Power-over-ethernet (PoE) powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier
A power-over-Ethernet (PoE) powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier includes a plurality of Ethernet ports each configured to be coupled to an Ethernet cable and capable of receiving power and audio data transmitted over the Ethernet cables. Power supply circuitry connected to the Ethernet ports is configured to combine and manage the power received at the Ethernet ports. A microprocessor subsystem powered by the power supply circuitry is configured to receive and process the audio data to generate output audio signals. A digital audio amplifier powered by the power supply circuitry amplifies the output audio signals received from the microprocessor system. A plurality of audio outputs connected to the digital audio amplifier are each configured to be connected to a different one of a plurality of speaker devices to transmit the audio output signals amplified by the digital audio amplifier to the plurality of speaker devices.
1. A power-over-Ethernet (PoE) powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier, comprising:
a plurality of Ethernet ports, each Ethernet port of the plurality of Ethernet ports configured to be coupled to an Ethernet cable, each of the plurality of Ethernet ports capable of receiving power and audio data transmitted via the Ethernet cables;
power supply circuitry, connected to the Ethernet ports and configured to combine and manage the power received at the Ethernet ports, wherein the power supply circuitry comprises a plurality of PoE controllers, each PoE controller of the plurality of PoE controllers being coupled to one of the Ethernet cables, and each of the PoE controllers configured to:
automatically identify an available power level corresponding to its coupled Ethernet cable, and
recover power from its coupled Ethernet cable; and
a microprocessor subsystem, powered by the power supply circuitry and configured to receive and process the audio data to generate output audio signals.
2. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the power supply circuitry comprises a Field-Effect Rectifier Diode, connected to outputs of the plurality of PoE controllers, for combining the power received at each of the plurality of Ethernet ports.
3. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 2 , wherein the Field-Effect Rectifier Diode comprises a Schottky diode.
4. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 2 , wherein the power supply circuitry further comprises a DC-DC converter connected to the Field-Effect Rectifier Diode and to the microprocessor subsystem for converting a direct current voltage at the Field-Effect Rectifier Diode to a lower voltage for the microprocessor subsystem.
5. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 4 , wherein the lower voltage for the microprocessor subsystem is about 5 VDC.
6. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 2 , further comprising a digital audio amplifier configured to amplify the output audio signals, wherein the power supply circuitry further comprises a DC-DC converter connected to the Field-Effect Rectifier Diode and to the digital audio amplifier for converting the direct current voltage at the Field-Effect Rectifier Diode to a lower voltage for the digital audio amplifier.
7. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 6 , wherein the lower voltage for the digital audio amplifier is about 24 VDC.
8. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the power supply circuitry comprises a plurality of isolation transformers, each magnetically coupled to a different one of the plurality of Ethernet ports for blocking direct current while allowing alternating current to pass through the isolation transformer.
9. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 8 , wherein the audio data received at one of the plurality of Ethernet ports is passed from a transformer coil of the isolation transformer coupled to the Ethernet port to the microprocessor subsystem.
10. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 8 , wherein the power supply circuitry further comprises a plurality of rectifier bridges, each connected to a different one of the plurality of isolation transformers for converting the alternating current passed through each isolation transformer to direct current.
11. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the power and audio data are received via the Ethernet cables from power sourcing equipment.
12. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 11 , wherein the power sourcing equipment comprises a power over Ethernet enabled network router.
13. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the audio data comprises a high-resolution digital audio stream from an online music service.
14. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of Ethernet ports are each configured to receive power according to IEEE 802.3bt.
15. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of Ethernet ports are each configured to receive 90 Watts of power.
16. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of Ethernet ports comprises exactly two Ethernet ports.
17. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the power supply circuitry and the microprocessor subsystem are integrated in one or more circuit boards in a housing of the audio amplifier.
18. The PoE powered multichannel streaming audio amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the power supply circuitry includes a step-down switch-mode power supply circuit that converts 24 Volt DC to 5 Volts DC.
19. A method of operating a multichannel streaming audio amplifier connected by a plurality of Ethernet cables to power-over-Ethernet (PoE) enabled power sourcing equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at Ethernet ports in the multichannel streaming audio amplifier, power
transmitted via each of the plurality of Ethernet cables and audio data transmitted via at least one of the plurality of Ethernet cables;
combining the power received from the plurality of Ethernet cables to power a
microprocessor subsystem in the multichannel streaming audio amplifier, wherein said combining further comprises, for each PoE controller of a plurality of PoE controllers coupled to one of the plurality of Ethernet cables:
automatically identifying, an available power level corresponding to its coupled Ethernet cable, and
recovering power from its coupled Ethernet cable; and
processing the audio data by the microprocessor subsystem to generate output audio signals.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein said combining is performed using a Field-Effect Rectifier Diode in the multichannel streaming audio amplifier.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein said combining further comprises using isolation transformers connected to the Ethernet ports to block direct current from the Ethernet cables while allowing alternating current to pass through the isolation transformers.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said combining further comprises using a plurality of rectifier bridges, each connected to a different one of the plurality of isolation transformers for converting the alternating current passed through each isolation transformer to direct current.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein said combining further comprises using the plurality of PoE controllers, each connected to a different one of the plurality of rectifier bridges, for processing the direct current from each rectifier bridge.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein said combining further comprises using a Field-Effect Rectifier Diode connected to the outputs of the plurality of PoE controllers for combining the direct current processed by the plurality of PoE controllers.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein said combining further comprises using a DC-DC converter connected to the Field-Effect Rectifier Diode and to the microprocessor subsystem for converting the direct current voltage at the Field-Effect Rectifier Diode to a lower voltage for the microprocessor subsystem.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the lower voltage for the microprocessor subsystem is 5 VDC.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein said combining further comprises using a DC-DC converter connected to the Field-Effect Rectifier Diode and to a digital audio amplifier for converting the direct current voltage at the Field-Effect Rectifier Diode to a lower voltage for the digital audio amplifier.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the lower voltage for the digital audio amplifier is 24 VDC.
29. The method of claim 19 , wherein the audio data comprises a high-resolution digital audio stream from an online music service.
30. The method of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of Ethernet ports are each configured to receive 90 Watts of power.