Peak power management and active decoupling arrangement for span-powered remote terminal access platforms

Abstract

A power management circuit for a remote access platform extracts power from a wireline for powering a ring generator that generates a ringing voltage signal that is distributed to a plurality of subscriber circuits. A power-limited voltage converter steps up the wireline voltage to a higher ‘isolating’ voltage, charging a capacitor coupled to the ring generator. A monitor circuit reduces the power that the power-limited voltage converter can draw, if the wireline voltage drops too low. This prevents the wireline voltage from collapsing should the remote terminal be deployed at a distance from wireline voltage source (the central office) greater than its specified capability.

1 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . For use with a wireline-powered electrical energy utilization device, a method of using electrical energy stored in an energy storage device to deliver peak power required for said electrical energy utilization device to generate said electrical signals for plural driven circuits without exceeding the maximum power available from said wireline, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) configuring said electrical energy utilization device, such that said electrical energy utilization device is operative to generate electrical signals for distribution to said plural driven circuits coupled thereto, wherein loading of said electrical energy utilization device depends upon the number of circuits in use and the load of each circuit to which an electrical signal is supplied;    (b) converting a voltage, supplied by said wireline that conveys telecommunication signals to and from and is remotely powered by a telecommunication facility, to an isolating voltage that charges said energy storage device coupled to said electrical energy utilization device; and    (c) using electrical energy stored in said energy storage device in step (b) to deliver peak power required for said electrical energy utilization device to generate said electrical signals for plural ones of said circuits without exceeding the maximum power available from said wireline.    
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein said isolating voltage is larger than said voltage supplied by said wireline.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein, step (b) comprises, in response to the output power demand on said electrical energy utilization device being less than the maximum output power provided by converting said voltage supplied by said wireline to said isolating voltage, charging said energy storage device to a maximum value of isolating voltage.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein step (b) comprises, in response to said output power demand on said electrical energy utilization device exceeding the maximum output power provided by converting said voltage supplied by said wireline to said isolating voltage, releasing energy from said energy storage device into said electrical energy utilization device.  
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein said electrical energy utilization device comprises a ringing signal generator said electrical signal comprises a ringing voltage signal, and said circuits comprise subscriber line circuits.  
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein step (b) comprises, in response to said isolating voltage being reduced to less than a prescribed minimum value, reducing the ring cadence of said ringing voltage signal.  
   
   
       34 . A circuit arrangement for use with an apparatus having an electrical energy utilization device, which is operative to generate electrical signals for distribution to a plurality of circuits coupled thereto, wherein loading of said electrical energy utilization device depends upon the number of circuits in use and the load of each circuit to which an electrical signal is supplied, said circuit arrangement comprising: 
 an energy storage device coupled to said electrical energy utilization device; and    a voltage converter, coupled to a wireline that conveys communication signals to and from and is remotely powered by a communication facility, and being operative to convert a voltage supplied by said wireline to an isolating voltage that charges said energy storage device, in a manner that delivers peak power required for said electrical energy utilization device to generate said electrical signals for plural ones of said circuits without exceeding the maximum power available from said wireline.    
   
   
       35 . The circuit arrangement according to  claim 34 , wherein said isolating voltage is larger than said voltage supplied by said wireline.  
   
   
       36 . The circuit arrangement according to  claim 34 , wherein said voltage converter comprises a power-limited voltage converter that is operative, in response to output power demand on said electrical energy utilization device being less than the maximum output power provided by said power-limited voltage converter, to charge an energy reservoir capacitor to a maximum value of isolating voltage.  
   
   
       37 . The circuit arrangement according to  claim 34 , wherein said voltage converter comprises a power-limited voltage converter that is operative, in response to said output power demand on said electrical energy utilization device exceeding the maximum output power provided by said voltage converter, to release energy from said energy storage device into said electrical energy utilization device.  
   
   
       38 . The circuit arrangement according to  claim 34 , wherein said electrical energy utilization device comprises a ring generator, said electrical signal comprises a ringing voltage signal, and said circuits comprise subscriber line circuits.  
   
   
       39 . The circuit arrangement according to  claim 38 , wherein said ring generator is operative to reduce the ring cadence of said ringing voltage signal in response to said isolating voltage being reduced to less than a prescribed minimum value.  
   
   
       40 . A wireline power extraction interface for powering an electrical energy utilization device that generates electrical signals for distribution to a plurality of circuits coupled thereto, wherein loading of said electrical energy utilization device is dependent upon the number of said circuits in use and the load of each circuit to which an electrical signal is supplied, said wireline power extraction interface comprising: 
 an energy storage device coupled to said electrical energy utilization device; and    a power-limited voltage converter, coupled to a wireline that conveys communication signals to and from and is remotely powered by a communication facility, and being operative to convert a voltage supplied by said wireline to an isolating voltage that charges said energy storage device in a manner that delivers peak power required for electrical energy utilization device to generate said electrical signals for plural ones of said circuits without exceeding the maximum power available from said wireline.    
   
   
       41 . The wireline power extraction interface according to  claim 40 , wherein said isolating voltage is larger than said voltage supplied by said wireline, and wherein said voltage converter comprises a power-limited voltage converter that is operative, in response to output power demand on said electrical energy utilization device being less than the maximum output power provided by said power-limited voltage converter, to charge an energy reservoir capacitor to a maximum value of isolating voltage, but in response to said output power demand on said electrical energy utilization device exceeding the maximum output power provided by said voltage converter, to release energy from said energy storage device into said electrical energy utilization device.  
   
   
       42 . The wireline power extraction interface according to  claim 40 , wherein said electrical energy utilization device comprises a ring generator, said electrical signal comprises a ringing voltage signal, and said circuits comprise subscriber line circuits.