High power and data delivery in a communications network with safety and fault protection

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a remote network device, power and data from a central network device, wherein the power is used to power the remote network device, performing auto-negotiation with the central network device, wherein the auto-negotiation includes operating the remote network device in a low voltage mode during fault sensing of a power circuit at the remote network device, and selecting a power operating mode, wherein selecting the power operating mode includes selecting a high voltage mode if no fault is detected during the fault sensing, the high voltage mode comprising DC (direct current) pulse power. An apparatus is also disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving at an interface module of a remote network device, power and data from a central network device, wherein the power is used to power the remote network device; and   performing auto-negotiation with the central network device, wherein said auto-negotiation comprises:
 detecting a type of power received from the central network device; 
 operating the remote network device in a low voltage mode during fault sensing of a power circuit at the remote network device; and 
 selecting a power operating mode from at least two different power operating modes based on the type of power received and, wherein selecting said power operating mode comprises selecting a high voltage mode if no fault is detected during said fault sensing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said auto-negotiation is performed through data communications between the remote network device and the central network device on a cable transmitting the power and data from the central network device to the remote network device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying a fault during said fault sensing, operating in said low voltage mode, and repeating said fault sensing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said high voltage mode comprises direct current (DC) pulse power comprising high voltage pulses, further comprising performing a low voltage fault detection between high voltage pulses of the DC pulse power. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein selecting a power operating mode further comprises selecting between the DC pulse power and Power over Ethernet if no fault is detected. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising performing ground fault detection while in said high voltage mode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interface module comprising an optical component and an electrical component. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interface module comprises a silicon photonics module. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 transmitting power and data from power sourcing equipment to a powered device, wherein the power and data are transmitted at an interface module; and   performing auto-negotiation with the powered device, wherein said auto-negotiation comprises:
 transmitting low voltage power to the powered device and performing voltage sensing on a cable between the power sourcing equipment and the powered device to check for a fault; and 
 selecting a power operating mode from at least two different operating modes; 
   wherein selecting said power operating mode comprises selecting a high voltage mode and delivering DC (direct current) pulse power from the power sourcing equipment to the powered device if no fault is detected.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising performing a low voltage fault detection between high voltage pulses of the DC pulse power. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said auto-negotiation is performed through data communications between the power sourcing equipment and the powered device on a cable transmitting the power and data from the power sourcing equipment to the powered device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein selecting a power operating mode further comprises selecting between the DC pulse power and Power over Ethernet if no fault is detected. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising performing ground fault detection while in said high voltage mode. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the interface module comprises an optical component and an electrical component. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a power circuit for receiving input power and transmitting low voltage power or high voltage direct current (DC) pulse power, the power circuit comprising:
 one or more modulator switches that provide the high voltage DC pulse power; and 
 a sensing circuit that identifies a fault between high voltage pulses in the high voltage DC pulse power; and 
   wherein the power circuit an operating mode from at least two different operating mode, and selects a high voltage mode to transmit the high voltage DC pulse power to a powered device if no fault is detected by the sensing circuit;   an interface module that transmits the high voltage DC pulse power to a powered device.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the interface module comprises an electrical component for transmitting the high voltage DC pulse power and an optical component for transmitting an optical signal. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of modulator switches, wherein the modulator switches are cycled on and off during testing. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said one or more modulator switches at the apparatus are synchronized with one or more modulator switches at the powered device receiving the high voltage DC pulse power. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the sensing circuit performs a low voltage fault detection between high voltage pulses of the high voltage DC pulse power. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the power circuit selects between the high voltage DC pulse power and Power over Ethernet if no fault is detected.