4449results about "Resonant long antennas" patented technology

A method and system for efficiently managing power consumption in a mobile device controls power consumption with an adjustable sleep period or listening interval that may be user-specified and automatically tuned based on recent detected usage. With an adjustable sleep period, a receiver conserves power by leaving a sleep mode only at predefined and adjustable periods, which may be selected by the user to balance connectivity and power saving and which may be automatically incremented when the device activity is low.

A network for power transmission to a receiver that converts the power into current includes a first node for transmitting power wirelessly in a first area. The first area has a minimum electric or magnetic field strength. The network includes a second node for transmitting power wirelessly in a second area. The second area has a minimum electric or magnetic field strength and overlaps the first area to define an overlap area. In another embodiment, the network includes a source in communication with the first and second nodes which provides power to them. Also disclosed are methods for power transmission to a receiver that converts the power into current.

An inventory control system and method that tracks inventories of items with RFID tags, includes a reader unit and an intelligent station that tracks RFID tags to determine item information of items to be inventoried. The reader unit transmits and receives RF signals. The intelligent station includes a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch, and one or more additional RF antennae connected to the reader unit by the same first transmission cable through additional switches. An inventory control processing unit receives item information from the intelligent stations to update inventory information regarding the items to be inventoried.

An apparatus for converting power includes at least one impedance matching network which receives an electrical signal. The apparatus includes at least one AC to DC converter in communication with the impedance matching network. Also disclosed is a method for powering a load and an apparatus for converting power and additional embodiments of an apparatus for converting power.

A novel apparatus and method of improving the power efficiency of a digital transmitter for non-constant-amplitude modulation schemes. The power efficiency improvement mechanism of the invention leverages the high efficiency of a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) that supplies the high DC current to the transmitter's power amplifier, while compensating for its limitations using predistortion. The predistortion may be achieved using any suitable technique such as digital signal processing, hardware techniques, etc. A switched mode power supply (i.e. switching regulator) is used to provide a slow form (i.e. reduced bandwidth) of envelope tracking (based on a narrower bandwidth distorted version of the envelope waveform) such that the switching regulator can use a lower switching rate corresponding to the lower bandwidth, thereby obtaining high efficiency in the switching regulator. The resulting AM-AM and AM-PM distortions in the power amplifier are compensated through predistortion of the digital amplitude modulating signal which dictates the envelope at the PA input. Similarly, the phase modulation is also compensated prior to the PA, such that once it undergoes the distortion in the PA, the end result is sufficiently close to the desired phase.

A wireless field device is disclosed. The field device includes a wireless communications module and an energy conversion module. The wireless communications module is configured to wirelessly communicate process-related information with another device. The energy conversion module is coupled to the wireless communications module. The energy conversion module is configured to couple to a thermal source, and to generate electricity from thermal potential energy in the thermal source.

Disclosed is a system for power transmission. The system includes a receiver having a receiver antenna. An RF power transmitter includes a transmitter antenna. The RF power transmitter transmits RF power. The RF power includes multiple polarization components. The receiver converts the RF power to direct current. Also disclosed is an antenna for an RF power transmission system. The antenna includes at least two antenna elements. Alternating the radiation between the at least two antenna elements produces a power transmission having components in two polarizations. Additionally disclosed is a transmitter, a receiver and a method for power transmission.

An amplifier system is provided that switches between a linear mode of operation, an envelope tracking mode of operation and a polar mode of operation. The amplifier system switches between modes of operation based upon a characteristic of an input signal relative to a first threshold level and a second threshold level. A mode selector selects the operation mode by transmitting an amplitude modulated signal plus a variable headroom voltage to a supply terminal of a power amplifier during the envelope tracking mode, an amplitude modulated signal to the supply terminal and phase modulated input signal during the polar mode and a substantially constant amplitude signal to the supply terminal during the linear mode.

Disclosed is an RF power transmission network. The network includes at least one RF power transmitter, at least one power tapping component, and at least one load. The at least one RF power transmitter, the at least one power tapping component, and the at least one load are connected in series. The RF power transmitter sends power through the network. The power is radiated from the network to be received by a device to be charged, re-charged, or directly powered by the power.

A method and system of integrated wireless power and data transmission in a wireless device having a data communication circuit for wireless data communication and a power reception circuit including a charge storage unit. The wireless device is tuned to receive wireless RF signals in a certain frequency band via an antenna. Switching between power reception mode and data communication mode is detected. Received RF signal electrical charge is selectively distributed to the power reception circuit and / or the data communication circuit based on the switching mode and / or strength of the RF signal.

A communications apparatus comprising a first antenna, a first serial configuration of a first power amplifier and a first matching network, a second serial configuration of a second power amplifier and a second matching network, a switching element for switchably selecting the first or the second serial configuration for supplying a signal to the first antenna, the first and the second power amplifiers supplying a respective first signal of a first power and a second signal of a second power different than the first power to the first antenna for transmitting and the first and the second matching networks presenting respective first and second impedances to the respective first and second power amplifiers, the first and the second impedances responsive respectively to a power-related parameter of the first and the second signals.

A radio frequency (RF) transmit / receive switch. The transmit / receive switch comprises an impedance matching circuit and a voltage scaling circuit. The impedance matching circuit matches an incoming RF signal to a low noise amplifier and an outgoing RF signal from a power amplifier. The voltage scaling circuit, coupled to the impedance matching circuit, the power amplifier, and the low noise amplifier, attenuates the outgoing RF signal to a scaled signal within a breakdown voltage of a transistor device in the low noise amplifier during transmission of the outgoing RF signal.

A wireless power transmission system includes a wireless power transmitting apparatus and a wireless power receiving apparatus. The wireless power transmitting apparatus includes a signal generator and an ultrasonic transmitting unit. The ultrasonic transmitting unit generates and outputs a focused ultrasonic wave according to a signal outputted from the signal generator. The wireless power receiving apparatus includes an ultrasonic receiving unit and a power conversion unit. The ultrasonic receiving unit receives the focused ultrasonic wave outputted from the wireless power transmitting apparatus and converts the focused ultrasonic wave into electrical power energy. The power conversion unit performs a power conversion on the electrical power energy and thereby provides the converted electrical power energy to a back-end circuit. The ultrasonic signal can also be encoded in the transmitting unit and subsequently decoded in the receiving unit as a means to remotely control the back-end circuit in the receiving unit.

An apparatus and method for using ambient RF power in a portable terminal are provided. In the charging apparatus, an antenna array receives RF signals left derelict in the air, a rectifier rectifies the RF signals to DC voltages, and a power storage stores the DC voltages as power.

A magnetically coupled antenna range extender structured to be interposed between an RF antenna and an electronic device. The antenna range extender is positioned between and proximate to one of the RF antenna and the electronic device, for extending the operating range over which information may be communicated and exchanged between the RF antenna and the electronic device.

A radio frequency power amplifier includes a feedback control system coupled to an input signal and a first feedback signal and configured to provide an output; a controlled supply configured to provide power that is controlled in accordance with a signal; and a radio frequency gain stage powered from the controlled supply, driven by the output from the feedback control system, and configured to provide an output signal at the radio frequency to a resonant load, where the first feedback signal corresponds to the output signal. Some embodiments include a sequencer in the feedback control system and others utilize an additional feedback loop to control the power provided by the controlled supply.

The wireless communication system includes a first device, e.g. a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, having a wireless power transmitter, a first wireless data communications unit, and a first dual polarized loop antenna having isolated signal feedpoints along a first loop electrical conductor. The wireless power transmitter transmits a power signal having a first polarization, and the first wireless data communications unit communicates using a data signal having a second polarization. A second device, e.g. an RFID tag, includes a second dual polarized loop antenna. A second wireless data communications unit communicates with the first wireless data communications unit of the first device using the data signal having the second polarization. A wireless power receiver receives the power signal having the first polarization from the wireless power transmitter of the first device, and provides power for the second device.

A method, transceiver integrated circuit (IC), and communications device for generating antenna tuning states derived from a pre-established trajectory of tuning states to adjust a detected signal level towards a preset, given value. A tuning state generation (TSG) controller determines whether a detected signal level matches a given value. If the detected signal level does not match the given value, the TSG controller selects an initial preset tuning state from a pre-established trajectory corresponding to a pre-identified operating condition that best matches a current operating condition. The TSG logic forwards the initial preset tuning state to the antenna tuner to trigger impedance transformation. Following generation of the initial preset tuning state, the controller receives an updated detected signal level. If the updated detected signal level fails to match the given value, the controller generates an incremental tuning state that is interpolated between the initial and a final preset tuning states.

A user interface is presented through which a training plan is established. The training plan includes a plurality of workouts each describing a human physical activity. The training plan is stored within data storage for selection by any of a plurality of users. In response to a user among said plurality of users selecting said training plan, data describing at least one workout in said training plan is electronically transmitted to a client device associated with the user.

Communication is provided which includes receiving a transmitted radio signal at a powerline wherein the powerline functions as a receiving antenna for the wirelessly transmitted radio signal. The powerline is coupled to an input of a radio receiver using a coupler to communicate the radio signal to the radio receiver. For calibration purposes a second antenna not coupled to powerline may be used. A method for powerline communication across transformers, open circuit breakers, and other devices is also provided. In addition, a method of monitoring a device connected to a powerline is provided.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal by aliasing the EM signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods, systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving an EM signal and an aliasing signal having an aliasing rate. The EM signal is aliased according to the aliasing signal to down-convert the EM signal. The term aliasing, as used herein, refers to both down-converting an EM signal by under-sampling the EM signal at an aliasing rate, and down-converting an EM signal by transferring energy from the EM signal at the aliasing rate. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a demodulated baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.

A network for power transmission to a receiver that converts the power into current includes a first node for transmitting power wirelessly in a first area. The first area has a minimum electric or magnetic field strength. The network includes a second node for transmitting power wirelessly in a second area. The second area has a minimum electric or magnetic field strength and overlaps the first area to define an overlap area. In another embodiment, the network includes a source in communication with the first and second nodes which provides power to them. Also disclosed are methods for power transmission to a receiver that converts the power into current.

An intelligent antenna system for extending the effective communication range of a machine-readable passive tag. The system includes intelligence that allows one of a plurality of extension antennas to be active at any given time in order to both facilitate communications and safeguard the system. The machine-readable tag and antenna system may be embedded in a structure. In a further embodiment, the system may include multiple passive tags that are active in correspondence to a display or advertisement currently being exhibited. The system includes means for operatively coupling a designated machine-readable tag to the embedded antenna network previously described. In a further embodiment of the invention, the machine-readable tag includes combined RFID and NFC functionality where both RFID listening functions and NFC read-write functions are to be available in the same NFC communications logic, where different RFID listening applications require different minimum separation distances between the reader and the NFC communications logic. The NFC communications logic chip is selectively connected to at least three antenna coils, the first antenna coil for operating with a first minimum separation distance between the reader and the NFC communications logic, the second antenna coil for operating with a second minimum separation distance between the reader and the NFC communications logic, and the third antenna coil for reading and writing. In a further embodiment of the invention, matching circuits are included with the respective antenna coils to tune the resonant frequency of the RLC oscillator circuit for each antenna coil in the NFC communications logic.

A method and apparatus for controlling an output power level of a radio frequency (RF) repeater (100 or 200). A system includes a receiver to receive a signal, a filtering unit configured to pass frequency components at or around a frequency band of a predetermined communication channel, an attenuator (124 or 142) to produce an attenuated signal by attenuating a parameter of the signal, a power amplifier (150) to adjust the output power level of repeater to a desired level by adjusting the gain of one or more components of the system, and a microprocessor (170) to receive an input responsive to the output power level of the repeater and, in response to the input, to transfer control signals to the receiver and the attenuator. The method includes sampling traffic load characteristics during operation of a network and adjusting a gain of one or more components of the repeater based on the traffic load characteristics.

Methods and apparatus for transmitting communications signals that are both power efficient and effective at avoiding or reducing transmitter-generated receive band noise. An exemplary transceiver apparatus includes a multi-mode transmitter that is configurable to operate in a plurality of operating modes (e.g., a polar mode, a quadrature mode and a hybrid mode), a receiver, and an operating mode controller. The operating mode controller is configured to control which operating mode the transmitter is to operate, depending on one or more of a transmit (Tx) power, receive (Rx) power, the Tx power relative to the Rx power, a level of frequency separation between a Tx frequency band and a Rx frequency band (Tx / Rx band separation), and modulation type employed by the transmitter.

A receiver receives an electromagnetic signal via an antenna mounted on an antenna mast. A signal evaluator determines or measures a signal quality level associated with the received electromagnetic signal. The signal quality compares the determined signal quality level to a threshold minimum signal quality level. A current elevational position of the antenna mast is detected or tracked. The antenna mast is raised to a greater height than the current elevational position if the compared signal quality level is less than the threshold minimum signal quality level and if the current elevational position is less than a maximum height of the antenna mast.

A system and method for distributed power control in a communications system are provided. A method for relay node operations includes transmitting a signal at a transmit power level on a first channel from a relay node to a user equipment, receiving a message comprising a first indication of channel quality of the first channel at the transmit power level, and determining a second indication of channel quality of a second channel between a communications controller and the relay node, where the first channel and the second channel are in a same multi-hop communication path. The method also includes altering the transmit power level of the first channel based on the first indication of channel quality and the second indication of channel quality to converge the channel quality of the first channel to a convergence value.

Envelope tracking (ET) methods and systems for controlling the delivery of power to radio frequency power amplifiers (RFPAs). An exemplary ET system includes an RFPA and a wide bandwidth capable and power efficient envelope modulator that includes a first power supplying apparatus and a second power supplying apparatus. The first power supplying apparatus includes a switch-mode converter and a regulator. The first mode converter is operable to dynamically step down a fixed power supply voltage according to amplitude variations in an envelope signal received by the regulator, and use the resulting dynamic power supply signal to power the regulator. The second power supplying apparatus is connected in parallel with the first power supplying apparatus. Depending on a power of an output signal to be generated at an output of the power amplifier, power is supplied to the power amplifier from either or both of the first and second power supplying apparatuses.

A tunable matching circuit is adjusted primarily based on transmitter oriented metrics and is then applied to attain a desired tuning for transmitter and receiver operation. In a TDM system, this is accomplished by identifying an optimal tuning for the transmitter and then applying an empirically derived adjustment to the tuning circuit in receiver mode. In an FDM system, this is accomplished by identifying a target operation that is a compromise between transmitter performance and receiver performance, and then adjusting the tuning circuit as a function of transmitter metrics and the current tuning values to achieve the desired compromised performance.