Embodiments of devices that improve radio frequency (RF) communication between an on body device and a second device are disclosed. Some of these embodiments pertain to a secondary communication system that captures an RF signal transmitted in a first directional pattern and retransmits it in the second directional pattern. Other embodiments pertain to a secondary communication system that provides an additional antenna positioned in a different location with which a user can communicate.

A wireless power transfer (WPT) system for an electrical vehicle (EV) may include a ground assembly (GA) having a GA transmitter coil, a vehicle assembly (VA) having a VA receiver coil magnetically coupled to the GA transmitter coil, a compensation strategy stage including a parallel-series compensation network to obtain a voltage V.sub.VA in the VA receiver coil proportional to an effective current I.sub.p_rms in the GA transmitter coil, a rectifier in the VA to obtain a continuous voltage V.sub.dc_VA, and a control strategy stage with a voltage control loop and a current control loop. The control strategy stage may provide a control command to regulate voltage in the VA to adjust the continuous voltage V.sub.dc_VA based on a reference DC link voltage. A DC link of a conductive charger of the EV may be regulated with the adjusted continuous voltage V.sub.dc_VA during an inductive charging process of the EV. The rectifier may be connected to the DC link of the conductive charger of the EV.

A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, or the like, uses the ability to communicate with a device via near field communication to determine that the device is physically proximate the support apparatus. The support apparatus uses this determination to associate itself with the device. In some instances, the associated device is a mattress positioned on the support apparatus; a footboard on the support apparatus; a medical device used with a patient supported on the support device; a nearby piece of furniture; another patient support apparatus; or an ID tag worn by a caregiver or patient, or attached to a piece of equipment. After the support apparatus and device are associated, they communicate information between each other using far field communication, which supports higher data transfer rates. Flux concentrators are added in some embodiments to extend and/or shape the range of near the field communication.

The present invention relates to a device (700a, 700b, 700c) for wireless transmission of data and/or power between the device and another device of a system, in particular of a patient monitoring system. To meet stringent relative time errors at low complexity the device comprises a connector (701) comprising a data transmission unit (703) and a magnetic coupling unit (702, 704) for transmitting power to and/or receiving power. A detection unit (705) detects coupling of a counterpart connector of another device of the system with the connector (701). A control unit (707) uses the detection that a counterpart connector of another device of the system has been coupled with the connector (701) as a trigger to determine and/or reset a relative time difference between a clock signal used by the device and a clock signal of the other device using i) the high frequency power signal of the magnetic coupling unit (702, 704) and of a magnetic coupling unit of the counterpart connector and/or ii) a received time calibration signal for determining and/or resetting the relative time difference.

An implant unit delivery tool is provided. The implant delivery tool may include a body, a holder disposed at a distal end of the body and adapted to hold an implant unit, and an implant activator associated with the body, the implant activator configured to receive power from a power source. The implant activator may be configured to selectively and wirelessly transfer power from the power source to the implant unit during implantation of the implant unit into the body of a subject to cause modulation of at least one nerve in the body of the subject, and determine a degree of nerve modulation response resulting from the selective and wireless transfer of power from the power source to the implant unit claims.

A system for omni-orientational wireless energy transfer is described. A transmitter unit has a transmitter resonator with a coil that is configured to be coupled to a power supply to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver unit. A receiver unit has a receiver resonator with a coil coupled to a device load. At least one of the resonators is a non-planar resonator that spans a non-degenerate two-dimensional surface having at least one concave portion.

A wireless device is disclosed that includes an antenna system comprising at least one inductive element and two or more capacitive elements. A switching component configured to change a circuit configuration of the capacitive elements. A controller configured to transmit a signal using the antenna system and to receive a response from a first device, to determine a communications protocol associated with the first device and to change a configuration of the antenna system in response to the detected communications protocol by actuating the switching component.

Embodiments of methods and systems for operating a communications device that communicates via inductive coupling are described. In an embodiment, a method for operating a communications device that communicates via inductive coupling involves detecting a falling signal edge corresponding to a received signal at the communications device based on a falling signal edge threshold, detecting a rising signal edge corresponding to the received signal based on a rising signal edge threshold, where the rising signal edge threshold is independent from the falling signal edge threshold, and decoding the received signal based on the detected falling signal edge and the detected rising signal edge. Other embodiments are also described.

Charging for one or more powered devices on a vehicle may be implemented on support components of a vehicle which may be movable with respect to one another to accomplish a function. When the support components are in a first position, a power unit in communication with a power source of the vehicle may be used to charge a powered rail for charging a rechargeable power storage unit in contact with the powered rail. The power storage unit, in turn, may provide power to one or more powered devices which may be separately housed. When the support components are in a second position, such as to accomplish a work function, the charged power storage unit may continue to provide power to the powered device(s) despite the power storage unit and the powered device(s) being distal to the powered rail.

A communication method of a wireless power transmitter for transferring power in a wireless manner, includes allocating a slot among a plurality of slots to a first wireless power receiver, the slot being allocated to the first wireless power receiver for acquiring information of the first wireless power receiver while wireless power is transferred to the first wireless power receiver; transferring the wireless power to the first wireless power receiver by the wireless power transmitter; detecting a second wireless power receiver by the wireless power transmitter during the wireless power transfer to the first wireless power receiver; and generating a collision related signal based on a frequency shift keying (FSK) such that a collision resolution mechanism is executed by each of the first and second wireless power receivers respectively when first information generated by the first wireless power and second information generated by the second wireless power are in a collision within a first unallocated slot among the plurality of slots, the first information and the second information being generated based on a load modulation.