8.4.1.4 Hardware Classification

Hardware classification allows a PSE to determine a PD’s power requirements before powering, and helps with power management once power is applied. Type 2 hardware classification permits high power PSEs and PDs to determine whether the connected device can support high-power operation. A type 2 PD presents class 4 in hardware to indicate it is a high-power device. A type 1 PSE will treat a class 4 device like a class 0 device, allotting 13 W if it chooses to power the PD. A PD that receives a 2 event class understands that it is powered from a high-power PSE and it may draw up to 25.5 W immediately after the 80-ms start-up period completes. A type 2 PD that does not receive a 2-event hardware classification may choose to not start, or must start in a 13 W condition and request more power through the DLL after start-up. The standard requires a type 2 PD to indicate that it is underpowered if this occurs. Start-up of a high-power PD under 13 W implicitly requires some form of powering down sections of the application circuits.

The maximum power entries in Table 1 determine the class the PD must advertise. The PSE may disconnect a PD if it draws more than its stated class power, which may be the hardware class or a lower DLL-derived power level. The standard permits the PD to draw limited current peaks that increase the instantaneous power above the Table 1 limit; however, the average power requirement always applies.

The TPS23754 implements two-event classification. Selecting an R_CLS of 63.4 Ω provides a valid type 2 signature. TPS23754 may be used as a compatible type 1 device simply by programming class 0–3 per Table 1. DLL communication is implemented by the ethernet communication system in the PD and is not implemented by the TPS23754.

The TPS23754 disables classification above V_{CU_OFF} to avoid excessive power dissipation. CLS voltage is turned off during PD thermal limit or when APD or DEN are active. The CLS output is inherently current limited, but should not be shorted to V_SS for long periods of time.

Figure 23 shows how classification works for the TPS23754. Transition from state-to-state occurs when comparator thresholds are crossed (see Figure 20 and Figure 21). These comparators have hysteresis, which adds inherent memory to the machine. Operation begins at idle (unpowered by PSE) and proceeds with increasing voltage from left to right. A 2-event classification follows the (heavy-lined) path towards the bottom, ending up with a latched type 2 decode along the lower branch that is highlighted. This state results in a low T2P during normal operation. Once the valid path to type 2 PSE detection is broken, the input voltage must transition below the mark reset threshold to start anew.