Connector module with embedded power-over-ethernet voltage isolation and method
View Patent ↗A connector module includes a jack socket capable of receiving a communication link. The connector module also includes magnetics coupled to the jack socket for supplying power to a peripheral device coupled to the link through the jack socket. The connector module further includes Power-over-Ethernet management logic for controlling the supplying of power to the peripheral device by providing a voltage to the magnetics. In addition, the connector module includes at least one voltage isolator for isolating the voltage used by the Power-over-Ethernet management logic from at least one digitally-referenced voltage.
1. A connector module, comprising:
a jack socket receiving a communication link;
magnetics coupled to the jack socket, the magnetics supplying power to a peripheral device coupled to the link through the jack socket;
Power-over-Ethernet management logic controlling the supplying of power to the peripheral device by the magnetics; and
at least one voltage isolator operable for dividing the connector module into a digitally-referenced voltage domain and an isolated power supply voltage domain and isolating one or more digitally-referenced voltage signals in the digitally-referenced voltage domain from the Power-over-Ethernet management logic in the isolated power supply voltage domain, and wherein the at least one voltage isolator is a one of: implemented within a shielding of the connector module and removable from the connector module.
2. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one voltage isolator comprises at least one of: one or more isolation circuits embedded in a Power-over-Ethernet management component that comprises the Power-over-Ethernet management logic and one or more optocouplers.
3. The connector module of claim 2 , wherein the at least one voltage isolator isolates the voltage used by the Power-over-Ethernet management circuitry from the one or more digitally-referenced voltage signals communicated over at least one bus between one or more components within the digitally-referenced voltage domain and the Power-over-Ethernet management logic.
4. The connector module of claim 3 , wherein the at least one bus comprises at least one of a control bus and a status bus.
5. The connector module of claim 4 , wherein:
the at least one bus comprises the control bus and the status bus; and
the at least one voltage isolator further comprises,
two optocouplers for isolating a first digitally-referenced voltage signal in the control bus, and
one optocoupler for isolating a second digitally-referenced voltage signal in the status bus.
6. The connector module of claim 2 , wherein the one or more isolation circuits isolate the voltage used by the Power-over-Ethernet management logic from a digital voltage and a digital ground received by the one or more isolation circuits.
7. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is coupled to at least two center taps of the magnetics.
8. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the magnetics comprise:
a transformer; and
a coil filter coupled to the transformer, the coil filter comprising two coils receiving a differential input signal and a third coil receiving a power supply input for the magnetics.
9. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the voltage isolator is within the shielding and the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is within the shielding.
10. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the Power-over-Ethernet management logic comprises an integrated circuit chip.
11. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein the magnetics comprise:
a transformer; and
a coil filter coupled to the transformer, the coil filter comprising two coils receiving a differential input signal and a third coil receiving a power supply input for the magnetics.
12. The connector module of claim 1 , wherein:
the magnetics comprise a first transformer and a second transformer, each transformer having a center tap located on a side of the transformer associated with the jack socket;
the center tap of the first transformer receives and superimposes an alternating current (AC) signal onto a direct current (DC) voltage, the DC voltage comprising the power supplied to the peripheral device, the Power-over-Ethernet management logic using the AC signal to determine when the peripheral device has been disconnected from the communication link; and
the center tap of the second transformer acts as a voltage return associated with the DC voltage.
13. A motherboard, comprising:
a processor communicating with at least one peripheral device; and
a connector module comprising:
a jack socket receiving a communication link;
magnetics coupled to the jack socket, the magnetics supplying power to the peripheral device through the jack socket;
Power-over-Ethernet management logic controlling the supplying of power to the peripheral device by the magnetics; and
at least one voltage isolator operable for dividing the connector module into a digitally-referenced voltage domain and an isolated power supply voltage domain and isolating one or more digitally-referenced voltage signals in the digitally-referenced voltage domain from the Power-over-Ethernet management logic in the isolated power supply voltage domain, and wherein the at least one voltage isolator is a one of: implemented within a shielding of the connector module and removable from the connector module.
14. The motherboard of claim 13 , wherein the at least one voltage isolator comprises at least one of: one or more isolation circuits embedded in a Power-over-Ethernet management component that comprises the Power-over-Ethernet management logic and one or more optocouplers.
15. The motherboard of claim 14 , wherein the at least one voltage isolator isolates the voltage used by the Power-over-Ethernet management logic from the one or more digitally-referenced voltage signals communicated over at least one bus between one or more components within the digitally-referenced voltage domain and the Power-over-Ethernet management logic.
16. The motherboard of claim 15 , wherein the at least one voltage isolator further comprises:
two optocouplers for isolating a first digitally-referenced voltage signal in a control bus; and
one optocoupler for isolating a first digitally-referenced voltage signal in a status bus.
17. The motherboard of claim 15 , wherein the one or more isolation circuits isolate the voltage used by the Power-over-Ethernet management logic from a digital voltage and a digital ground received by the one or more isolation circuits.
18. The motherboard of claim 13 , wherein the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is coupled to at least two center taps of the magnetics.
19. The motherboard of claim 13 , wherein the magnetics comprise:
a transformer; and
a coil filter coupled to the transformer, the coil filter comprising two coils receiving a differential input signal and a third coil receiving a power supply input for the magnetics.
20. The motherboard of claim 13 , wherein the at least one voltage isolator is within the shielding and the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is within the shielding.
21. A method, comprising:
receiving a voltage for Power-over-Ethernet management logic from a power supply, the Power-over-Ethernet management logic forming a portion of a connector module coupled to a peripheral device over a communication link;
dividing the connector module into a digitally-referenced voltage domain and an isolated power supply voltage domain by isolating the voltage received for the Power-over-Ethernet management logic from at least one digitally-referenced voltage used by the connector module; and
isolating the voltage using at least one voltage isolator that is a one of: implemented within a shielding of the connector module and removable from the connector module.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein isolating the voltage from the power supply and the at least one digitally-referenced voltage comprises isolating the voltage from the power supply and the at least one digitally-referenced voltage used in at least one bus.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is coupled to at least two center taps of magnetics in the connector module.
24. An apparatus, comprising:
a motherboard comprising a processor;
a connector module coupled to the motherboard and comprising:
a plurality of jack sockets receiving a plurality of communication links;
a plurality of magnetics coupled to the jack sockets, the plurality of magnetics supplying power to a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to the links through the jack sockets;
Power-over-Ethernet management logic controlling the supplying of power to the peripheral device by the plurality of magnetics; and
at least one voltage isolator operable for dividing the connector module into a digitally-referenced voltage domain and an isolated power supply voltage domain and isolating one or more digitally-referenced voltage signals in the digitally-referenced voltage domain from the Power-over-Ethernet management logic in the isolated power supply voltage domain, and wherein the at least one voltage isolator is a one of: implemented within a shielding of the connector module and removable from the connector module; and
a power supply supplying power to at least one of the motherboard and the connector module.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the at least one voltage isolator is within the shielding and the Power-over-Ethernet management logic is within the shielding.