PoE Device Manufacturers Providing End-to-End Solutions

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is not a new technology. It has been around since 1997 invented by PowerDsine. Since first introducing the IC to put power onto an ethernet cable, the Power Source Equipment (PSE) IC, and the IC to take power off the ethernet cable and put it into an end-point device, the Powered Device (PD) IC, PoE has grown to a $4,352 million market in 2022 as reported by the analyst MarketsandMarkets(tm) with an estimated CAGR of ~10% to 2030.

Much of the growth in this market has been driven by device manufacturers who have elected to power their devices by PoE. Originally the three major applications for PoE were IP Phones, the original application PoE was developed for, Wireless Access Points, and IP Cameras; however, today their are hundreds of devices that can be powered by PoE including radios, sensors, thermostats, lighting, motors, displays, kiosks, printers, POS devices, and many many more. For a fun look check out Microchip's Champagne Break Powering the Party With PoE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wW_vBXSttI&t=29s

When PowerDsine first introduced PoE in 1997, there were no PoE switches. So PowerDsine introduced the first PoE Midspan. The midspan took in an ethernet cable from a switch, injected power onto the cable, and output an ethernet cable with both data and power. This is why Midspans are also sometimes referred to as Injectors.

For over 25 years, PowerDsine, which today is the Microchip Power over Ethernet Business Unit, has been providing device manufacturers with Midspans/Injectors to power their devices. When an IP Camera manufacturer wants to offer cameras powered by PoE on the marketplace, they cannot rely that the location it is being installed at will have PoE power. Therefore, the IP Camera manufacturer needs to be able to offer a PoE powering option for their customers.

Even today, PoE Device Manufacturers need to consider offering a powering option of a Midspan. Only 20% of installed switches provide power. Only 50% of switches sold today can power devices. So the odds are that and PoE Device being installed today will be on a network that does not provide power.

Microchip has been providing these manufacturers with the Midspans required to offer their customers a complete end-to-end solution. By offering an end-to-end solution, it removes the objection a buyer might have of, "How am I going to power your device?" When the manufacturer offers a Poe Midspan/Injector bundled or as an option with a camera, it is just like a laptop coming with a power supply. By addressing how the unit will be powered, it enables the manufacturer to sell more.

An important consideration is also ensuring that the manufacturer offers the correct powering option. Today, with IEEE 802.3 af, at, and bt (type 3 and 4), power levels, the manufacturer needs to make certain they are providing the correct amount of power. Still, it is not only the power that needs to be correct. The Midspan/Injector must also be built to match the environment. That is why Microchip offers a wide variety of Indoor, Outdoor, and Industrial Midspans.

Today's applications also require faster data-rates. Previously, most Midspans/Injectors supported data-rates up to 1 Gbps; however, today, with applications such as Wi-Fi(C) 6, 6e, and 5G, faster speeds are required. That is why Microchip also offers a complete line of Midspans up to 10Gbps for both indoor and outdoor environments.

One major consideration for manufactures is ensuring that the Midspan can support it whether it was pre-bt or bt standard device. The latest IEEE 802.3bt standard was ratified in 2018. This added 4 more classes providing 45W, 60W, 75W, and 90W at the source. Prior to the ratification of the IEEE802.3bt standard, PoE manufacturers were already designing in pre-bt standard power up to 95W. Once designed in, the device would continue to be manufactured with a pre-bt PD IC until such time the device was replaced or redesigned. Thus, depending on the life of a device, it could require pre-bt power support for many years. Many devices in the marketplace today require a pre-bt power.

To address this issue, Microchip introduced multi Power over Ethernet (mPoE). mPoE Midspans have the ability to recognize to recognize whether the request from a bt PD IC is either pre-bt or IEEE 802.3bt compliant and deliver the power in the correct manner. Therefore, a manufacturer who has a pre-bt device today can provide power today and transition to a IEEE 802.3bt standard in the future all using the same Midspan.

Every PoE Device Manufacturer should consider providing a powering option with their device. Providing a powering option enables the Device Manufacturer to provide an end-to-end solution thus removing the question by the customer of "How am I going to power that?" This is very important since today only 20% of existing switches provide power and only 50% of the switches being sold today provide power. By addressing that issue, Device Manufacturers can sell more devices.

Microchip, with one of the largest selections of Indoor, Outdoor and Industrial PoE Midspans/Injectors with available data-rates up to 10 Gbps has been providing "private" or "white" label Midspans/Injectors for over 25 years. If you are interested in learning more, please visit https://www.microchip.com/en-us/products/power-over-ethernet/poe-systems.