LTC4268-1
16
42681fc
applicaTions inForMaTion
classification for use in closed systems and is not defined
or supported by the IEEE 802.3af. With the extended clas-
sification range available in the LTC4268-1, it is possible
for system designers to define multiple classes using load
currents between 40mA and 75mA.
During classification, the PSE presents a fixed voltage
between 15.5V and 20.5V to the PD (Figure 5). With the
input voltage in this range, the LTC4268-1 asserts a load
current from the V
PORTP
pin through the R
CLASS
resistor.
The magnitude of the load current is set with the selection
of the R
CLASS
resistor. The resistor value associated with
each class is shown in Table 2.
A substantial amount of power is dissipated in the
LTC4268-1 during classification. The IEEE 802.3af specifi-
cation limits the classification time to 75ms in order avoid
excessive heating. The LTC4268-1 is designed to handle
the power dissipation during the probe period. If the PSE
probing exceeds 75ms, the LTC4268-1 may overheat. In
this situation, the thermal protection circuit will engage
and disable the classification current source, protecting
the LTC4268-1 from damage. When the die cools, clas-
sification is automatically resumed.
Classification presents a challenging stability problem
for the
PSE due to the wide range of loads possible. The
LTC4268-1 has been designed to avoid PSE interoperability
problems by maintaining a positive I-V slope throughout
the signature and classification ranges up to UVLO turn
on as shown in Figure 6. The positive I-V slope avoids
areas of negative resistance and helps prevent the PSE
from power cycling or getting stuck during signature
or classification probing. In the event a PSE overshoots
beyond the classification voltage range, the available load
current aids in returning the PD back into the classification
voltage range. (The PD input may otherwise be trapped
by a reverse-biased diode bridge and the voltage held by
the 0.1礔 capacitor.) By gently ramping the classification
current on and maintaining a positive I-V slope until UVLO
turn-on, the LTC4268-1 provides a well behaved load,
assuring interoperability with any PSE.
V
PORTP
R
CLASS
V
PORTN
LTC4268-1
CONSTANT
LOAD
CURRENT
INTERNAL
TO LTC4268-1
42681 F05
R
CLASS
CURRENT PATH
V
PD
PSE
PSE CURRENT MONITOR
PSE
PROBING
VOLTAGE
SOURCE
15.5V TO 20.5V
V
PORT
(V)
0
40
42681 F06
10
20
30
Figure 5. PSE Probing PD During Classification
Figure 6. LTC4268-1 Positive I-V Slope