Power over ethernet connector with integrated power source equipment (pse) controller

Abstract

In a Power over Ethernet (POE) system, a power source equipment (PSE) device configured to deliver power to one or more powered devices (PDs) over a plurality of Ethernet transmission lines. The PSE interface includes a multi-port transmission line connector capable connecting to multiple Ethernet transmission lines, and a power source equipment (PSE) controller module integrated with the multi-port transmission line connector. The PSE controller module is capable of semi-automatic mode and legacy detection of one or more of the PDs that are coupled to the Ethernet transmission lines. The PSE controller module includes a plurality of PSE controllers corresponding to the Ethernet transmission lines, including a master PSE controller and plurality of slave PSE controllers coupled to the master PSE controller. The master PSE controller controls the slave PSE controllers, so as to provide power management to said corresponding PD devices, without an external microcontroller. In another embodiment, the PSE controller(s) inside the connector are configured for fully automatic mode, and include the feature of independent power management.