IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,108,216
Granted Patent B2
US 10,108,216 · App. 15/217,357 · Granted Oct 23, 2018

Power tap with adjustable configuration

Inventors: Steven T Haensgen (Mukwonago, WI); John P Caspers (Racine, WI); Yutao T Wang (Brookfield, WI); Jeffrey A Kilburn (Hartland, WI); Darryl E Whitley (Milwaukee, WI)
Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
G05F1/66G06F1/26G06F1/3203H02J3/14H02M7/04G05B19/058G05B23/02G05B2219/15097
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,108,216
App. No.
15/217,357
Granted
Oct 23, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for a power tap with adjustable configuration. The power tap includes a circuit board that acts on the adjustable configuration to define the function of the power tap in the system. The power tap may include a microcontroller or a set of discrete logic disposed on a circuit board connected to an adjustable configuration mechanism, which defines the intelligent power tap's function in the network system.

Claims (42)

1. An intelligent power tap in a network system, comprising:

a circuit board;

a microcontroller disposed on the circuit board, wherein the microcontroller is configured to report the geographical location of the intelligent power tap;

a physical layer network interface connected to the microcontroller and the network system;

an adjustable configuration mechanism connected to the microcontroller, with the adjustable configuration mechanism defining the intelligent power tap's function in the network system; and

one or more directional inject switches controlled by the microcontroller to selectively inject at least one of a network power and a switched power from a power source to an outgoing network cable connected to the intelligent power tap.

2. The intelligent power tap of claim 1 , wherein the function comprises one of the following:

a first power tap, a network power tap, a switched power tap, and a tap injecting both network power and switched power.

3. The intelligent power tap of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more directional inject switches controlled by the microcontroller to selectively inject a switched power from an incoming power supply cable to an outgoing network cable connected to the intelligent power tap.

4. The intelligent power tap of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more bypass switches controlled by the microcontroller to selectively bypass a network power or a switched power from an incoming side of a network cable to an outgoing side of the network cable through the intelligent power tap.

5. The intelligent power tap of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more directional inject switches controlled by the microcontroller, based upon the adjustable configuration mechanism or a configuration message from the communication network, to selectively inject a network power from an incoming power supply cable to an outgoing network cable connected to the intelligent power tap.

6. The intelligent power tap of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more directional inject switches controlled by the microcontroller, based upon the adjustable configuration mechanism or a configuration message from the communication network, to selectively inject a switched power from an incoming power supply cable to an outgoing network cable connected to the intelligent power tap.

7. The intelligent power tap of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more bypass switches controlled by the microcontroller, based upon the adjustable configuration mechanism or a configuration message from the communication network, to selectively bypass a network power or a switched power from an incoming side of a network cable to an outgoing side of a network cable through the intelligent power tap.

8. A power tap in a network system, comprising:

a circuit board;

an adjustable configuration mechanism that independently defines the power tap's function in the network system; and

one or more directional inject switches configured to selectively inject network power from a power source to an outgoing network cable connected to the power tap.

9. The power tap of claim 8 , wherein the function comprises one of the following:

a first power tap, a network power tap, a switched power tap, and a tap providing both network power and switched power.

10. The power tap of claim 8 , further comprising:

one or more directional inject switches configured to selectively inject switched power from an incoming power supply cable to an outgoing network cable connected to the power tap.

11. The power tap of claim 8 , further comprising:

one or more bypass switches configured to selectively bypass a network power or a switched power from an incoming side of a network cable to an outgoing side of a network cable through the power tap.

12. The power tap of claim 11 , wherein the one or more directional inject switches and the one or more bypass switches are controlled by discrete logic according to the function defined by the adjustable configuration mechanism.

13. The power tap of claim 8 , wherein the adjustable configuration mechanism comprises at least one of the following:

a rotary switch, a dip switch, a rotary knob, a switch knob, and a touch screen.

14. A power tap in a network system, comprising:

a circuit board;

a non-communication enabled microcontroller disposed on the circuit board;

an adjustable configuration monitored by the non-communication enabled microcontroller to define the power tap's function in the network system according to a configuration instruction; and

one or more directional inject switches controlled by the non-communication enabled microcontroller to selectively inject a network power from a power source to an outgoing network cable connected to the power tap.

15. The power tap of claim 14 , wherein the function comprises one of the following:

a first power tap, a network power tap, a switched power tap, and a tap providing both network power and switched power.

16. The power tap of claim 14 , further comprising:

one or more directional inject switches controlled by the non-communication enabled microcontroller to selectively inject a switched power from an incoming power supply cable to an outgoing network cable connected to the power tap.

17. The power tap of claim 14 , further comprising:

one or more bypass switches controlled by the non-communication enabled microcontroller to selectively bypass a network power or a switched power from an incoming side of a network cable to an outgoing side of a network cable through the power tap.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2017
From: HAENSGEN, STEVEN T; CASPERS, JOHN P; WANG, YUTAO; KILBURN, JEFFREY A; WHITLEY, DARRYL E
To: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 042674/0432 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2016
From: HAENSGEN, STEVEN T; CASPERS, JOHN P; WANG, YUTAO; KILBURN, JEFFREY A; WHITLEY, DARRYL E
To: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 039314/0044 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180024583A1 · Jan 25, 2018