Power feeding system using two-wire subscriber lines

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a system for feeding electric power to a terminal using a subscriber line, and in particular to a system having a power feeding circuit provided between exchange or switch equipment and the terminal.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] According to recommendations defined by ITU-T (ITU-Telecommunication Standardization Sector), ISDN exchange or switch equipment is equipped with an optional means for feeding power to network termination equipment through a subscriber line. Therefore, there are cases where the ISDN exchange equipment is not equipped with the power feeding means. To supply power from the side of the ISDN exchange equipment without a power feeding facility to the network termination equipment, there has been proposed a system having a power feeding adapter connected between the ISDN exchange equipment and the network termination equipment in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 8-251819.

[0006] More specifically, the ISDN exchange equipment is provided with a plurality of line termination circuits and the network termination equipment is provided with two network termination FQ5-331 2 circuits each corresponding to a different line termination circuit. The power feeding adapter is provided with first and second transformers which connect the two network termination circuits of the network termination equipment and the corresponding line termination circuits of the ISDN exchange equipment through a pair of 2-wire subscriber lines, respectively.

[0007] The power feeding adapter is further provided with a DC power source where the one output terminal of the DC power source is connected to the center tap of the secondary winding of the first transformer and the other output terminal of the DC power source is connected to the center tap of the secondary winding of the second transformer. The DC power is transferred to the network termination equipment through the pair of two 2-wire subscriber lines.

[0008] According to the above conventional system, however, a problem comes up in association with a subscriber line test which is an important function of the line termination circuit or subscriber line interface circuit. The subscriber line test is performed to measure various physical quantities including line resistance and capacitance between subscriber lines in a state where the subscriber line interface circuits are directly connected to the subscriber lines.

[0009] Therefore, in the case of the above conventional system, it is necessary to isolate the power feeding adapter from the subscriber lines when the subscriber line test is started and to connect it to the subscriber lines again when the subscriber line test has been completed. To achieve such a switching operation, the power feeding adapter needs to receive test starting and test completion signals from the exchange or switch equipment. However, such test starting and test completion signals are not provided in the case of the exchange equipment without a power feeding facility. In other words, to perform the subscriber line test, each subscriber line interface circuit needs to be provided with an additional circuit for generating the test starting and test completion signals, resulting in increased amount of hardware and complicated circuit configuration.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a power feeding system and method which can perform the subscriber line test using existing exchange equipment without the need of additional circuits other than power feeding equipment.

[0011] According to the present invention, a power feeding system for feeding direct-current (DC) power to a subscriber terminal using a pair of 2-wire subscriber lines of exchange equipment, is comprised of a detector for detecting an operation state of each of the pair of 2-wire subscriber lines connected to the exchange equipment and a power supply circuit for supplying the DC power to the subscriber terminal through the pair of 2-wire subscriber lines connected to the subscriber terminal. When the detector detects that the operation state is a subscriber line test state, a switch circuit detaches the power supply from the pair of 2-wire subscriber lines and directly connects the exchange equipment to the subscriber terminal through the pair of 2-wire subscriber lines.

[0012] The detector may detect a voltage on each of the pair of 2-wire subscriber lines connected to the exchange equipment to determine whether the operation state is the subscriber line test state. Alternatively, the detector may detects an alternating-current component on each of the pair of 2-wire subscriber lines connected to exchange equipment to determine whether the operation state is the subscriber line test state, wherein the alternating-current component is applied to each of the pair of 2-wire subscriber lines by the exchange equipment in only a communication state.

[0013] As described above, when the subscriber line test state is detected, the power supply circuit is detached from the subscriber lines and the exchange equipment is directly connected to the subscriber terminal through the subscriber lines. Therefore, the subscriber line test can be easily and automatically performed. After the subscriber line test has been completed, the detector detects a normal communication state and the power supply circuit restarts supplying the DC power to the subscriber terminal through the subscriber lines.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a power feeding circuit provided between exchange equipment site and terminal site according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a signal detector provided in the power feeding circuit;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing another example of a signal detector provided in the power feeding circuit;

[0017] FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a waveform of a voltage appearing on 2-wire subscriber line of the exchange equipment;

[0018] FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a waveform of a detection signal of the signal detector as shown in FIG. 2; and

[0019] FIG. 4C is a diagram showing a waveform of a detection signal of the signal detector as shown in Fig. 3.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, exchange equipment 10 is connected to a terminal 20 through a power feeding circuit 30 which supplies DC power to the network termination equipment of the terminal 20 through a pair of 2-wire subscriber lines L₁and L₂each including A wire and B wire

[0021] The exchange equipment 10 accommodates a plurality of 2-wire subscriber lines including the pair of 2-wire subscriber lines L₁and L₂. The exchange equipment 10 is comprised of a testing facility and a plurality of subscriber line interface circuits which correspond to the 2-wire subscriber lines L₁, L₂, . . . , respectively. Among the subscriber line interface circuits, two of the subscriber line interface circuits 101 and 102 are shown connected to the power feeding circuit 30 which supplies the DC power to the terminal 20 through the pair of 2-wire subscriber lines L₁and L₂.

[0022] More specifically, the A and B terminals of the subscriber line interface circuit 101 are connected to switches SW1_Aand SWL_Bwhich are in turn connected to wires L1_Aand L1_B, respectively. The wires L1_Aand L1_Bcorrespond to the A and B wires of the 2-wire subscriber lines L₁. Similarly, the two terminals of the subscriber line interface circuit 102 are connected to switches SW2_Aand SW2_Bwhich are in turn connected to wires L2_Aand L2_B, respectively. The wires L2_Aand L2_Bcorrespond to the A and B wires of the 2-wire subscriber lines L₂.

[0023] The switches SW1_Aand SW1_Bconcurrently perform the same switch operation such that the testing circuit 103 is selected when the subscriber line test is started under control of an exchange controller (not shown). The switch SW1_Aconnects the wire L1_Ato a selected one of the A terminal of the subscriber line interface circuit 101 and the A terminal of the testing circuit 103. The switch SW1_Bconnects the wire L1_Bto a selected one of the B terminal of the subscriber line interface circuit 101 and the B terminal of the testing circuit 103. Similarly, The switches SW1_Aand SW1_Bconcurrently perform the same switch operation such that the testing circuit 103 is selected when the subscriber line test is started under control of the exchange controller. The switch SW2_Aconnects the wire L2_Ato a selected one of the A terminal of the subscriber line interface circuit 102 and the A terminal of the testing circuit 103. The switch SW2_Bconnects the wire L2_Bto a selected one of the B terminal of the subscriber line interface circuit 102 and the B terminal of the testing circuit 103.

[0024] The power feeding circuit 30 is comprised of transformers 104 and 105 which have primary windings connected to line state detectors 106 and 107, respectively, and a secondary winding connected to the terminal 20 through the 2-wire subscriber lines L₁and L₂.

[0025] More specifically, the wires L1_Aand L1_Bare connected to the input terminals of the line state detector 106 and further to the A and B terminals of the primary winding of the transformer 104 through switches SW1_A1and SW1_B1, respectively. The switch SW1_A1connects the wire L1_Ato a selected one of the A terminal of the primary winding of the transformer 104 and an interconnection wire 108. The switch SW1_B1connects the wire L1_Bto a selected one of the B terminal of the primary winding of the transformer 104 and an interconnection wire 109. The interconnection wire 108 and the A terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer 104 are connected to the A wire of the 2-wire subscriber line L₁through a switch SW1_A2and the interconnection wire 109 and the B terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer 104 are connected to the B wire of the 2-wire subscriber line L₁through a switch SW1_B2. The switch SW1_A2connects the A wire of the subscriber line L₁to a selected one of the A terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer 104 and the interconnection wire 108. The switch SW1_B2connects the B wire of the subscriber line L₁to a selected one of the B terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer 104 and the interconnection wire 109.

[0026] The switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A2, and SW1_B2concurrently perform the same operation depending on the output of the line state detector 106. More specifically, when the wires L1_Aand L1_Bare in a communication state, the line state detector 106 outputs a communication detection signal as switch control signal to the switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A2, and SW1_B2. The communication detection signal causes the switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A2, and SW1_B2to be in a normal state where the switches connect the transformer 104 to the wires L1_Aand L1_Band the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₁.

[0027] On the other hand, when the test is started by the switches SW1_Aand SW1_Bconcurrently selecting the test circuit 103, the wires L1_Aand L1_Bare changed into a test state and thereby the line state detector 106 outputs a test detection signal as switch control signal to the switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A2, and SW1_B2. The test detection signal causes the switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A2, and SW1_B2to be in a test switch state where all the switches select the interconnection wires 108 and 109 to connect the wires L1_Aand L1_Bdirectly to the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₁. In other words, an alternative path or a detour around the transformer 104 is formed in the power feeding circuit 30.

[0028] Similarly, the wires L2_Aand L2_Bare connected to the input terminals of the line state detector 107 and further to the A and B terminals of the primary winding of the transformer 105 through switches SW2_A1and SW2_B1, respectively. The switch SW2_A1connects the wire L2_Ato a selected one of the A terminal of the primary winding of the transformer 105 and an interconnection wire 110. The switch SW2_B1connects the wire L2_Bto a selected one of the B terminal of the primary winding of the transformer 105 and an interconnection wire 111. The interconnection wire 110 and the A terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer 105 are connected to the A wire of the 2-wire subscriber line L₂through a switch SW2_A2and the interconnection wire 111 and the B terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer 105 are connected to the B wire of the 2-wire subscriber line L₂through a switch SW2_B2. The switch SW2_A2connects the A wire of the subscriber line L₂to a selected one of the A terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer 105 and the interconnection wire 110. The switch SW2_B2connects the B wire of the subscriber line L₂to a selected one of the B terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer 105 and the interconnection wire 111.

[0029] The switches SW2_A1, SW2_B1, SW2_A2, and SW2_B2concurrently perform the same operation depending on the output of the line state detector 107. More specifically, when the wires L2_Aand L2_Bare in a communication state, the line state detector 107 outputs a communication detection signal as switch control signal to the switches SW2_A1, SW2_B1, SW2_A2, and SW2_B2. The communicationdetection signal causes the switches SW2_A1, SW2_B1, SW2_A2, and SW2_B2to be in a normal switch state where the switches connect the transformer 105 to the wires L2_Aand L2_Band the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₂.

[0030] On the other hand, when the test is started by the switches SW1_Aand SW1_Bconcurrently selecting the test circuit 103, the wires L2_Aand L2_Bare changed into a test state and thereby the line state detector 107 outputs a test detection signal as switch control signal to the switches SW2_A1, SW2_B1, SW2_A2, and SW2_B2. The test detection signal causes the switches SW2_A1, SW2_B1, SW2_A2, and SW2_B2to be in a test switch state where all the switches select the interconnection wires 110 and 111 to connect the wires L2_Aand L2_Bdirectly to the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₂. In other words, an alternative path or a detour around the transformer 105 is formed in the power feeding circuit 30.

[0031] The respective transformers 104 and 105 have center taps CT in the secondary windings thereof. The power feeding circuit 30 is further provided with a DC source 112 whose positive and negative electrodes are connected to the center taps of the transformers 104 and 105, respectively.

[0032] As described above, in the case of the communication state, the power feeding circuit 30 connects the wires L1_Aand L1_Bto the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₁through the transformer 104 and connects the wires L2_Aand L2_Bto the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₂through the transformer 105. Therefore, communication signals are transferred between the exchange equipment 10 and the terminal 20 through the transformers 104 and 105 and the DC power is supplied from the DC source 112 to the terminal 20 through the secondary windings of the transformers 104 and 105 and the subscriber lines L₁and L₂. In this case, the current flows through the subscriber lines L₁from the transformer 104 to the terminal 20 and through the subscriber lines L₂from the terminal 20 to the transformer 104.

[0033] At the terminal 20, the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₁are connected to a receive-side transformer (not shown) and the DC power is extracted from the center tap of the receive-side transformer. It is the same with the subscriber line L₂. Since the current flows through each of the subscriber lines L₁and L₂in the same direction, the inductance is prevented from saturation at the transformers 104 and 105 of the power feeding circuit 30 and the receive-side transformers of the terminal 20.

[0034] In the case of the test state, the power feeding circuit 30 connects the wires L1_Aand L1_Bdirectly to the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₁and connects the wires L2_Aand L2_Bdirectly to the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₂. Therefore, the DC power supplying is stopped and only the test signal is transferred from the test circuit 103 directly to the terminal 20 through the subscriber lines L₁and L₂.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, a line state detector (106, 107) is designed to detect a change of voltage across the wires L1_Aand L1_Bor the wires L2_Aand L2_B. In the communication state, the subscriber line interface circuits applies a predetermined constant voltage to the wires L1_Aand L1_Band the wires L2_Aand L2_Bto generate a sealing current. In the test state, the voltage on the wires L1_Aand L1_Band the wires L2_Aand L2_Bis changed to the ground level.

[0036] Taking the line state detector 106 as an example, the wires L1_Aand L1_Bare connected across a circuit having a resistor 201, a light-emitting diode 202 of a photo coupler and a Zener diode 203 connected in series. The light-emitting diode 202 forms the photo coupler with a phototransistor 204. The Zener diode 203 is selected so that the Zener breakdown voltage is smaller than the predetermined constant voltage applied to the wires L1_Aand L1_Bby the subscriber line interface circuit 101. Therefore, in the communication state, a current flows through the light-emitting diode 202 to cause it to emit light to the phototransistor 204. When the phototransistor 204 receives the light from the diode 202, a current flows through the phototransistor 204 and is amplified to set the switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A1, and SW1_B2to the normal switch state such that the switches connect the transformer 104 to the wires L1_Aand L1_Band the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₁.

[0037] When the test is started by the switches SW1_Aand SW1_Bconcurrently selecting the test circuit 103, the voltage on the wires L1_Aand L1_Bare changed to the ground level. Therefore, the Zener diode 203 stops the current flowing, causing the light-emitting diode 202 to be turned off. Since no current flows through the phototransistor 204, the switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A2, and SW1_B2are changed to the test switch state where all the switches select the interconnection wires 110 and 111 to connect the wires L1_Aand L1_Bdirectly to the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₁.

[0038] In this manner, the line state detector 106 automatically detects the operation state of the exchange equipment 10 and the switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A2, and SW1_B2are controlled depending on the detected state. It is the same with the line state detector 107.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 3, a line state detector (106, 107) is designed to detect an AC signal transmitted only during communication through the wires L1_Aand L1_Bor the wires L2_Aand L2_B. Such an AC signal may be a 2B1Q code signal. Therefore, the operation state of the exchange equipment 10 can be detected depending on whether the AC signal is detected.

[0040] Taking the line state detector 106 as an example, it is comprised of a capacitor 301, a rectifying circuit comprising a resistor 302, a diode 303, a capacitor 304 and a resistor 305, and a comparator 306.

[0041] When receiving the AC signal superposed on the predetermined constant voltage, only the AC signal passes through the capacitor 301 and then is rectified by the diode 303. The output of the diode 303 is smoothed by the smoothing circuit comprising the capacitor 304 and the resistor 305. In other words, the amplitude level of the AC signal is detected and output to the comparator 306. The comparator 306 compares the received amplitude level of the AC signal to a predetermined reference voltage 307.

[0042] When the received amplitude level of the AC signal is greater than the predetermined reference voltage 307 in the communication state, the comparator 306 outputs the communication detection signal to the switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A2, and SW1_B2. Therefore, the switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A2, and SW1_B2are set to the normal switch state such that the switches connect the transformer 104 to the wires L1_Aand L1_Band the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₁.

[0043] When the received amplitude level of the AC signal is not greater than the predetermined reference voltage 307 in the test state, the comparator 306 outputs the test detection signal to the switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A2, and SW1_B2. Therefore, the switches SW1_A1, SW1_B1, SW1_A2, and SW1_B2are changed to the test switch state where all the switches select the interconnection wires 110 and 111 to connect the wires L1_Aand L1_Bdirectly to the A and B wires of the subscriber line L₁. It is the same with the line state detector 107.

[0044] The line state detector as shown in FIG. 3 can be useful in the case where the testing circuit 103 outputs the same voltage as the predetermined constant voltage because it does not detect the DC voltage but AC signal.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 4A, in the communication state, the subscriber line interface circuits applies a predetermined constant voltage of −48V to the wires L1_Aand L1_Band the wires L2_Aand L2_B. In the test state, the voltage on the wires L1_Aand L1_Band the wires L2_Aand L2_Bis changed to the ground level G. Further, the 2B1Q code signal is superimposed on the predetermined constant voltage of −48V during only communication.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4B, the line state detector of FIG. 2 produces the switch control signal changing in amplitude depending on whether the Zener breakdown of the Zener diode 203 occurs.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 4B, the line state detector of FIG. 3 produces the switch control signal changing in amplitude depending on the 2B1Q code signal is detected. There is a delay time from a change of the predetermined constant voltage to a change of the switch control signal. However, such a delay time is negligible in the exchange operation. Further, in the line state detector as shown in FIG. 3, it is important to increase the input impedance not to reduce in signal level, that is, to maintain the quality of communication.

[0048] A combination of the line state detectors of FIGS. 2 and 3 may be useful. For example, the respective input terminals of the first line state detector of FIG. 2 and the second line state detector of FIG. 3 are connected in common and the output terminals are connected to an OR gate. In this case, when one of the first and second line state detectors detects the test state, the switches are changed to the test switch state as described before. When one of the first and second line state detectors detects the normal communication state, the switches are changed to the normal switch state. In other words, using the combination of the line state detectors of FIGS. 2 and 3, the power feeding system can be used for various types of exchange equipment.

[0049] As described above, according to the present invention, the line state detector (106, 107) detects the operation state of the exchange equipment 10 by monitoring the subscriber lines of the exchange equipment 10. In other words, the line state detector determines which of the normal communication and the subscriber line test is performed. When the subscriber line test is detected, the transformer (104, 105) for dc power supplying is detached or isolated from the subscriber lines and the exchange equipment is directly connected to the terminal 20. After the subscriber line test has been done, the transformer is connected to the subscriber lines to feed dc power to the terminal. Therefore, the existing exchange equipment can be used in the power feeding system according to the present invention. In this manner, the subscriber line test can be easily and automatically performed in the power feeding system using the power feeding circuit 30.