Power over network device and power over network system including the same

Abstract

A connecting module included in a power over network device includes a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors. The power over network device is to be connected to one of a power source equipment (PSE) and a powered device (PD). When connected to the PSE, the capacitors receive a network signal, the power transformer receives the network signal and a direct current power signal for generating a power line signal. When connected to the PD, the power transformer receives the power line signal, extracts a direct current power signal from the power line signal, and the capacitors of the connecting module receives the network signal, and blocks a direct current component of the remainder of the power line signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power over network device comprising at least one connecting module, said connecting module including a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects the capacitors,
 wherein said power over network device is operable to be electrically connected to one of a power source equipment and a powered device;   wherein when said power over network device is electrically connected to the power source equipment,
 said capacitors of said connecting module are disposed to receive a network signal, and 
 said power transformer of said connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal and a direct current power signal, and to generate, by combining the network signal and the direct current power signal, a power line signal which is to be transmitted to the powered device; and 
   wherein when said power over network device is electrically connected to the powered device,
 said power transformer of said connecting module is disposed to receive a power line signal from the power source equipment, and to extract a direct current power signal from the power line signal for the powered device, the remainder of the power line signal after the direct current power signal has been extracted serving as a network signal, and 
 said capacitors of said connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal, and to block a direct current component of the network signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The power over network device of  claim 1 , the power source equipment including a network signal generator that generates the network signal, wherein, each of said capacitors in said connecting module includes a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to said power transformer, and when said power over network device is electrically connected to the power source equipment, said first terminal of each of said capacitors is coupled to the network signal generator for receiving the network signal therefrom. 
     
     
         3 . The power over network device of  claim 1 , the power source equipment including a power supplier which generates the direct current power signal, wherein, when said power over network device is electrically connected to the power source equipment, said power transformer of said connecting module is coupled to the power supplier to receive the direct current power signal, and combines the direct current power signal and the network signal so as to change a direct current offset voltage of the network signal for generation of the power line signal. 
     
     
         4 . The power over network device of  claim 1 , the powered device including a power receiver, wherein, when said power over network device is electrically connected to the powered device, said power transformer of said connecting module is coupled to the power receiver for providing the direct current power signal that is extracted from the power line signal to the power receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The power over network device of  claim 1 , the powered device including a network signal receiver, wherein each of the capacitors in said connecting module includes a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to said power transformer, and when said power over network device is electrically connected to the powered device, said first terminal of each of said capacitors is coupled to the network signal receiver for providing the network signal thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The power over network device of  claim 1 , wherein said power transformer is an auto-transformer. 
     
     
         7 . A power over network system for use with a power source equipment and a powered device, said power over network system comprising:
 a first power over network device electrically connected to the power source equipment, said first power over network device including a transmitting-end connecting module, said transmitting-end connecting module including a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects said capacitors; and   a second power over network device electrically connected to the powered device, said second power over network device including a receiving-end connecting module, said receiving-end connecting module including a pair of capacitors and a power transformer that interconnects said capacitors;   wherein said capacitors of said transmitting-end connecting module are disposed to receive a network signal, and said power transformer of said transmitting-end connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal and a direct current power signal, and to generate, by combining the network signal and the direct current power signal, a power line signal which is to be transmitted to the powered device; and   wherein said power transformer of said receiving-end connecting module is disposed to receive the power line signal from said first power over network device, and to extract the direct current power signal from the power line signal for the powered device, the remainder of the power line signal after the direct current power signal has been extracted serving as a network signal, said capacitors of said receiving-end connecting module is disposed to receive the network signal, and to block a direct current component of the network signal.   
     
     
         8 . The power over network system of  claim 7 , the power source equipment including a network signal generator that generates the network signal, wherein, each of said capacitors in said transmitting-end connecting module includes a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to said power transformer, and said first terminal of each of said capacitors is coupled to the network signal generator for receiving the network signal therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . The power over network system of  claim 7 , the power source equipment including a power supplier which generates the direct current power signal, wherein, said power transformer of said transmitting-end connecting module is coupled to the power supplier to receive the direct current power signal therefrom, and combines the direct current power signal and the network signal so as to change a direct current offset voltage of the network signal for generation of the power line signal. 
     
     
         10 . The power over network system of  claim 7 , the powered device including a power receiver, wherein, said power transformer of said receiving-end connecting module is coupled to the power receiver for providing the direct current power signal that is extracted from the power line signal to the power receiver. 
     
     
         11 . The power over network system of  claim 7 , the powered device including a network signal receiver, wherein each of said capacitors in said receiving-end connecting module includes a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to said power transformer, and said first terminal of each of said capacitors is coupled to the network signal receiver for providing the network signal thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The power over network system of  claim 7 , wherein said power transformer included in each of said first power over network device and said second power over network device is an auto-transformer.