the high frequency Ethernet link (using the PHYs  16  and  18 ) may operate simultaneously with the low frequency PSE/PD 1-wire serial bus (not using the PHYs  16  and  18 ) using the principal of frequency-division multiplexing (FDM). 
         [0054]    During the detection/classification phase, the amount of time required for the 1-wire bus voltage to rise (t RISE ) is a function of the magnitude of I PUP  and the impedance of the PoDL decoupling network. This rise time may limit the maximum rate at which serial data may be transmitted on the 1-wire bus. 
         [0055]    The PD may current-limit the voltage being regulated by the shunt regulator  46  on the wire pair  14  in the event the PSE  20  attempts to overdrive the bus voltage. 
         [0056]    After the detection and classification phase, the PSE  20  applies the V IN  voltage to the V CC  bus, and this increase in voltage above a predefined threshold is detected by the PD  24 , such as by a comparator. In response, the PD logic  32  shuts down the PD shunt regulator  46  (that limits the voltage to 4.5 volts), using the REG_EN signal, so the shunt regulator  46  becomes an open circuit during normal operation to avoid dissipating excessive power. Therefore, during normal operation, the shunt regulator  46  does not limit the voltage supplied to the V CC  bus. 
         [0057]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment where the PSE  20  and PD  24  are similar to those in  FIG. 2  but there are any number of additional devices  80  and  81  connected in parallel with the PD  24 . All the parallel devices can be powered by the PSE  20  and all can communicate on the wire pair  14  using differential Ethernet data. All the parallel devices can use the serial 1-wire bus in the manner discussed above during the detection/classification phase or at times when the PHYs  16  and  18  are not powered. 
         [0058]    The parallel devices  80  and  81  may be connected to the PSE/PD 1-wire bus via a switch controlled by the associated device. The devices  80  and  81  need not necessarily require power from the PSE to operate. 
         [0059]    One example of a parallel device may be a non-volatile memory which is used as a repository for PD power class and PHY operating parameter information. Parallel bus devices may have unique addresses that allow communication independent from the PD  24 . The PSE  20  may use the 1-wire bus protocol to determine the number of slave devices on the bus. 
         [0060]    As seen, a low frequency data signal path (via inductors L 1  and L 3 ) is used by the PSE logic  30  and PD logic  32  during the low-power handshaking phase, and a separate high frequency, Ethernet differential data path is used by the master PHY  16  and slave PHY  18  (via capacitors C 1 -C 4 ) during the normal operation. Therefore, the two paths effectively use frequency division multiplexing (FDM) to communicate data over the wire pair  14 . 
         [0061]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7