Embodiments are disclosed for a low-frequency detection and ranging. In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises: an open electrode; an alternating current (AC) voltage source configured to supply an excitation voltage to the open electrode at an excitation frequency; a resonant circuit coupled to the open electrode, the resonant circuit configured to oscillate when an object is within a detection distance of the open electrode; one or more processors configured to: obtain time domain samples of an output voltage of the resonant circuit when the resonant circuit is oscillating; convert the time domain samples into frequency domain samples; for each frequency domain sample, determine an amplitude difference and a phase difference as compared to an amplitude and phase of the excitation voltage; and determine a material class of the object based on the amplitude difference and the phase difference.

Wearable electronic devices, such as smart watches, can be provided with a band for securing the device to a wearer. The device and the band can include near-field communications (NFC) components that allow the device to uniquely identify the band. Device operations such as the color, theme, or content displayed on the device can be based, in part, on the identification of a particular band. The band may include a miniature NFC tag in an attachment portion of the band that is configured to be received in a recess in a housing of the device. An NFC module for reading the NFC tag can be provided within the recess of the housing, so that the attachment portion of the band and the recess in the device housing position and align the NFC tag with the NFC module when the band is attached to the device.

An induction heating assembly for a vapour generating device includes a rechargeable power source and an induction coil. The induction coil is arranged to heat, in use, a susceptor and is also arranged to receive, in use, an electromagnetic field generated by an external source to charge the power source.

An electrically conductive material configured having at least one opening of various unlimited geometries extending through its thickness is provided. The opening is designed to modify eddy currents that form within the surface of the material from interaction with magnetic fields that allow for wireless energy transfer therethrough. The opening may be configured as a cut-out, a slit or combination thereof that extends through the thickness of the electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material is configured with the cut-out and/or slit pattern positioned adjacent to an antenna configured to receive or transmit electrical energy wirelessly through near-field magnetic coupling (NEMC). A magnetic field shielding material, such as a ferrite, may also be positioned adjacent to the antenna. Such magnetic shielding materials may be used to strategically block eddy currents from electrical components and circuitry located within a device.

A wireless electrical energy transmission system is provided. The system comprises a wireless transmission base configured to wirelessly transmit electrical energy or data via near field magnetic coupling to a receiving antenna configured within an electronic device. The wireless electrical energy transmission system is configured with at least one transmitting antenna and a transmitting electrical circuit positioned within the transmission base. The transmission base is configured so that at least one electronic device can be wirelessly electrically charged or powered by positioning the at least one device external and adjacent to the transmission base.

A delivery system is disclosed having an implant retainer configured to releasably hold an implant unit and maintain the implant unit in a fixation location relative to target tissue in a subject's body during an implantation procedure. A first suture guide portion may be disposed on a first side of the implant retainer and configured to guide a suture needle during the implantation procedure. A second suture guide portion may be disposed on a second side of the implant retainer, opposite the first side, and configured to guide the suture needle after the suture needle exits the first suture guide portion.

A wireless receiver system, configured to receive both electrical data signals and electrical energy, includes a first receiver antenna, configured to receive one or both of the electrical data signals and the electrical energy, and a power conditioning system in electrical connection with the first receiver antenna, configured to receive electrical energy from the first receiver antenna. The wireless receiver system further includes a second receiver antenna configured to receive the electrical data signals and a receiver controller operatively associated with the first receiver antenna and the second receiver antenna and configured to determine switching instructions. The wireless receiver system further includes a switch operatively associated with the receiver controller and configured to switch receiving operations between the first and second receiver antennas based, at least in part, on the switching instructions.

An antenna for transfer of information or energy is described. The antenna includes an electrically conductive first layer having a width in a thickness direction of the antenna and extending longitudinally along a length of the first layer between first and second longitudinal ends of the first layer, and an electrically insulative thermally conductive second layer bonded to the first layer along the length of the first layer. The first and second layers are wound to form a plurality of substantially concentric loops. A width and a length of the second layer are substantially co-extensive with the respective width and length of the first layer so as to expose opposing longitudinal edge surfaces of the first layer along the length of the first layer. Coils and assemblies useful for making coils are also described.

The disclosure describes techniques to provide antennae configured to harvest radio-frequency (RF) energy from the nearby environment to provide electrical energy to an electrically powered device. Antennae may be configured in different shapes, lengths, locations, and materials to efficiently collect RF energy to be converted to electrical power. In some examples, RF energy may be harvested from existing sources, such as FM radio transmissions, communication transmissions such as Wi-Fi and BLUETOOTH, and similar existing sources. In other examples, antennae may be configured to collect energy from a source specifically designated to recharge the device. In some examples, the harvested RF energy may be sufficient to power the device. In other examples, the harvested RF energy may provide enough power to reduce the amount of recharging required by other means, such as by inductive recharging.

Automatic synchronization of a magnetic field transmitter and receiver is performed to resolve phase ambiguity so that phase information, used in determining the position and orientation of the receiver, may be derived and maintained. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) information is used to infer gravity-relative orientations of the transmitter and receiver, which are then used as constraints in the synchronization process to determine the position and orientation of the receiver from all four possible solutions or variations. The variation that best conforms to the MU orientations is chosen as the sync candidate.