Pluggable transceiver module
View Patent ↗A pluggable module connected to the backplane or other connection interface of an information system unit so as to provide additional functionality thereto (such as a communications interface to an electrical or fiber optics cable), and arranged to draw electrical power from the system. In order to prevent excessive in-rush current on connection, the module is provided with power control circuitry which is adapted to incrementally increase the supply voltage to components within the module in a manner so as to avoid power supply glitches in the system, such as a substantial voltage drop, and/or excessive current flow.
1. A pluggable module for releasable connection to a base unit, the pluggable module being arranged to draw electrical power from a power supply in the base unit when connected thereto, the module comprising power control circuitry adapted to supply a supply voltage to at least a subset of components within the module according to a time-based programmable profile stored in a memory of a controller to gradually adjust the supply voltage to a desired value over time to avoid a substantial voltage drop or excessive current changes in the power supply, wherein the controller is configured to generate a control signal for input to the power control circuitry according to the time-based programmable profile, and the power control circuitry is adapted to supply the supply voltage to said at least a subset of components in an inverse relationship to the control signal, and wherein the power control circuitry include an adjustment input, a ground connection, and an output for outputting the supply voltage, the pluggable module further comprising:
a first resistor coupled between the output and the adjustment input;
a second resistor coupled between the adjustment input and the ground connection;
a third resistor coupled between the adjustment input and the control signal from the controller; and
a capacitor coupled between the output and the ground connection.
2. A pluggable module according to claim 1 , further comprising components adapted for the conversion and transfer of information signals, wherein said base unit is an information system unit having a media dependent interface (MDI) electrical connector with signals in a CX4, Infiniband, or Fibre Channel format.
3. A pluggable module according to claim 2 , wherein the module is a pluggable electrical module including serial to parallel conversion circuitry for converting information signals between a first electrical signal format and a second electrical signal format.
4. A pluggable module according to claim 2 , wherein the module is a pluggable optical module including electro-optical conversion components for converting information between electrical and optical domains.
5. A pluggable module according to claim 1 , wherein the power control circuitry adjusts said supply voltage during a start-up phase of said module after said module is powered on.
6. A pluggable module according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is in the base unit.
7. A pluggable module according to claim 1 , wherein the stored programmable profile is adapted to control the power control circuitry to incrementally increase said supply voltage up to a desired level for proper operation of the subset of components.
8. A pluggable module according to claim 7 , wherein the stored programmable profile is further adapted to increase said supply voltage to said desired level over a period of substantially 50 milliseconds.
9. A pluggable module according to claim 1 , wherein the power control circuitry comprises the controller and a voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to provide said voltage supply, wherein a control output of the controller is configured to output an adjustment control signal to an adjustment input of said voltage regulator to adjust said voltage supply, and wherein the controller is further configured to additionally control other components of said module.
10. A pluggable module according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is a microprocessor provided with a digital to analogue converter, the output of which forms the control output.
11. A pluggable module according to claim 1 , wherein the power control circuitry comprises a voltage regulator provided with an adjustment input, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to provide said voltage supply, and wherein the adjustment input of said voltage regulator is configured to receive an adjustment control signal from the controller provided within said base unit to adjust said voltage supply.
12. A pluggable module according to claim 1 , wherein during a start-up phase, after said module is powered on, the controller is configured to generate the control signal at a level sufficient to cause the supply voltage to be zero, and wherein after the start-up phase, the controller is configured to reduce the level of the control signal according to the time-based programmable profile to cause an increase in the supply voltage.
13. A pluggable module according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to float the control signal when the supply voltage reaches a predetermined value.
14. A pluggable module according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to float the control signal when the supply voltage at the output of the power control circuitry is equal to the level of the control signal.
15. A pluggable module according to claim 14 , wherein when the control signal is floated by the controller, the supply voltage is determined by values of the first resistor and the second resistor.