Near-field coherent sensing (NCS) methods and systems are described herein. The techniques may be used to monitor vital signs is introduced herein. Multiple-input, multiple output near-field techniques may be used to characterize motion. In some embodiments, the methods and systems are used to measure cardiac motion. In some embodiments, the disclosed system is integrated into a seat, such as, for example, a car seat. The system be configured to monitor the vital signs of a seat occupant with multiple sensing points. The sensor can be integrated into the cushion and hence “invisible” to the user.

A method and apparatus are provided to facilitate the estimation of a measured parameter. In the context of a method, a series of measurement and transmission phases are conducted. During the measurement phase, the method includes receiving an input based on a measured parameter and comparing a voltage that is based on the input that is received over time to a threshold. The method also includes triggering the transmission phase in which a control signal is provided to facilitate discharge of the voltage in response to satisfaction of the threshold. The method further includes evaluating the transmission phases to determine an estimate of the input that is based on the measured parameter. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.

Methods, systems, and techniques for safely controlling wireless charging in the presence of a foreign object are presented. A method includes determining a power difference between a power transmitted by a wireless charger and a power received by an electronic device, determining a level of misalignment of the electronic device with respect to the wireless charger; estimating an amount of power difference due to the level of misalignment of the electronic device with respect to the wireless charger, adjusting a power difference threshold for the wireless charger based on the estimated amount of power difference, and controlling operation of the wireless charger based on the power difference and the adjusted power difference threshold.

A battery-less Internet of things (IoT) tag integrated with a proximity sensor is disclosed. The battery-less IoT tag includes: a transmit antenna designed to have an inductive element; an integrated circuit having a capacitive element; and an energy harvester coupled to a capacitor, wherein the capacitor is an on-die capacitor and the energy harvester is configured to harvest energy from ambient signals, wherein the inductive element and the capacitive element form the proximity sensor oscillating at a local oscillator (LO) frequency, and wherein a frequency offset from the LO frequency is indicative of a detection of a nearby object.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for near field radio-frequency (RF) testing of devices, particularly user equipment (UEs) capable of millimeter-wave (mmWave) transmissions. An exemplary test apparatus is described that uses a transducer to facilitate near field over-the-air testing of UEs in the mmWave transmission band. The transducer may be an orthomode transducer and may include a dual-polarity port positioned in the reactive near field of an antenna of a device under test (DUT). For UE signal transmission tests, the orthomode transducer splits test signals received from the antenna of the DUT via the dual-polarity port into a pair of single-polarity RF signals. The single-polarity RF signals are separately fed through a pair of waveguide-to-coaxial adaptors into separate coaxial cables, which feed coaxial transmission versions of the single-polarity RF signals to test equipment for analysis. UE signal reception tests are also described that utilize the same or different orthomode transducer.

A foreign object emulation device (60; 160; 260) for testing foreign object detection of a wireless power device (10; 20) is provided. The foreign object emulation device (60; 160; 260) is in operative communication with a processing means (61; 42; 52). The foreign object emulation device (60; 160; 260) comprises a main body (68; 168; 268) being arranged with at least one emulated object (66; 166a-b; 266), a sensor unit (64) comprising at least one temperature sensor (64a) configured to transmit temperature data to the processing means (61; 42; 52), wherein the temperature data is indicative of the temperature of the at least one emulated object (66; 166a-b; 266), and means for causing a controlled relative movement between the at least one emulated object (66; 166a, 166b) and the wireless power device (10; 20) being tested.

An electronic label apparatus comprises: an inductive communication unit which communicates wirelessly using inductive signals; a processor; memory including a computer program code; and a power source which supplies electric power to the inductive communication unit, the processor, and the memory for enabling their operation. The processor, the memory, the computer program code and the power source with the electric power cause the electronic label apparatus at least to: receive a plurality of inductive signals of known transmission powers from known locations; measure signal powers of the received inductive signals; and determine information about a location of the electronic label apparatus based on the measured signal powers, the known transmission signal powers and the known locations.

A dry cask storage system for spent nuclear fuel includes a detection apparatus having a resonant electrical circuit, with resonant electrical circuit being situated within an interior region of a metallic vessel wherein the SNF is situated. The detection apparatus includes a transmitter that generates an excitation pulse that causes the resonant circuit to resonate and to generate a response pulse. The resonant circuit includes an inductor that is formed with a core whose magnetic permeability varies with temperature such that the frequency of the resonant circuit varies as a function of temperature. The response pulse is then used to determine the temperature within the interior of the vessel where the SNF is situated. Pressure detection is also provided.

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.

Systems and methods for multiphase power transfer in inductive couplers are provided. A system can include a first tubular having a first inductive coupler disposed on an outer surface thereof; a second tubular circumferentially disposed around the first tubular and forming an annulus therebetween; a second inductive coupler disposed on the second tubular; a first rectifier coupled to the second inductive coupler; a tank capacitor coupled to the first rectifier; and a load coupled in parallel with the tank capacitor.