An isolated PoE power architecture was developed so Ethernet connectivity and board power could share the same field cable.
Start a Project ↗CASE 02CONNECTED BUILDING HARDWARE
A production-ready PoE platform for the customer’s own firmware and manufacturing.
An automation software company needed PoE-powered Ethernet hardware with integrated digital I/O, while keeping firmware development and series production within its own organization.
APPLICATIONBuilding and automation systems
CORE REQUIREMENTPoE-powered Ethernet hardware with integrated digital I/O
DEVELOPMENT SCOPEElectronics, protection, validation and complete design transfer
STATUSTransferred to customer production
01THE REQUIREMENT
Hardware that fits the customer’s
own software and production model.
The device had to connect directly to existing Ethernet infrastructure, receive power over PoE and provide integrated digital inputs and outputs.
The customer would develop the embedded software and manufacture the product internally, so the final engineering package had to support a clean handover into its own workflow.
02THE ENGINEERING CHALLENGE
Network-connected hardware
exposed to the field.
Long building cabling and externally connected I/O placed the hardware directly in the path of electrical disturbances.
ESD, EFT and surge behavior therefore had to be considered as part of the architecture, alongside stable PoE operation and reliable field I/O.
03THE ENGINEERING
Designed for integration, validation and transfer.
HARDWARE ARCHITECTURE
Ethernet + PoEBuilding network
POWER PATH
Isolated PoE PowerSingle-cable power
DATA PATH
Ethernet InterfaceNetwork connection
ProcessingCustomer firmware platform
Protected Field I/ODigital inputs / outputs
DESIGN INTENT
Network power, external interfaces and field protection were developed for the same deployment environment.
Protection and isolation were designed around the Ethernet and external I/O interfaces to manage transient and field-related electrical disturbances.
The hardware was validated as a complete network-powered field I/O platform before handover.
Component, PCB and manufacturing decisions were made with the customer’s own assembly process in mind, followed by delivery of the complete hardware design package.
04THE OUTCOME
Ready for the customer’s
own firmware and production.
The resulting platform combined Ethernet connectivity, PoE power and digital field I/O in a single device, reducing field wiring and removing the need for a separate local power connection.
The schematic, PCB design data, manufacturing outputs and BOM were transferred to the customer, allowing its own team to develop the embedded software and manage series production independently.
ENGINEERING CASES