CN115348119A

CN115348119A - Backup Ethernet power supply equipment and backup method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN115348119A
Application number: CN202110777092.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张俊民; 张佩义
Original assignee: IEI Integration Corp
Current assignee: IEI Integration Corp
Priority date: 2021-05-13
Filing date: 2021-07-09
Publication date: 2022-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2041-07-09
Also published as: TWI750092B; CN115348119B; TW202245439A

Abstract

The invention provides a backup Ethernet power supply device which supplies power to electronic equipment and comprises a plurality of Ethernet modules, wherein each Ethernet module comprises a conversion circuit and a current regulator. The conversion circuit receives the Ethernet power supply and converts the Ethernet power supply into an Ethernet output source. The current regulator is coupled with the conversion circuit and performs current proportion regulation on the Ethernet output source to provide a current controlled power supply. The Ethernet power supply equipment controls the total current summed by the output currents output by each Ethernet module to meet the required current of the electronic equipment. When one of the Ethernet modules is abnormal, the Ethernet power supply equipment controls the total current provided by at least one of the other Ethernet modules to meet the required current.

Description

Backup Ethernet power supply equipment and backup method thereof

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ethernet power supply device and an operating method thereof, and more particularly, to a backup ethernet power supply device and a backup method thereof.

Background

Because the networking is increasingly required in the technical field of electronic devices nowadays, more and more electronic devices need to be matched with ethernet devices to perform networking operations. Because the present network cable has the function of transmitting Power in addition to transmitting network data, more and more electronic devices are powered by Power Over Ethernet (PoE) devices. Under the condition that the existing Ethernet Cat.5 wiring infrastructure is not changed at all, the technology for supplying direct current power to the equipment can be provided while data is transmitted to IP-based terminals (such as IP telephones, wireless area network Access Points (AP), network cameras and the like).

However, in the prior art, the use of a single power over ethernet device has a power limitation, which generally requires 15W, 30W, 60W or 90W (depending on the specification of the power over ethernet device) according to the specification, and thus cannot be applied to electronic devices consuming a large amount of power or electronic devices requiring a large amount of power instantaneously. In addition, since the biggest disadvantage of using a single poe device in the prior art is that when the poe device fails, the entire electronic device fails due to power failure because the poe device does not have a backup (Redundant) function.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a backup power over ethernet device to overcome the problems of the prior art. The power over ethernet device is for powering an electronic device, and the power over ethernet device includes a plurality of ethernet modules, each of which includes a conversion circuit and a current regulator. The conversion circuit receives the Ethernet power supply and converts the Ethernet power supply into an Ethernet output source. The current regulator is coupled with the conversion circuit and performs current proportion regulation on the Ethernet output source to provide a current controlled power supply. The total current of the output currents output by each Ethernet module is controlled by the Ethernet power supply equipment to meet the demand current of the electronic equipment, and when one of the Ethernet modules is abnormal, the Ethernet power supply equipment controls the total current provided by at least one of the rest Ethernet modules to meet the demand current.

In an embodiment, each ethernet module further includes a rectifying circuit, and the rectifying circuit is coupled to the converting circuit. The input voltage of the Ethernet power supply is direct current voltage, and the rectifying circuit is used for rectifying the negative input voltage into positive input voltage when the input voltage is negative.

In an embodiment, the standby power over ethernet device further includes a monitoring circuit and a controller. The monitoring circuit is coupled to the output end of the current regulator of each Ethernet module, and provides a monitoring signal according to the current controlled power supply. The controller receives the monitoring signal and generates a normal working state when the Ethernet module is normal or an alarm state when the Ethernet module is abnormal according to the monitoring signal. The current regulator of each ethernet module is coupled to the controller, and the controller provides a regulation signal to the current regulator of each ethernet module according to the required current.

In one embodiment, the current regulators of each ethernet module are coupled to each other and communicate with each other. When the required current exceeds the rated current of the Ethernet power supply equipment, the current regulator of each Ethernet module regulates the output current according to the current proportion regulation.

In an embodiment, the current regulator of each ethernet module equalizes the output current, or the current regulator of each ethernet module adjusts the output current according to the weight ratio; the weight ratio is at least one of the total operation time, the total output current and the current temperature.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a backup method for an ethernet power supply device to overcome the problems in the prior art. The backup method of the Ethernet power supply equipment is to provide the Ethernet power supply equipment comprising a plurality of Ethernet modules to supply power to the electronic equipment, and the backup method comprises the following steps: (a) Each Ethernet module receives the Ethernet power supply and converts the Ethernet power supply into an Ethernet output source. (b) The total current added by the output current of each Ethernet module meets the required current of the electronic equipment. (c) When one of the Ethernet modules is abnormal, the total current provided by at least one of the rest Ethernet modules is controlled to meet the required current.

In an embodiment, the input voltage of the ethernet power supply is a dc voltage, and the backup method further includes the following steps: (d) When the input voltage is negative, the negative input voltage is rectified into the positive input voltage.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the following steps: (e) The monitoring signal is provided according to the current controlled power supply of each Ethernet module. (f) And generating a normal working state when the Ethernet module is normal or an alarm state when the Ethernet module is abnormal according to the monitoring signal. And (g) providing a regulating signal to each Ethernet module according to the required current.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the following steps: (h) And each Ethernet module carries out mutual communication according to the required current. And (i) when the demanded current exceeds the rated current of the power over ethernet device, adjusting the output current according to the current scaling.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the following steps: (j) Each Ethernet module is used for equalizing the output current. Or (k) each Ethernet module adjusts the output current of the current controlled power supply according to the weight ratio.

The main purpose and effect of the present invention is that the ethernet power sourcing equipment utilizes a backup mode of N +1, so that when one of the ethernet modules is abnormal, the ethernet power sourcing equipment can still control the total current provided by the other ethernet modules to meet the required current required by the electronic device. Therefore, the effect of stable and normal operation of the electronic equipment can be still achieved when one of the Ethernet modules is abnormal.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a backup Ethernet power over Ethernet device;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a backup Ethernet power over Ethernet device according to the present invention; and

fig. 3 is a flowchart of a method for providing a backup of an ethernet device according to the present invention.

In the figure:

100. 100' … power over ethernet device; 1-1~1-n … Ethernet module; 10-1 to 10-n …;12-1 to 12-n … current regulator; 14-1 to 14-n … rectification circuits; 2 … monitoring circuitry; 22-1 to 22-n …; a 3 … controller; 4 … denotes a device; 5 … power converter; a … network interface; a C … output; a power input terminal of D …; b … network line terminal; 200 … electronic device; pin-1 to Pin-n … Ethernet power supply; po-1 to Po-n … Ethernet output source; pc-1 to Pc-n … current controlled power supply; pout … output power; a Pe … external power supply; io … outputs current; it … total current; monitoring signals Sm 1-Smn …; sc … adjusts the signal; s100 to S140 ….

Detailed Description

The present invention is further described with reference to the following drawings and specific examples so that those skilled in the art can better understand the present invention and can practice the present invention, but the examples are not intended to limit the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a first embodiment of a backup ethernet power sourcing equipment according to the present invention. The standby power over ethernet equipment 100 is connected to the network line terminal B through the network interface a to receive the ethernet power supply Pin-1 to Pin-n provided by the network line terminal B. The input voltage of the Ethernet power supply Pin-1 to Pin-n is 25.5 watts of direct current voltage which conforms to the specification of an Ethernet power supply protocol IEEE802.3at. The output end C of the power over ethernet device 100 is coupled to the electronic device 200, and converts the power over ethernet power Pin-1 to Pin-n to supply power to the electronic device 200. The power over ethernet equipment 100 includes a plurality of ethernet modules 1-1~1-n (3 are shown in the figure, but more than 2 are needed), and each ethernet module 1-1~1-n includes a conversion circuit 10-1 to 10-n and a current regulator 12-1 to 12-n. The conversion circuits 10-1 to 10-n are coupled to the network interface A and receive the Ethernet power supplies Pin-1 to Pin-n through the network interface A to convert the Ethernet power supplies Pin-1 to Pin-n into Ethernet power supplies Po-1 to Po-n. The current regulators 12-1 to 12-n are coupled to the switching circuits 10-1 to 10-n and the output terminal C, and regulate current ratios of the Ethernet output sources Po-1 to Po-n by controlling the switching circuits 10-1 to 10-n, so as to provide current controlled power supplies Pc-1 to Pc-n (the sum of which is an output power supply Pout supplied to the electronic device 200). Each ethernet module 1-1~1-n has an independent network interface a and is independently coupled to a network cable terminal B, so that the ethernet power sources Pin-1 to Pin-n received by the conversion circuits 10-1 to 10-n are different power sources. In addition, the above "power source" may be a general term for voltage, current and power, if not specifically described. For example, but not limited to, the current controlled power supply Pc-1 to Pc-n refers to the output voltage, output current Io and output power outputted by the current regulators 12-1 to 12-n, and so on.

It should be noted that, in an embodiment of the invention, the conversion circuits 10-1 to 10-n may be switching power converters (such as but not limited to flyback converters), and the output voltage may be a fixed predetermined voltage or a plurality of predetermined voltages with different voltage levels. Specifically, the conversion circuits 10-1 to 10-n may be converters with or without Power Delivery (PD) functions. The converter without the power supply function generally has an output of a fixed predetermined voltage and does not need handshake communication with the electronic apparatus 200. The internal controller of the converter with power delivery function is required to be a power delivery controller with a power delivery protocol, and the power delivery controller can know the voltage level required by the electronic device 200 after performing handshake communication with the electronic device 200, so as to adjust the voltage level of the predetermined voltage according to the requirement of the electronic device 200 to meet the requirement of the electronic device 200.

The sum of the output currents Io provided by each Ethernet module 1-1~1-n is the total current It, and the Ethernet power supply equipment 100 adjusts the current proportion of each Ethernet output source Po-1 to Po-n according to the required current required by the electronic equipment 200, so that the total current It provided by the Ethernet module 1-1~1-n meets the required current required by the electronic equipment 200, and the effect of prolonging the service life of the Ethernet module 1-1~1-n is achieved by sharing the current. In FIG. 1, each of the current regulators 12-1 to 12-n are coupled to communicate with each other, so that the Ethernet modules 1-1~1-n can know the ratio of their own required load. Specifically, after the standby ethernet power supply device 100 knows the required current required by the electronic device 200 (which can be known through handshake communication or output feedback), the current regulators 12-1 to 12-n communicate with each other to make each ethernet module 1-1~1-n know the proportion of the self required load, and then obtain the regulation value (i.e., the difference between the current value of the output current Io and the target current value) that needs to be regulated by the current ratio through calculation, so as to control the conversion circuits 10-1 to 10-n according to the regulation value.

In one embodiment of the present invention, at least two operation modes using current ratio adjustment can be included. One of the operation modes is current-sharing operation, and the current regulators 12-1 to 12-n of each Ethernet module 1-1~1-n share the output current Io to average the output current Io of each Ethernet module 1-1~1-n. The other operation mode is a weight ratio operation, the sequence of the Ethernet modules 1 to 1~1-n is set according to a condition, and the proportion of the current sharing of each Ethernet module 1 to 1~1-n is set according to the sequence. Specifically, the current regulators 12-1 to 12-n of each Ethernet module 1-1~1-n regulate the output current Io according to the weight ratio. The weighting is heavier and the output current Io needs to be provided higher, and vice versa. The weighting ratio can be, for example, but not limited to, at least one of the total operating time, the total amount of output current, and the current temperature of each ethernet module 1-1~1-n of each ethernet module 1-1~1-n. Taking the total operation time of each ethernet module 1-1~1-n as an example of the weight ratio, assuming that the total operation time of the ethernet module 1-1~1-n is 1-1, 1-2, 1-n in order from long to short, when performing the weight ratio operation, the ethernet module 1-n has a heavier weight and needs to provide a higher output current Io, and so on. Therefore, the effect of prolonging the service life of the Ethernet module 1-1~1-n can be achieved.

Further, the power over ethernet device 100 is designed as a backup device of N + 1. Assuming that the ethernet modules 1-2~1-N are "N" devices, the total current It can be provided is the current when the ethernet modules 1-2~1-N are fully loaded (which can be regarded as the rated current of the ethernet power supply device 100, and the rated current can just meet the required current required by the electronic device), and the ethernet module 1-1 is the backup device of the N +1 th. When one of the ethernet modules 1-1~1-n (assuming the ethernet module 1-2) is abnormal, the ethernet power sourcing equipment 100 can still control the total current It provided by the remaining ethernet modules 1-1 and 1-3~1-n to satisfy the required current required by the electronic device 200. Therefore, when one of the Ethernet modules 1-1~1-n is abnormal, the electronic device 200 can still operate stably and normally. Moreover, by using the N +1 backup device, the ethernet modules 1-1~1-N can be further designed to be modular, so that the ethernet power supply device 100 can be easily replaced and maintained. It should be noted that, in an embodiment of the present invention, the ethernet power sourcing equipment 100 may include a master controller (not shown) for detecting and controlling each ethernet module 1-1~1-n, or an internal controller (not shown), such as but not limited to a controller inside the converting circuits 10-1 to 10-n, in each ethernet module 1-1~1-n, coupled to each other, so as to obtain the current operating status of each ethernet module 1-1~1-n.

In addition, since the power over ethernet device 100 is designed as a backup device of N +1, it may have a power over-powering function. Specifically, when the demanded current of the electronic device is larger than the rated current of the power over ethernet device 100, the power over ethernet device 100 still has a margin for supplying power and can perform power over since it has a backup function of N + 1. Under the condition of excess power supply, the current regulators 12-1 to 12-n of each Ethernet module 1-1~1-n regulate the output current Io according to the current proportion regulation, so that the supplied total current It exceeds the rated current and still meets the required current required by the electronic equipment 200. For example, but not limited to, two sets of 60W Ethernet modules 1-1~1-n connected in parallel can provide up to 120W of output in the case of the electronic device 200 having an excessive power requirement. It should be noted that, in an embodiment of the present invention, the ethernet module in the N +1 th group may be used only when the ethernet module 1-1~1-N of one group is abnormal and needs to be powered by a standby power source (i.e., is in a standby state and does not operate when the standby power source is not needed), or may be incorporated into the device to be powered by the standby power source when the standby power source is not needed, which may be customized according to actual requirements.

Referring back to fig. 1, the power over ethernet device 100 further includes a monitoring circuit 2, a controller 3, and an indication device 4. The monitoring circuit 2 comprises a plurality of detection circuits 22-1 to 22-n, and the detection circuits 22-1 to 22-n are respectively coupled to the output ends of the current regulators 12-1 to 12-n correspondingly to provide monitoring signals Sm1 to Smn according to the current controlled power supplies Pc-1 to Pc-n. The controller 3 is coupled to the monitoring circuit 2, and receives the monitoring signals Sm1 to Smn, so as to determine whether the ethernet modules 1 to 1~1-n are normal according to the monitoring signals Sm1 to Smn. The detection circuits 22-1 to 22-n can provide monitoring signals Sm1 to Smn representing the current controlled power supplies Pc-1 to Pc-n (i.e. output power, output voltage or output current Io) and the like, and the controller 3 can judge whether the output sources of the current controlled power supplies Pc-1 to Pc-n (i.e. output power, output voltage or output current Io) and the like are normal or not through the monitoring signals Sm1 to Smn. The indication device 4 is coupled to the controller 3 and is activated according to the indication of the controller 3. The indication device 4 may be, for example, but not limited to, a buzzer, an LED lamp, a display device of a human-computer interface, etc.

When the controller 3 determines that the ethernet module 1-1~1-n is normal according to the monitor signals Sm 1-Smn, the controller 3 generates a device normal indication to the indication device 4 to indicate that the ethernet module 1-1~1-n is in a normal working state. Otherwise, the controller 3 generates a device abnormality indication to the indication device 4 to indicate that one (or more) of the ethernet modules 1-1~1-n is in an abnormal alarm state. The controller 3 can explicitly indicate which ethernet module 1-1~1-has an exception through the indicating device 4. The above-mentioned abnormality may be, for example, but not limited to, the current-controlled power supply Pc-1 to Pc-n is incorrect, or there is no output.

Fig. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a second embodiment of the backup power over ethernet device according to the present invention, and fig. 1 is also included. The difference between the power over ethernet device 100' in the embodiment of fig. 2 and the power over ethernet device 100 in fig. 1 is that each ethernet module 1-1~1-n further includes a rectification circuit 14-1 to 14-n, respectively. The rectification circuits 14-1 to 14-n are coupled to the conversion circuits 10-1 to 10-n and receive Ethernet power supply Pin-1 to Pin-n provided by a network line terminal B. Further, since the input voltage of the ethernet power sources Pin-1 to Pin-n is 25.5 w dc voltage conforming to the ieee802.3at specification, the dc voltage provided by the network interface a may be a positive dc voltage (for example, but not limited to + 57V) or a negative dc voltage (for example, but not limited to-57V). The rectifying circuit is used for rectifying the negative input voltage into the positive input voltage when the input voltage is a negative value so as to avoid the situation that the negative direct current voltage is directly supplied to the conversion circuits 10-1 to 10-n to cause the conversion circuits 10-1 to 10-n to be incapable of operating.

Another difference between the present embodiment and the embodiment shown in fig. 1 is that the current regulators 12-1 to 12-n of each ethernet module 1-1~1-n are coupled to the controller 3, and the controller 3 detects the required current required by the electronic device 200 (which can be obtained by handshake communication or by output feedback). The controller 3 provides an adjusting signal Sc to the current regulators 12-1 to 12-n of the Ethernet modules 1 to 1~1-n respectively according to the required current, so that each Ethernet module 1 to 1~1-n obtains an adjusting value (i.e., a difference value between a current value and a target current value of the output current Io) which needs to be subjected to current proportion adjustment according to the adjusting signal Sc, and the conversion circuits 10-1 to 10-n are controlled according to the adjusting value.

Another difference between the embodiment and the embodiment in fig. 1 is that the backup power over ethernet device 100' further includes a power converter 5, and the power converter 5 is coupled between the power input terminal D and the output terminal C. The power converter 5 receives an external power Pe (such as but not limited to mains power) through the power input terminal D to convert the external power Pe into an output power Pout to power the electronic device 200. Specifically, when the network interface a does not have the ethernet power sources Pin-1 to Pin-n input, the power converter 5 may be used to convert the power required by the operation of the electronic device 200, so that the electronic device 200 may still operate normally. It should be noted that, in an embodiment of the present invention, the differences between fig. 1 and fig. 2 can be applied to each other according to actual design requirements of the power over ethernet device 100, and are not described herein again.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a method for backing up an ethernet power supply device according to the present invention, and is combined with fig. 1~2. The method for providing a backup power over ethernet device 100 is to provide the power over ethernet device 100 including a plurality of ethernet modules 1-1~1-n to power the electronic device 200. The backup method includes that each Ethernet module receives Ethernet power and converts the Ethernet power into an Ethernet output source (S100). In a preferred embodiment, each Ethernet module 1-1~1-n comprises a conversion circuit 10-1 to 10-n and a current regulator 12-1 to 12-n. The conversion circuits 10-1 to 10-n are coupled to the network interface A and receive the Ethernet power supplies Pin-1 to Pin-n through the network interface A to convert the Ethernet power supplies Pin-1 to Pin-n into Ethernet power supplies Po-1 to Po-n.

Then, the current ratio of the ethernet output sources is adjusted to provide a current controlled power source, so that the total current summed by the output currents of each ethernet module satisfies the required current of the electronic device (S120). In a preferred embodiment, the current regulators 12-1 to 12-n are used to regulate the current ratios of the Ethernet power supplies Po-1 to Po-n to provide current controlled power supplies Pc-1 to Pc-n (the sum of which is the output power supply Pout supplied to the electronic device 200). Each current controlled power supply Pc-1 to Pc-n may include an output current Io, and the sum of the output currents Io is a total current It. The Ethernet power supply equipment 100 adjusts the current proportion of each Ethernet output source Po-1 to Po-n according to the required current required by the electronic equipment 200, so that the total current It provided by the Ethernet module 1-1~1-n meets the required current required by the electronic equipment 200.

Finally, when one of the ethernet modules is abnormal, the total current provided by at least one of the other ethernet modules is controlled to satisfy the required current (S140). In a preferred embodiment, the power over ethernet device 100 is designed as an N +1 standby device. When one of the ethernet modules 1-1~1-n (the ethernet module 1-2 is assumed) is abnormal, the total current It provided by the remaining ethernet modules 1-1 and 1-3~1-n can still satisfy the required current required by the electronic device 200. Therefore, when one of the Ethernet modules 1-1~1-n is abnormal, the electronic device 200 can still operate stably and normally.

The above-mentioned embodiments are merely preferred embodiments for fully illustrating the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. The equivalent substitution or change made by the technical personnel in the technical field on the basis of the invention is all within the protection scope of the invention. The protection scope of the invention is subject to the claims.

Claims

1. A redundant power over ethernet device capable of powering an electronic device, the power over ethernet device comprising:

several ethernet network modules, every ethernet network module includes:

the conversion circuit receives an Ethernet power supply and converts the Ethernet power supply into an Ethernet output source; and

a current regulator coupled to the conversion circuit and providing a current controlled power supply by performing a current ratio adjustment on the Ethernet output source;

when one of the Ethernet modules is abnormal, the Ethernet power supply equipment controls the total current provided by at least one of the rest Ethernet modules to meet the required current.

2. A power over ethernet device according to claim 1, wherein each ethernet module further comprises:

a rectifying circuit coupled to the converting circuit;

the rectifier circuit is used for rectifying the input voltage with a negative value into the input voltage with a positive value when the input voltage is with a negative value.

3. A power over ethernet device according to claim 1, further comprising:

the monitoring circuit is coupled with the output end of the current regulator of each Ethernet module and provides a monitoring signal according to the current controlled power supply;

the controller receives the monitoring signal and generates a normal working state when each Ethernet module is normal or an alarm state when each Ethernet module is abnormal according to the monitoring signal;

the current regulator of each ethernet module is coupled to the controller, and the controller provides a regulation signal to the current regulator of each ethernet module according to the required current.

4. A power over ethernet device according to claim 1, wherein said current regulators of each ethernet module are coupled to each other and in a mutual communication; when the required current exceeds a rated current of the power over ethernet device, the current regulator of each ethernet module adjusts the output current according to the current proportional regulation.

5. The power over ethernet device of claim 1, wherein said current regulator of each ethernet module equalizes said output current, or wherein said current regulator of each ethernet module adjusts said output current according to a weight ratio; the weight ratio is at least one of a total operation time, a total output current and a current temperature.

6. A method for providing a power over Ethernet device including a plurality of Ethernet modules for powering an electronic device, the method comprising:

each Ethernet module receives an Ethernet power supply and converts the Ethernet power supply into an Ethernet output source;

performing current proportion adjustment on the Ethernet output source to provide a current controlled power supply, so that a total current summed by an output current of each Ethernet module meets a required current of the electronic equipment; and

when one of the Ethernet modules is abnormal, the total current provided by at least one of the rest Ethernet modules is controlled to meet the required current.

7. The backup method according to claim 6, wherein an input voltage of the ethernet power source is a dc voltage, the backup method further comprising the steps of:

when the input voltage is a negative value, rectifying the input voltage with the negative value into the input voltage with a positive value.

8. A redundancy method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

providing a monitoring signal according to the current controlled power supply of each Ethernet module;

generating a normal working state when each Ethernet module is normal or an alarm state when each Ethernet module is abnormal according to the monitoring signal; and

and respectively providing a regulating signal to each Ethernet module according to the required current.

9. A method of redundancy as claimed in claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

each Ethernet module carries out mutual communication according to the required current; and

when the required current exceeds a rated current of the Ethernet power supply equipment, the output current is adjusted according to the current proportion regulation.

10. A method of redundancy as claimed in claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

each Ethernet module is used for equalizing the output current; or

Each Ethernet module adjusts an output current of the current controlled power supply according to a weight ratio.