Patent attributes
An electrical/optical signal conversion system includes a PoE powering device with powering device electrical data ports, and a PoE powered device (PD) with a power controller coupled to PoE-powered signal conversion subsystems that each include an electrical/optical signal converter coupled to a PD electrical data port and a PD optical data port. The PD electrical data ports receive power and electrical data signals transmitted by a powering device electrical data port, transmit the electrical data signals to their electrical/optical signal converter, and provide the power to the power controller. The corresponding PD optical data port then receives power from the power controller that was provided by the PD electrical data port, receives optical data signals from the electrical/optical signal converter that were converted from the electrical data signals transmitted by the PD electrical data port, and transmits the optical data signals to a first optical signal device.