Patent ID: 8693496

Claim:
A communication network comprising: a communication cable having a first wire pair and a second wire pair that both extend between a first end and a second end of the communication cable; at least one power source configured to provide a first supply current through the first wire pair and a second supply current through the second wire pair at the first end of the communication cable, the first supply current being substantially equal to the second supply current; a first integrated circuit having first and second pairs of diodes, each pair having their respective cathodes connected together, a second integrated circuit having third and fourth pairs of diodes, each pair having their respective anodes connected together, wherein the first and third diode pairs form a first diode bridge and the second and fourth a second diode pairs form a second diode bridge coupled to the second end of the communication cable and configured to combine the first and second supply currents to provide a combined supply current, wherein the first supply current and the second supply current each flow in a first direction through the first diode bridge and in a second direction through the second diode bridge, whereby the first supply current and the second supply current each provide a substantially equal share of the combined supply current; and a powered device configured to receive the combined supply current.