U.S. patent application number 15/878369 was filed with the patent office on 2018-08-30 for asset management for physical assets.
The applicant listed for this patent is Enovate Medical, LLC. Invention is credited to Allen Kilbourne, Mary Metelko, David R. Miller.
Application Number | 20180248413 15/878369 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54835898 |
Filed Date | 2018-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180248413 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miller; David R. ; et
al. |
August 30, 2018 |
ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR PHYSICAL ASSETS
Abstract
A technology is discussed for a wireless transfer station that
is operable to communicate management information. Measurement
information can be received from one or more other wireless
transfer stations. The measurement information can be aggregated
from the one or more other wireless transfer stations. The
measurement information can be analyzed to determine a status of
the one or more wireless transfer stations using the aggregated
energy measurement information.
Inventors: |
Miller; David R.;
(Murfreesboro, TN) ; Kilbourne; Allen; (Canton,
MI) ; Metelko; Mary; (Murfreesboro, TN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Enovate Medical, LLC |
Murfreesboro |
TN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54835898 |
Appl. No.: |
15/878369 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14323271 |
Jul 3, 2014 |
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15878369 |
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62010921 |
Jun 11, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 50/40 20160201;
H04B 5/0081 20130101; H01M 2010/4278 20130101; H04B 5/0037
20130101; G01V 3/12 20130101; H01M 10/425 20130101; H02J 50/80
20160201; Y02E 60/10 20130101; A61B 5/0015 20130101; H02J 7/0022
20130101; H01M 2/1094 20130101; H01M 10/482 20130101; H01M 2220/30
20130101; H02J 50/12 20160201; H02J 7/0047 20130101; H02J 50/10
20160201; Y10T 307/469 20150401; H01M 2/1235 20130101; H01M 10/46
20130101; H02J 50/50 20160201; H02J 7/0044 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02J 50/80 20060101
H02J050/80; H01M 10/42 20060101 H01M010/42; H01M 10/48 20060101
H01M010/48; H02J 7/00 20060101 H02J007/00; H02J 50/40 20060101
H02J050/40; H02J 50/12 20060101 H02J050/12; H02J 7/02 20060101
H02J007/02; A61B 5/00 20060101 A61B005/00 |
Claims
1. An asset management module operable to communicate energy
management information for a wireless transfer station, the asset
management module having computer circuitry configured to: monitor
the wireless transfer station during operation of the wireless
transfer station; measure one or more parameters of the wireless
transfer station during the operation; or receive operation
parameters of another wireless transfer station; and wirelessly
communicate the measured parameters or the operation parameters to
a data collection device.
2. The asset management module of claim 1, wherein the data
collection device is coupled to a wireless transfer station.
3. The asset management module of claim 1, further configured to
associate the measured parameters with a wireless transfer station
identification (ID) of the wireless transfer station.
4. The asset management module of claim 1, further configured to
associate the measured parameters with a device identification (ID)
of the wireless transfer station.
5. The asset management module of claim 1, wherein the measured
parameters or the operation parameters includes: a operational
temperature or internal temperature of the wireless transfer
station or a device coupled to the wireless transfer station; a
cell balance of one or more battery cells of the wireless transfer
station or the device coupled to the wireless transfer station; a
cell charge status of one or more battery cells of the wireless
transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless transfer
station; a cell capacity status of one or more battery cells of the
wireless transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless
transfer station; a current draw or voltage draw of the wireless
transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless transfer
station; a location of the wireless transfer station or the device
coupled to the wireless transfer station; a charge state of the
wireless transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless
transfer station; an estimated amount of time remaining to charge
the wireless transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless
transfer station; an amount of time taken to previously charge the
wireless transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless
transfer station; a wireless power transfer efficiency of the
wireless transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless
transfer station; communications parameters for the wireless
transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless transfer
station; a usage level of the wireless transfer station or the
device coupled to the wireless transfer station; software
management information of the wireless transfer station or the
device coupled to the wireless transfer station; an operational
status of the wireless transfer station or the device coupled to
the wireless transfer station; communication coordination
information; or patient data measured using device coupled to the
wireless transfer station; and so forth.
6. The asset management module of claim 1, further configured to:
receive operation parameters from the other wireless transfer
station; aggregate the operation parameters of the other wireless
transfer station with the measured parameters of the wireless
transfer station; and communicate the aggregated parameters to the
data collection device.
7. The asset management module of claim 1, wherein the measured
parameters information includes: a charge level of the wireless
transfer station; an amount of energy provided by the wireless
transfer station to the other wireless transfer station; a number
of times the wireless transfer station has received energy from the
other wireless transfer station; or a type of device coupled to the
wireless transfer station.
8. The asset management module of claim 1, wherein the operation
parameters information includes: a charge level of the other
wireless transfer station; an amount of energy received by the
other wireless transfer station from the wireless transfer station;
a number of times the other wireless transfer station has received
energy from the other wireless transfer station; or a type of
device coupled to the other wireless transfer station.
9. The asset management module of claim 1, further configured to:
analyze the measured parameters or operation parameters; determine
a system status of the wireless transfer station or the other
wireless transfer station; and communicate the system status to the
data collection device.
10. The asset management module of claim 1, wherein the system
status includes: an operational status of the wireless transfer
station or the other wireless transfer station; or an approximated
usage life of the wireless transfer station or the other wireless
transfer station.
11. The asset management module of claim 1, further configured to
store the measured parameters or the operation parameters on a
non-tangible computer readable medium coupled to the asset
management module or the wireless transfer station.
12. The asset management module of claim 11, further configured to
communicate the stored measured parameters or operation parameters
to the other wireless transfer station when the wireless transfer
station receives wireless energy.
13. The asset management module of claim 1, further configured to
send control parameters to the wireless transfer station or the
other wireless transfer station based on the measured parameters or
the operation parameters.
14. A wireless transfer station operable to communicate management
information, the wireless transfer station configured to: receive
measurement information from one or more other wireless transfer
stations; aggregate the measurement information from the one or
more other wireless transfer stations; and analyze the measurement
information to determine a status of the one or more wireless
transfer stations using the aggregated energy measurement
information.
15. The wireless transfer station of claim 14, further configured
to: provide energy to at least one of the one or more other
wireless transfer stations; and receive the measurement information
from at least one of the one or more other wireless transfer
stations when the wireless transfer station provides energy to the
at least one of the one or more other wireless transfer
stations.
16. The wireless transfer station of claim 14, further configured
to: send an measurement information request to at least one of the
one or more other wireless transfer stations to request selected
data of the measurement information of the other wireless transfer
station; and receive the selected data of the measurement
information of the other wireless transfer station.
17. The wireless transfer station of claim 14, wherein the one or
more other wireless transfer stations is attached to a device or a
wireless transfer station.
18. The wireless transfer station of claim 14, wherein the status
includes: an operational status of one of the one or more other
wireless transfer stations, wherein the operational status of the
one or more other wireless transfer stations includes: a
functioning status, a malfunctioning status, a partially
operational status, a non-operational status, an out of commission
status, a needs repair status, a non-critical error status, a
critical error status, a send a technician status, a needs
replacement status, or an operating system version status; an
operational status of all of the one or more other wireless
transfer stations, wherein the operational status all of the one or
more other wireless transfer stations includes: an all wireless
transfer stations are working properly status, an all wireless
transfer stations for selected uses are functioning status, a
system wide error status, a communications network working properly
status, a communications network not working properly status, or a
status of which of the one or more other wireless transfer stations
are operating on an outdated operating system or software version;
and an operational status of a network of wireless transfer
stations, wherein the operational status of a network of wireless
transfer stations includes: a status of a bandwidth of the
communications network or a status of a number of wireless transfer
stations using the network.
19. The wireless transfer station of claim 14, further configured
to communicate to a server the measurement information of the one
or more wireless transfer stations, the aggregate energy
measurement information, or the system status information of the
one or more wireless transfer stations.
20. The wireless transfer station of claim 14, further configured
to communicate with the one or more wireless transfer stations to
determine when at least one of the one or more wireless transfer
stations is available to provide energy to an other of the one or
more wireless transfer stations.
21. The wireless transfer station of claim 14, further configured
to: receive a wireless transfer station location request for a
selected wireless transfer station; identify when the selected
wireless transfer station is coupled to the wireless transfer
station; and report a location of the selected wireless transfer
station when the selected wireless transfer station is coupled to
the wireless transfer station.
22. The wireless transfer station of claim 14, further configured
to enter an energy saving mode when the wireless transfer station
is not providing energy to at least one of the other wireless
transfer stations or communicating with one at least one of the
other wireless transfer stations or a server.
23. A wireless transfer station operable to communicate management
information, the wireless transfer station having computer
circuitry configured to: monitor an operation of the wireless
transfer station; measure one or more parameters of the wireless
transfer station during the operation; or receive operation
parameters of another wireless transfer station; and wirelessly
communicate the measured parameters or the operation parameters to
a data collection device.
24. The wireless transfer station of claim 23, further configured
to: provide wireless energy to a plurality of selected wireless
transfer stations at different selected times; receive wireless
transfer stations measurement information from the plurality of
selected wireless transfer stations; associate a wireless transfer
station identification (ID) with the wireless transfer station
measurement information of each of the plurality of selected
wireless transfer stations; aggregate the wireless transfer station
measurement information of each of the plurality of selected
wireless transfer stations; and communicate the aggregated wireless
transfer station measurement information to the data collection
device.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and hereby
incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 62/010,921, filed Jun. 11, 2014, with an attorney docket number
3712-049.PROV.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Medical facilities, such as hospitals, health care centers,
and nursing homes, can invest heavily in physical assets, such as
gurneys, medical carts, diagnostic equipment, monitoring equipment,
treatment equipment, bandages and other supplies, drugs, and so
forth in order to provide medical treatment to patients. Hospitals
must purchase and maintain physical assets to perform testing
procedures, perform scans, determine medical diagnoses of patients,
and perform advanced surgical procedures. Many of the assets at a
medical facility are mobile or portable. While in some cases, all
or part of an asset is disposable and may not be reused, in other
cases, assets may be reusable.
[0003] Often, hospital equipment can be very costly, and,
therefore, the high equipment cost may require that the hospital
permit one or more units or floors to share equipment. For example,
an ultrasound unit may be capable of being used on one or more
floors or hospital units (e.g. gynecology and radiology). Equipment
in some instances may be taken from one location in a medical
facility to another. Often, equipment remains at the location of
the facility at which it was last used. For example, when a patient
is transported in a wheelchair by an attendant from a patient's
room to a fitness center of a hospital to receive therapy, the
wheelchair may be left at the fitness center location. In this
example, the patient may be returned to the patient's room by
another attendant, who obtained a wheelchair from another location,
leaving the original wheelchair at the fitness center. Another
example is that a patient may be discharged from a hospital using
one of several exit locations of the hospital. If the patient is
discharged using a wheelchair, that wheelchair is likely to remain
at one of the discharge exit locations.
[0004] Tracking the physical assets of a medical facility can be
difficult. Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags can be used
to determine locations of equipment, supplies, and other physical
assets. However, RFID tags have a limited short distance use and,
therefore, commonly require RFID tag readers to determine a
location of the RFID tags. Additionally, RFID tags used for asset
management systems provide a minimal amount of information, such as
a location of an object.
[0005] Where the physical assets of the medical facility can be
expensive and may be used in critical situations, many of the
physical assets require regular maintenance and/or replacement.
Maintaining a large number of physical assets in a large
environment, such as a medical facility can be difficult.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent
from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way
of example, features of the disclosure; and, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 depicts a wireless transfer station in accordance
with an example;
[0008] FIG. 2 depicts transferring energy or data between a
plurality of wireless transfer coils in accordance with an
example;
[0009] FIG. 3a depicts a wireless transfer station in accordance
with an example;
[0010] FIG. 3b depicts another wireless transfer station in
accordance with an example;
[0011] FIG. 3c depicts a cross-sectional view of a battery in
accordance with an example;
[0012] FIG. 4 depicts a wireless transfer station in accordance
with an example;
[0013] FIG. 5a depicts a wireless transfer station that includes
one or more resonant wireless transfer coils and/or one or more
induction wireless transfer coils in accordance with an
example;
[0014] FIG. 5b depicts a wireless transfer station in accordance
with an example;
[0015] FIG. 5c depicts a wireless transfer station integrated into
an object in accordance with an example;
[0016] FIG. 5d depicts a plurality of wireless transfer stations
integrated into an object in accordance with an example;
[0017] FIG. 6 depicts a wireless transfer station that can provide
energy to one or more wirelessly powered electronic devices and/or
one or more rechargeable batteries coupled to a device in
accordance with an example;
[0018] FIG. 7a depicts a device with a wireless transfer station
coupled to a device or integrated into the device in accordance
with an example;
[0019] FIG. 7b depicts a wireless transfer station with a plurality
of wireless transfer coils configured to transfer energy and/or
data to an electronic device in accordance with an example;
[0020] FIG. 8a depicts a wheeled medical cart with a plurality of
wireless transfer stations integrated into a selected area of a
work surface of the wheeled medical cart in accordance with an
example;
[0021] FIG. 8b depicts a wheeled medical cart with a plurality of
wireless transfer stations integrated into a work surface of the
wheeled medical cart in accordance with an example;
[0022] FIG. 8c depicts a wheeled medical cart with one or more
wireless transfer stations integrated into a device holder of the
wheeled medical cart in accordance with an example;
[0023] FIG. 9 depicts a floor mat with one or more integrated
wireless transfer stations in accordance with an example;
[0024] FIG. 10 depicts a flooring surface with one or more
integrated wireless transfer stations in accordance with an
example;
[0025] FIG. 11 depicts a plate mounted to a wall with one or more
integrated wireless transfer stations in accordance with an
example;
[0026] FIG. 12 depicts a wireless transfer station transferring
energy or data to a plurality of different devices and other
wireless transfer stations in accordance with an example;
[0027] FIG. 13 depicts a wireless transfer station operable to
adjust transferred energy in accordance with an example;
[0028] FIG. 14 depicts a wireless transfer coil with a plurality of
loops or winds in accordance with an example;
[0029] FIG. 15 depicts a wireless transfer station in accordance
with an example;
[0030] FIG. 16 depicts a wireless transfer hub transferring energy
and/or information with an electronic device and/or another
wireless transfer station using wireless transfer coils in
accordance with an example;
[0031] FIG. 17 depicts a wireless transfer station configured to
communicate with other wireless transfer stations in accordance
with an example;
[0032] FIG. 18 depicts a wireless transfer station transferring
energy and/or data with one or more wireless transfer stations
and/or devices within a selected range in accordance with an
example;
[0033] FIG. 19 depicts a wireless transfer station in accordance
with an example;
[0034] FIG. 20 depicts the functionality of computer circuitry of
an asset management module operable to communicate energy
management information for a wireless transfer station in
accordance with an example;
[0035] FIG. 21 depicts the functionality of computer circuitry of a
wireless transfer station operable to communicate management
information in accordance with an example;
[0036] FIG. 22 depicts the functionality of computer circuitry of a
wireless transfer station operable to communicate management
information in accordance with an example; and
[0037] FIG. 23 illustrates a diagram of a device in accordance with
an example.
[0038] Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments
illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe
the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of
the scope of the invention is thereby intended.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it
is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the
particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed
herein, but is extended to equivalents thereof as would be
recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It
should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used
for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not
intended to be limiting. The same reference numerals in different
drawings represent the same element. Numbers provided in flow
charts and processes are provided for clarity in illustrating steps
and operations and do not necessarily indicate a particular order
or sequence.
[0040] The terms battery, cell, and/or battery cell as used herein
can be used interchangeably and can refer to any of a variety of
different cell chemistries and configurations. In one embodiment
the cell chemistries and configurations can include, but are not
limited to, lithium ion (e.g., lithium iron phosphate, lithium
cobalt oxide, other lithium metal oxides, etc.), lithium ion
polymer, nickel metal hydride, nickel cadmium, nickel hydrogen,
nickel zinc, silver zinc, or other battery type/configurations.
[0041] The term battery pack as used herein can refer to one or
more individual batteries contained within a single piece housing,
or a multiple piece housing. The one or more individual batteries
can be electrically interconnected in parallel and/or in series to
achieve a selected energy level (such as a voltage level or a
current level) and capacity level.
[0042] Medical facilities can use physical assets including
gurneys, medical carts, diagnostic equipment, monitoring equipment,
and treatment equipment to provide medical care for patients. Many
of the physical assets of the medical facility require energy to
function. In one embodiment, the physical assets can receive the
energy from a mobile energy source, such as a battery. In another
embodiment, the battery can be a rechargeable battery. In one
example, the rechargeable battery can be a lead-based battery, a
lithium-based battery, a nickel based battery, and so forth. In one
embodiment, the rechargeable battery can be recharged using
physical electrical contacts. In another embodiment, the
rechargeable battery can be recharged via a wireless energy
transfer. A wireless energy transfer or wireless energy can be a
transmission of electrical energy from an energy source to an
electrical load without interconnecting wires or physical
electrical contacts.
[0043] In one embodiment, a wireless transfer station can provide
energy to a physical asset. In another embodiment, a wireless
transfer station can be integrated into an electronic device. In
another embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be a wireless
energy battery pack that can be coupled to another wireless
transfer station, such as a wireless transfer station integrated
into an electronic device to provide energy to the electronic
device. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be
integrated into a device, medical equipment, a medical cart,
furniture, or other objects. In another embodiment, the wireless
transfer station can be a plate or platform that receives energy
from an alternative current (AC) outlet and transfers wireless
energy to another object, such as another wireless transfer
station. In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be
integrated into a stationary object, such as a floor mat, a plate
mounted on a wall, floor tiles, a piece of furniture, and so forth.
In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be
integrated into a portable or mobile object, such as a wheeled
medical cart, a medical device, and so forth.
[0044] Often, rechargeable batteries are used as a replenishable
energy source for electronic devices. In one embodiment, a battery
pack can include one or more rechargeable batteries. In one
example, the one or more rechargeable batteries can be a lead-based
battery, a lithium-based battery, a nickel based battery, or
another type of chemical storage battery. Traditionally, a
rechargeable battery pack provides energy to an electronic device
using physical electrically conductive connections between the
rechargeable battery pack and the electronic device. When the
traditional rechargeable batteries of the rechargeable battery pack
are depleted, the rechargeable batteries can be replenished by
connecting physical electrically conductive contacts between the
rechargeable battery pack and a battery charger.
[0045] In one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless
transfer station can receive energy and/or send energy to another
device, such as another wireless transfer station, using a wireless
energy transfer scheme (e.g. transfer energy without wires). A
wireless energy transfer scheme can be any form of wireless energy
transfer associated with the use of electric fields, magnetic
fields, electromagnetic fields, and so forth that allows electrical
energy to be transmitted between two or more wireless transfer
elements without using physical electrical contacts. In one
example, a wireless energy transfer of wireless energy can be a
transfer of electrical energy from an energy source to an
electrical load without the use of interconnecting wires or
physical electrical contacts.
[0046] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can include
one or more wireless transfer coils to transfer energy and/or data
with other wireless transfer stations. The wireless transfer coil
can include one or more power management modules to control the
energy transfers and/or data transfers with the other wireless
transfer stations.
[0047] Examples of a wireless transfer station includes a wireless
energy rechargeable battery pack, a wireless energy transfer
platform and/or data transceiver integrated into a medical cart, a
wireless energy transfer platform and/or data transceiver
integrated into an electronic device, a wireless energy transfer
platform and/or data transceiver integrated into a piece of
furniture, a wireless energy transfer platform and/or data
transceiver integrated into a plate mounted to a wall, a wireless
energy transfer platform and/or data transceiver integrated into a
device (such as a medical device or medical equipment), and so
forth.
[0048] In one example, the wireless transfer station can be a
wireless energy battery pack that can be attached to a device, such
as a medical cart or medical equipment. The wireless transfer
station that transfers energy and/or data with the device can also
relay the energy and/or data with other devices and/or wireless
transfer stations. These examples are not intended to be limiting.
The wireless transfer station can be implemented in a variety of
electronic devices and mounting locations.
[0049] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can receive
data from and/or send data or information to another device, such
as another wireless transfer station, using a wireless data
transfer scheme. In another embodiment, the wireless data transfer
scheme can be any form of data transfer associated with a
communications network. In another embodiment, the communications
network can be a cellular network. The cellular network can be
configured to operate based on a cellular standard, such as the
third generation partnership projection (3GPP) long term evolution
(LTE) Rel. 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 standard, or the institute of
electronic and electrical engineers (IEEE) 802.16p, 802.16n,
802.16m-2011, 802.16h-2010, 802.16j-2009, or 802.16-2009
standard.
[0050] In another embodiment, the communications network can be a
wireless local area network (such as a wireless fidelity network
(Wi-Fi)) that can be configured to operate using a standard such as
the IEEE 802.11-2012, IEEE 802.11ac, or IEEE 802.11ad standard. In
another embodiment, the communications network can be configured to
operate using a Bluetooth standard such as Bluetooth v1.0,
Bluetooth v2.0, Bluetooth v3.0, or Bluetooth v4.0. In another
embodiment, the communications network can be configured to operate
using a ZigBee standard, such as the IEEE 802.15.4-2003 (ZigBee
2003), IEEE 802.15.4-2006 (ZigBee 2006), or IEEE 802.15.4-2007
(ZigBee Pro) standard. In another embodiment, the wireless data
transfer scheme can be any form of data transfer associated with
electric fields, magnetic fields, or electromagnetic fields that is
transmitted between two or more wireless transfer elements without
using physical electrical contacts.
[0051] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can include
one or more wireless transfer elements. In one example, a wireless
transfer element can be a wireless transfer coil. In one
embodiment, the wireless transfer coil can be a coil used for
transmitting and/or receiving energy and/or data using magnetic
inductance and/or magnetic resonance.
[0052] FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless transfer station 110. FIG. 1
further illustrates that the wireless transfer station 110 can
include a wireless transfer coil 120 and a power management module
130. In one example, the power management module 130 can convert
energy received from an energy source, such as another wireless
transfer station or an alternating current (AC) energy outlet, a
selected current level, a selected voltage level, and/or a selected
wattage level. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station
110 can include one or more batteries, such as rechargeable
batteries. In one embodiment, the wireless transfer coil 120 can
comprise a transmitting coil and/or a receiving coil.
[0053] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of transferring energy or data
between a plurality of wireless transfer coils 210 and 220. FIG. 2
further illustrates that one of the plurality of wireless transfer
coils 210 can be a transmitting coil 210 and another one of the
plurality of wireless transfer coils 220 can be a receiving coil
220. In one embodiment, energy and/or data can be transferred from
the transmitting coil 210 to the receiving coil 220 by coupling the
transmitting coil 210 with the receiving coil 220 to enable the
energy or data to be transferred over a gap or distance. In one
example, wireless energy can be transferred by generating a
magnetic field 230 (such as an electromagnetic field) at the
transmitting coil 210 and positioning the receiving coil 220 within
the magnetic field 230 to induce a current at the receiving coil
220. The process of inducing a current at the receiving coil is
referred to as coupling the receiving coil 220 to the transmitting
coil 210. In one embodiment, the wireless transfer coil coupling
for wireless energy or data transfer can be a magnetic induction
coupling. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer coil
coupling for wireless energy transfer can be a magnetic resonant
coupling.
[0054] In one embodiment, the transmitting coil 210 can be a
transmitting induction coil and the receiving coil 220 can be a
receiving induction coil. The wireless transfer station can use a
magnetic field to transfer energy between the transmitting coil 210
coupled to a first object (such as a wireless transfer station) and
a receiving coil 220 of a second object (such as another wireless
transfer station) without any direct contact between the
transmitting coil 210 and the receiving coil 220, e.g. inductive
coupling.
[0055] In one embodiment, inductive coupling can occur when the
transmitting coil 210 creates a magnetic field 230 (such as an
alternating electromagnetic field) using an energy source, such as
an alternating current (AC) energy outlet or a direct current (DC)
battery. A current can be induced at the receiving coil 220 using
the magnetic field when the receiving coil 220 is located within
the magnetic field 230.
[0056] In one example, when the transmitting coil 210 and the
receiving coil 220 are within a threshold proximity distance, the
transmitting coil 210 and the receiving coil 220 can couple to form
an electric transformer. In one embodiment, current from the
receiving coil 220 can be transferred to a battery or an electronic
device. In another embodiment, the current can be stored in one or
more energy sources of the wireless transfer station, such as a
battery. In another embodiment, the current can be transferred to a
device coupled to the wireless transfer station. In one embodiment,
an impedance of one or more transmitting coils 210 can be
substantially matched with an impedance of one or more receiving
coils 220.
[0057] In one embodiment, the transmitting coil 210 can be a
transmitting resonant coil and the receiving coil 220 can be a
receiving resonant coil. A wireless resonant transfer can be a
resonant transmission of energy or data between at least one
transmitting coil 210 and at least one receiving coil 220. In
another embodiment, at least one transmitting coil 210 and at least
one receiving coil 220 can be tuned to resonate at a same frequency
or a substantially same frequency.
[0058] In one example, resonant transmission of wireless energy can
occur when the transmitting coil and the receiving coil are
constructed to resonate at the same frequency or approximately the
same frequency. The transmitting coil 210 can be configured to
oscillate current at the resonant frequency of the coils to
transfer energy and/or data. The oscillating current of the
transmitting coil 210 can generate an oscillating magnetic field at
the selected resonant frequency of the receiving coil. When the
receiving coil 220 is positioned adjacent to the oscillating
magnetic field and constructed to operate at the same frequency or
substantially the same frequency as the transmitting coil 210, the
receiving coil 220 can receive energy and/or data from the
oscillating magnetic field.
[0059] In another embodiment, an impedance of one or more
transmitting coils 210 can be substantially matched with an
impedance of one or more receiving coils 220 for energy and/or data
transfer. In another embodiment, the transmitting coil and the
receiving coil can be positioned such that the receiving coil is
within the near field of the magnetic field of the transmitting
coil. The near field can be based within the Fraunhofer region,
which can be approximately within 1/2.pi. times the wavelength of
the electromagnetic field.
[0060] One advantage of placing the receiving coil within the near
field for wireless energy transfer is to reduce an amount of energy
that may be radiated or leaked from the wireless transfer coils 210
and 220, e.g. energy not received at the receiving coil 220. In one
embodiment, energy in a magnetic field falls off as the inverse
squared of a distance (1/d.sup.2) between the transmitting coil 210
and the receiving coil 220 within the near field. In one example,
magnetic resonant coupling can be used to transfer energy at
relatively high energy levels between the transmitting coil 210 and
the receiving coil 220 and to minimize or reduce energy leaking
away from the wireless transfer coils 210 and 220.
[0061] Another advantage of using a near field or a non-radiating
field for wireless energy transfer can be that the near field or
the non-radiating field can be used in areas adjacent to biological
material, such as humans or other biological entities, with minimal
or no effects to the biological material from the wireless energy
transfer. In another embodiment, a wireless transfer station, such
as in FIG. 1, can use a radio frequency (RF) signal, ultrasound,
and/or laser beams to wirelessly transfer energy and/or data
between a transmitting device and a receiving device.
[0062] FIG. 3a shows a wireless transfer station 310 that can
include: a wireless transfer coil 320, a power management module
330, and a conversion module 340. In one embodiment, the wireless
transfer coil 320 can be used for resonance coupling and/or
induction coupling. In one example, the conversion module 340 can
be coupled to the wireless transfer coil 320 and used to switch the
wireless transfer coil 320 from a resonance mode (i.e. transferring
wireless energy and/or data using magnetic resonance coupling) to
an induction mode (i.e. transferring wireless energy and/or data
using magnetic induction coupling), or vice versa.
[0063] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer coil 320 of the
wireless transfer station 310 can be used for transmitting wireless
energy and/or receiving wireless energy. In one example, the
conversion module 340 can be coupled to the wireless transfer coil
320 and used to switch the wireless transfer coil 320 from a
receiving mode (i.e. receiving wireless energy and/or data) to a
transmitting mode (i.e. transmitting wireless energy and/or data),
or vice versa.
[0064] In one embodiment, when the conversion module 340 of the
wireless transfer station 310 is in the transmitting mode, the
conversion module 340 or the power management module 330 can
convert energy received from an energy source (such as a power
outlet or a battery) at a selected voltage into a high frequency
alternating current and transmit the high frequency alternating
current to a wireless transfer coil of another wireless transfer
station. The high frequency alternating current can flow through
one or more loops of the wireless transfer coil 320 and create a
varying magnetic field that can induce a current in the other
wireless transfer coil. In another embodiment, when the conversion
module 340 is switched to the receiving mode, a varying magnetic
field from another wireless transfer station can induce an
alternating current flowing through the one or more loops of the
wireless transfer coil 320. The current flowing through the one or
more loops can be converted into a direct current (DC) by the
conversion module 340 or the power management module 330 and
directed to a battery coupled to the wireless transfer station 310
or a device that is electrically coupled to the wireless transfer
station 310.
[0065] In one embodiment, each wireless transfer coil 320 of a
wireless transfer station 310 can be coupled to a separate
conversion module 340. In another embodiment, one or more
conversion modules 340 can be coupled to one or more selected
groups of wireless transfer coils 320. One advantage of using a
conversion module 340 for switching a wireless transfer coil 320
between transmitting mode and receiving mode can be to reduce a
complexity of design and/or size of a wireless transfer station 310
by reducing a number of wireless transfer coils 320 used to
transmit and/or receive wireless energy. Another advantage of using
a conversion module 340 for switching a wireless transfer coil
between a transmitting mode and receiving mode is to provide a dual
functionality to a wireless transfer station of both transmitting
and receiving wireless energy.
[0066] FIG. 3b illustrates a wireless transfer station 350. FIG. 3b
further illustrates that the wireless transfer station 350 can
include: a wireless transfer coil 360; a power management module
370; and a battery 380. The battery 380 can comprise a plurality of
batteries, such as rechargeable batteries. In one example, the
power management module 370 can convert energy received using the
wireless transfer coil 360 from an energy source, such as another
wireless transfer station or an alternating current (AC) energy
outlet, to a selected current level at a selected voltage level to
provide a selected wattage level. In one embodiment, the power
management module can transfer the converted energy to the battery
380 to store the energy.
[0067] FIG. 3c shows a cross-sectional view of a battery 380, for
example a lithium ion battery utilizing an 18650 battery
form-factor. The battery 380 can include: a case 386, such as a
cylindrical case; one or more electrodes 388, and a cap 384. In one
embodiment, the case 386 can be made of a metal, such as
nickel-plated steel, that can be non-reactive with battery
materials, such as an electrolyte or the one or more electrodes
388. In one embodiment, a bottom surface 390 of the case 386 can be
seamlessly integrated with the remainder of the case 386. In one
embodiment, a top end 382 of the case 386 can be open ended. In
another embodiment, the cap 384 can be located at the top end 382
of the case 386. In another embodiment, the top end 382 can be a
positive electrical terminal of the battery 380 and the bottom end
390 can be a negative electrical terminal. In one example, the
positive electrical terminal and the negative electrical terminal
of the battery 380 can be connected to a wireless transfer station
to provide energy to the wireless transfer station. In another
embodiment, a plurality of batteries can be connected in series
and/or in parallel. In one embodiment, the battery 380 can be
connected to a power management module, such as the power
management modules in FIGS. 3a and 3b.
[0068] FIG. 4 shows a wireless transfer station 410 that can
include: a wireless transfer coil 420, a power management module
430, a communications module 440, and/or a coordination module 450.
In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 410 can
communicate with one or more other wireless transfer stations or
one or more devices using the communication module 440.
[0069] In one embodiment, the communication module 440 of the
wireless transfer station 410 can use a communications network to
communicate the data to a device and/or another wireless transfer
station. In another embodiment, the communications network can be a
cellular network that may be a 3GPP LTE Rel. 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 or
IEEE 802.16p, 802.16n, 802.16m-2011, 802.16h-2010, 802.16j-2009,
802.16-2009. In another embodiment, communications network can be a
wireless network (such as a wireless fidelity network (Wi-Fi)) that
may follow a standard such as the Institute of Electronics and
Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11-2012, IEEE 802.11ac, or IEEE
802.11ad standard. In another embodiment, the communications
network can be a Bluetooth connection such as Bluetooth v1.0,
Bluetooth v2.0, Bluetooth v3.0, or Bluetooth v4.0. In another
embodiment, the communications network can be a ZigBee connection
such as IEEE 802.15.4-2003 (ZigBee 2003), IEEE 802.15.4-2006
(ZigBee 2006), IEEE 802.15.4-2007 (ZigBee Pro).
[0070] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 410 can
transfer energy to one or more other wireless transfer stations,
receive energy from one or more other wireless transfer stations,
and/or communicate data or information with one or more other
wireless transfer stations. In another embodiment, the coordination
module 450 of the wireless transfer station 410 can coordinate when
energy is transferred between wireless transfer stations and/or
when data is communicated between wireless transfer stations. In
another embodiment, the coordination module 450 can use the
communications module 440 to communicate with one or more other
wireless transfer stations to coordinate energy and/or data
transfer between the wireless transfer station 410 and the one or
more other wireless transfer stations.
[0071] One advantage of transferring energy and/or data using a
wireless transfer station 410 is to provide a single connection
point between the wireless transfer station 410 and other wireless
transfer stations and/or other devices. Another advantage of
transferring energy and/or data using the wireless transfer station
410 can be to enable a single step for both transferring energy
between the wireless transfer station 410 and other wireless
transfer stations and communicating or synchronizing data
communicated between the wireless transfer station 410 and other
wireless transfer stations. In one example, when a first wireless
transfer station (such as a wireless transfer station integrated
into a medical cart) is located adjacent to a second wireless
transfer station (such as a wireless transfer station integrated
into a plate mounted to a wall or a floor mat), the first wireless
transfer station can both receive energy from the second wireless
transfer station and synchronize information with the second
wireless transfer station.
[0072] In one embodiment, the coordination module 450 can
communicate with a conversion module, as in FIG. 3a, to coordinate
when one or more wireless transfer coils 420 of the wireless
transfer station 410 can transmit and/or receive wireless energy
and/or data. In one example, the coordination module 450
communicates with a conversion module, as in FIG. 3a, to coordinate
transmitting and/or receiving wireless energy and/or data by
coordinating when one or more wireless transfer coils 420 are in a
transmitting mode or a receiving mode, as discussed in the
preceding paragraphs.
[0073] FIG. 5a shows a wireless transfer station 510 that includes
one or more resonant wireless transfer coils 520 and/or one or more
induction wireless transfer coils 530. In one example, the wireless
transfer station 510 can have a resonant wireless transfer coil 520
and can transfer energy to a resonant wireless transfer coil of a
first wireless transfer station and can have an induction wireless
transfer coil 530 and can transfer energy to an induction wireless
transfer coil of a second wireless transfer station. One advantage
of the wireless transfer station having both resonant wireless
transfer coils 520 and induction wireless transfer coils 530 can be
to provide energy and/or data to wireless transfer stations and/or
devices with only one of the resonant wireless transfer coils or
the induction wireless transfer coils, thereby enabling more
devices to transfer energy to the wireless transfer station.
[0074] In one embodiment, a device or another wireless transfer
station can include one or more resonant wireless transfer coils
and/or one or more induction wireless transfer coils. In one
embodiment, the device or the other wireless transfer station
receiving energy from the wireless transfer station 510 can select
whether to receive wireless energy from the one or more resonant
wireless transfer coils 520 or the one or more induction wireless
transfer coils 530 of the wireless transfer station 510. In another
embodiment, the wireless transfer station 510 can be configured to
select whether to transmit wireless energy using the one or more
resonant wireless transfer coils 520 or the one or more induction
wireless transfer coils 530. In one example, a resonant
transmitting coil and a resonant receiving coil pair can have a
higher energy transfer efficiency than an induction transmitting
coil and an induction receiving coil pair. In this example, when
the device or the other wireless transfer station includes a
resonant receiving coil, the other wireless transfer station and/or
the device or the wireless transfer station 510 can be configured
to use one or more resonant wireless transfer coils to perform an
energy transfer.
[0075] In one embodiment, the one or more resonant wireless
transfer coils 520 and/or the one or more induction wireless
transfer coils 530 can be transmitting coils and/or receiving
coils. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station 510 can
include one or more repeater coils 540. In one example, the
repeater coil 540 can enhance wirelessly transmitted energy of a
transmitting coil, e.g. providing additional transmission energy.
In another example, the repeater coil 540 can receive the wireless
energy from a transmitting coil and relay or retransmit the
received energy to another repeater coil 540 or to a receiving
coil. The repeater coils can be configured as inductive repeater
coils or resonant repeater coils, and associated with transmit
coils and receive coils of the same kind.
[0076] In one embodiment, the one or more resonant wireless
transfer coils 520, the one or more induction wireless transfer
coils 530, and/or the repeater coil 540 can include a power
management module 550 configured to covert energy from an energy
source to a varying magnetic field. In another embodiment, the one
or more resonant wireless transfer coils 520, the one or more
induction wireless transfer coils 530, and/or the repeater coil 540
can be coupled to a power management module 550 configured to
convert a magnetic field into energy, such as energy at a selected
current level, a voltage level, a wattage level, and/or an amperage
level, and transfer the energy to a battery of the wireless
transfer station 510 or a device coupled to the wireless transfer
station 510.
[0077] FIG. 5b illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the wireless
transfer station 510. In one embodiment, the wireless transfer
station 510 can be a stand-alone device used to transfer wireless
energy to other devices. In another embodiment, the wireless
transfer station 510 can include a wireless transfer coil 520 and a
power management module 530. In another embodiment, the wireless
transfer station 510 can direct energy received at the wireless
transfer coil 520 using the power management module 530 to a device
coupled to the wireless transfer station 510.
[0078] In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station 510 can
transfer the energy received at the wireless transfer coil 520 to
the coupled device using physical electrical contacts. In another
embodiment, the wireless transfer station 510 can transfer the
energy to the coupled device using the wireless transfer coil 520.
In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 510 can store
received energy at a battery 540.
[0079] FIG. 5c illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the wireless
transfer station 510 integrated into an object 520. In one
embodiment, the object 520 that the wireless transfer station 510
can be integrated into can be an electronic device, such as a
medical device or a wireless energy battery pack. In one example,
the wireless transfer station 510 can be integrated into a medical
infusion pump and provide energy to the medical infusion pump. In
another embodiment, the object 520 can be integrated into a medical
cart (such as a work surface of the medical cart), a floor mat, a
floor surface, a plate mounted to a wall, a wall surface, chair
railing, a room railing, a ceiling tile, a ceiling surface, and so
forth. FIG. 5d illustrates that a plurality of wireless transfer
stations 510 can be integrated into an object 520. FIG. 5d is the
same as FIG. 5c in all other aspects.
[0080] FIG. 6 shows a wireless transfer station 610 that can
provide energy to one or more non-wire powered electronic devices
620 and/or one or more rechargeable batteries 640 coupled to a
device 630. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station
610 can provide energy to different types of non-wire powered
electronic devices, such as a monitoring device, a computing
device, a medical device, and so forth. In one example, the
wireless transfer station 610 can provide a unified energy source
for the devices 620 and 630 and/or the one or more rechargeable
batteries 640 coupled to the device 630. In one embodiment, a
unified energy source can be a power source that can provide power
to a device, a wireless transfer station, and/or a battery without
using different power connectors to provide the power to the
device, the wireless transfer station, and/or the battery. In one
embodiment, the wireless transfer stations can include an
integrated wireless energy coil and a physical electrical energy
connection terminal. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer
station 610 can transfer energy via an electrical energy connection
terminal and/or an integrated wireless transfer coil.
[0081] FIG. 7a shows a device 710 with a wireless transfer station
720 coupled to the device 710 or integrated into the device 710. In
one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 720 can be configured
to provide energy to batteries 730 of the device 710 and the
batteries 730 can provide energy to the device 710. In another
embodiment, the wireless transfer station 720 can be configured to
provide energy directly to the device 710, e.g. without using
batteries. In one example, a power management module 740 can
provide energy directly to the device 710 by receiving energy at a
wireless transfer coil 750 of the wireless transfer station 710
from a wireless transfer coil of another wireless transfer station
and direct the energy via the power management module 740 to the
device 710 and/or the batteries 730.
[0082] FIG. 7b illustrates a wireless transfer station 710 with a
plurality of wireless transfer coils 730 configured to transfer
energy and/or data to an electronic device 720, such as a medical
device. The medical device can include one or more integrated
wireless transfer stations 740. In one embodiment, the electronic
device 720 can be located adjacent to the wireless transfer station
710. For example, a bottom surface of the electronic device 720 can
abut a top surface of the wireless transfer station 710.
[0083] Wireless Transfer Station Incorporated into Medical Cart
[0084] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station or one or
more components of the wireless transfer station can be
incorporated into a device. The device can be: a wheeled medical
cart; a platform coupled the wheeled medical cart; a platform
integrated into the wheeled medical cart; and/or a device coupled
the wheeled medical cart.
[0085] FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c show a wheeled medical cart 810 with
different configurations of integrated wireless transfer stations
820, 830, and 840, respectively. FIG. 8a shows a wheeled medical
cart 810 with a plurality of wireless transfer stations 820
integrated into a selected area 852 of a work surface 850 of the
wheeled medical cart 810. FIG. 8b shows a wheeled medical cart 810
with a plurality of wireless transfer stations 830 integrated into
a work surface 860 of the wheeled medical cart 810. The wheeled
medical cart 810 of FIG. 8b is the same as the wheeled medical cart
810 in FIG. 8a in all other regards. FIG. 8c shows a wheeled
medical cart 810 with one or more of wireless transfer stations 840
integrated into a device holder 870 of the wheeled medical cart
810. The wheeled medical cart 810 of FIG. 8c is the same as the
wheeled medical carts 810 in FIGS. 8a and 8b in all other
regards.
[0086] In one embodiment, the wheeled medical cart 810 can have one
or more attached work surfaces 850 or 860. In one example, the one
or more work surfaces 850 or 860 and/or device holder 870 of the
wheeled medical cart can include one or more integrated or coupled
wireless transfer coils, such as one or more transmitting coils,
one or more repeater coils, and/or one or more receiving coils. In
another embodiment, the one or more work surfaces 850 or 860 and/or
device holder 870 can have one or more selected areas for other
devices, such as medical devices and/or mobile devices, to be
placed on the one or more work surfaces 850 or 860 and/or device
holder 870 and receive wireless energy.
[0087] In one embodiment, the device holder 870 can be designed to
hold one or more devices at selected alignments to orient the one
or more devices to receive energy from one or more of wireless
transfer stations 840. In one example, the device holder 870 can be
integrated into the wheeled medical cart 810 and the device holder
870 can hold and orient one or more medical devices to receive
wireless energy using wireless transfer stations coupled to the
medical devices and/or wireless transfer stations integrated into
the medical devices.
[0088] In one embodiment, the wheeled medical cart 810 can include
one or more electrical systems and/or one or more devices coupled
to the wheeled medical cart 810. In another embodiment, the wheeled
medical cart 810 can use one or more wireless transfer stations 880
to power the one or more electrical systems and/or the one or more
devices. In another embodiment, the one or more wireless transfer
stations 880 can receive wireless energy while attached to the
wheeled medical cart. In another embodiment, the one or more
wireless transfer stations 880 can be removed from the wheeled
medical cart and can be attached to another wireless transfer
station or be located adjacent to the wireless transfer station and
receive wireless energy.
[0089] FIG. 9 shows one exemplary embodiment of floor mat 910 with
one or more integrated wireless transfer stations 920. In one
embodiment, the integrated wireless transfer stations 920 can
receive energy and/or data from an outlet 930. In one embodiment,
the outlet 930 can be a wall outlet and the integrated wireless
transfer stations 920 can receive alternating current (AC) from the
outlet 930. In another embodiment, the outlet 930 can be a data
outlet, such as an Ethernet outlet, and the integrated wireless
transfer stations 920 can receive data from the outlet 930.
[0090] In another embodiment, the one or more integrated wireless
transfer stations 920 can include one or more wireless transfer
coils to transfer energy from the wireless transfer station 920 to
another wireless transfer station. In one example, a wireless
transfer station coupled to a wheeled medical cart can be moved
into a location in proximity or adjacent to the wireless transfer
station integrated 920 into the floor mat 910 and receive energy
from the one or more wireless transfer stations 920 integrated into
the floor mat 910.
[0091] FIG. 10 shows one exemplary embodiment of a flooring surface
1010 with one or more integrated wireless transfer stations 1020.
In another embodiment, the one or more integrated wireless transfer
stations 1020 can include one or more wireless transfer coils. In
another embodiment, the flooring surface 1010 can be a flooring
tile with the one or more integrated wireless transfer stations
1020 integrated into the flooring tile. In another embodiment, the
one or more integrated wireless transfer stations 1020 can be
coupled to the flooring surface, such as attached to an outer
surface of a flooring tile.
[0092] FIG. 11 shows one exemplary embodiment of a plate 1110
mounted to a wall 1180 with one or more integrated wireless
transfer stations 1120. In another embodiment, the one or more
integrated wireless transfer stations 1120 can include one or more
wireless transfer coils 1160. In another embodiment, the plate 1110
can be integrated into the wall 1180. In another embodiment, the
one or more integrated wireless transfer stations 1120 can be
coupled to the wall 1180, such as attached to an inner surface of
the wall 1180. In another embodiment, a receptacle 1130 can be
attached to the plate 1110. In another embodiment, the receptacle
1130 can receive a device, such as a medical device, or another
wireless transfer station. In another embodiment, one or more
wireless transfer stations 1140 can be coupled to the receptacle
1130 and the one or more wireless transfer stations 1140 can be
used to transfer energy and/or data with the device or the other
wireless transfer station, such as by using a wireless transfer
coil 1150.
[0093] In another embodiment, a plate 1110 can be attached to a
mounting plate 1170 that is attached to the wall 1180. One
advantage of attaching the plate 1110 to the mounting plate 1190
can be that the plate 1110 can be easily and/or quickly removed
from the mounting plate 1170 for maintenance, upgrades,
replacement, and so forth. In one embodiment, the plate 1110 can be
attached to the mounting plate 1170 using one or more fasteners or
connectors, such as hooks, quick connectors, screws, bolts, and so
forth.
[0094] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can monitor
an amount of energy and/or data transmitted by a wireless transfer
coil and/or an amount of energy and/or data received by the
wireless transfer coil. In one example, a first wireless transfer
station with a receiving coil can communicate energy information to
a second wireless transfer station with a transmitting coil, using
a communications module as discussed in the preceding paragraphs.
The energy information can include: voltage level information,
current draw level information, energy level information of the
energy received at the receiving coil, energy level information of
the energy transmitted from the transmitting coil, internal
temperature information, ambient temperature information, or other
types of desired metrics.
[0095] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can adjust
an amount of energy transmitted from a wireless transfer coil of a
wireless transfer station to another wireless transfer coil of
another wireless transfer station based on the energy information.
In one example, if a device with an integrated or coupled wireless
transfer station requires 5 volts (V) and 2 amps (A) of energy and
is currently receiving a voltage level or an amperage level at a
level above or below a selected energy level range (such as a
voltage range and/or a current range), the device or the coupled
wireless transfer station can communicate the energy information to
the wireless transfer station. In this example, the wireless
transfer station can adjust the energy transferred from the
wireless transfer coil to the other wireless transfer coil to bring
the energy level range received at a wireless transfer coil to a
level within a selected energy level range.
[0096] In another embodiment, a wireless transfer station can be a
communication hub between multiple devices and/or other wireless
transfer stations. In one example, the wireless transfer station
can be integrated into a medical cart. The medical cart can receive
data from a first device using a communication module (as discussed
in the preceding paragraphs) and relay the data to another wireless
transfer station, such as a wireless transfer station attached to a
wall or floor.
[0097] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can
regulate an amount of energy received by one or more other wireless
transfer stations. In one example, when a first wireless transfer
station uses a transmitting coil for a transfer of energy and/or
data, the first wireless transfer station can control an amount of
energy received at a second wireless transfer station by detuning a
frequency of the transmitting coil by a selected amount. In another
example, when a first wireless transfer station uses receiving
coils for a transfer of energy and/or data, the first wireless
transfer station can control an amount of energy received from a
second wireless transfer station by detuning a frequency of the
receiving coil by selected amount. In another example, to regulate
the amount of energy and/or transferred between the first wireless
transfer station and the second wireless transfer station, the
first wireless transfer station and/or the second wireless transfer
station can adjust a number of winds of a wireless transfer coil
used to create an magnetic field or couple with the magnetic
field.
[0098] FIG. 12 illustrates a wireless transfer station transferring
energy and/or data to a plurality of different devices and other
wireless transfer stations. In one embodiment, to regulate an
amount of energy and/or data received by a device 1220, a wireless
transfer station 1230, and/or a selected group of other wireless
transfer stations 1240, wireless transfer coils of the device 1220,
the wireless transfer station 1230, and/or the selected group of
other wireless transfer stations 1240 can be tuned to different
frequencies 1250, 1260, and 1270, respectively. In one embodiment,
the wireless transfer station 1210 can switch a plurality of
wireless transfer coils of the wireless transfer station 1210 to
the frequencies 1250, 1260, and 1270 that correspond to the
frequencies for the device 1220, the wireless transfer station
1230, and/or the selected group of other wireless transfer stations
1240, respectively, to provide data and/or selected amounts of
energy on the frequencies 1250, 1260, and 1270. In one embodiment,
the different frequencies 1250, 1260, and 1270 can be different
resonant frequencies. In one embodiment, the wireless transfer
station 1210 can switch one wireless transfer coil of the wireless
transfer station 1210 to different frequencies 1250, 1260, and 1270
that correspond to the frequencies for the device 1220, the
wireless transfer station 1230, and/or the selected group of other
wireless transfer stations 1240, respectively to provide data
and/or selected amounts of energy on the frequencies 1250, 1260,
and 1270 for selected periods of time. In one embodiment, a
frequency of the wireless transfer coils of the wireless transfer
station 1210, the device 1220, the wireless transfer station 1230,
and/or the selected group of other wireless transfer stations 1240
can be dynamically adjusted or varied to different selected
frequencies. In another embodiment, different amounts of energy
and/or data can be transferred on the different frequencies 1250,
1260, and/or 1270. In another embodiment, an amount of energy
and/or data transferred on the different frequencies 1250, 1260,
and 1270 can be dynamically varied.
[0099] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1210 can
collect and/or store data and/or energy information of the wireless
transfer station 1210, the device 1220, the wireless transfer
station 1230, and/or the selected group of other wireless transfer
stations 1240. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station
1210 can analyze the data and/or energy information to determine an
amount of energy received and/or used by the wireless transfer
station 1210, the device 1220, the wireless transfer station 1230,
and/or the selected group of other wireless transfer stations 1240.
In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1210, the
device 1220, the wireless transfer station 1230, and/or the
selected group of other wireless transfer stations 1240 can collect
and/or store the data and/or energy information.
[0100] In one embodiment, the energy information can include: a
state of the device 1220, the wireless transfer station 1210 or
1230, and/or the selected group of other wireless transfer stations
1240; a state of a subsystem or module of the device 1220, the
wireless transfer station 1210 or 1230, and/or the selected group
of other wireless transfer stations 1240; a state of the device
1220, the wireless transfer station 1230, and/or the selected group
of other wireless transfer stations 1240 within a coverage area of
the wireless transfer station 1210; location information of the
device 1220, the wireless transfer station 1230, and/or the
selected group of other wireless transfer stations 1240 within the
coverage area of the wireless transfer station 1210; a wireless
transfer station identification (ID), a device ID, a wireless
transfer station subsystem ID or module ID, a usage level of the
device 1220, the wireless transfer station 1210 or 1230, and/or the
selected group of other wireless transfer stations 1240; and/or
health information of the device 1220, the wireless transfer
station 1230, and/or the selected group of other wireless transfer
stations 1240 within the coverage area of the wireless transfer
station 1210. In one embodiment, the health information can be
information of an actual full charge capacity of one or more
batteries or one or more battery cells of the device 1220, the
wireless transfer station 1210 or 1230, and/or the selected group
of other wireless transfer stations 1240 compared to a designed
capacity of one or more batteries or one or more battery cells of
the device 1220, the wireless transfer station 1210 or 1230, and/or
the selected group of other wireless transfer stations 1240. In one
example, the actual full charge capacity of a battery of the
wireless transfer station 1210 can be 16 amp hours and the designed
capacity of the battery can be 24 amp hours and the health
information can indicate that the actual full charge capacity is
below the designed capacity. In another embodiment, the health
information can include a battery depletion rate, a number of
charge cycles of a battery or group of batteries, an amount of
charge a battery or group of batteries received for a charge
period, an average charge period for a battery or group of
batteries, a remaining battery capacity level of a battery or group
of batteries, and so forth.
[0101] In one embodiment, selected locations can have wireless
transfer stations that can provide energy to one or more devices
and/or other wireless transfer stations. The wireless transfer
stations can determine an ID of the one or more devices or the
other wireless transfer stations and indicate the location of the
devices and/or the other wireless transfer stations. In one
example, a wheeled medical cart can receive energy from a wireless
transfer station at a patient room in a hospital. The wireless
transfer station can provide location information of the location
of the wheeled medical cart to a central server of the hospital or
information technology (IT) department indicating the location of
the wheeled medical cart.
[0102] In one embodiment, wireless energy and/or data transferred
between a first wireless transfer station and a second wireless
transfer station can be an alternating current (AC) energy signal.
In another embodiment, the first wireless transfer station can send
the AC energy signal and to the second wireless transfer station,
and the second wireless transfer station can change the AC energy
signal into a direct current (DC) energy signal. In one example,
the second wireless transfer station can be a wireless energy
battery pack. In this example, the wireless energy battery pack can
include a built-in charger to convert the AC energy signal to a DC
energy signal and transfer the DC energy to one or more batteries
or battery cells of the wireless energy battery pack.
[0103] FIG. 13 depicts a wireless transfer station 1310 operable to
adjust transferred energy. In one embodiment, the wireless transfer
station 1310 can include a wave rectifier 1320 to adjust (e.g. step
up or step down) a voltage level of transferred energy. In another
embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1310 can include a buck
converter 1330 and the wave rectifier 1320 can transfer the
wireless energy to one or more batteries or one or more battery
cells 1360 via the buck converter 1330. In another embodiment, a
current level of the wireless transfer station 1310 can be
controlled using a voltage stepper 1340 for voltage stepping. In
another embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1310 can use a
sensor resistor 1350 to measure the current going into the one or
more batteries or one or more battery cells 1360. In one example,
the wireless transfer station 1310 can communicate voltage level
information and/or current level information using a communication
module 1370. In this example, the wireless transfer station 1310
can adjust the voltage level and/or current level of the wirelessly
transferred energy to a selected level based on the communicated
voltage level information and/or current level information. In
another embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1310 can use a
shunt or voltage stepper 1340 to control an amount of energy
transferred between the wireless transfer station 1310 and another
wireless transfer station.
[0104] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can
regulate an amount of energy received by one or more other wireless
transfer stations. In one example, when a first wireless transfer
station uses a wireless transfer coil to transfer energy, the first
wireless transfer station can control the amount of energy received
at a second wireless transfer station by detuning a frequency of
the wireless transfer coil of the first wireless transfer station
by a selected amount. In another example, the first wireless
transfer station can control the amount of energy received from the
second wireless transfer station by detuning a frequency of the
wireless transfer coil of the first wireless transfer station by
selected amount.
[0105] FIG. 14 shows a wireless transfer coil 1410 with a plurality
of loops or winds 1420. In one embodiment, an amount of energy
transmitted and/or received by the wireless transfer coil 1410 can
be adjusted using one or more adjustment modules 1430. In one
embodiment, the one or more adjustment modules 1430 can engage or
disengage one or more of the plurality of loops 1420 to:
effectively vary a size of the wireless transfer coil 1410; change
a number of active loops of the wireless transfer coil 1410; change
a shape of a magnetic field of the wireless transfer coil 1410;
change an amount of energy transferred using the wireless transfer
coil 1410; or enable or disable selected devices from receiving
energy and/or data from the wireless transfer coil 1410.
[0106] In one embodiment, the one or more adjustment modules 1430
can be one or more switches, such as an impedance matching switch
or an on/off switch. In one example, a selected number of the
plurality of loops 1420 can be engaged by turning on one or more of
the corresponding switches and a selected number of the plurality
of loops 1420 can be disengaged by turning off one or more of the
corresponding switches.
[0107] In one embodiment, a resonant frequency between of the
wireless transfer coil 1410 can be dynamically adjusted using the
one or more adjustment modules 1430. In one embodiment, the one or
more adjustment modules 1430 can be adjustable energy oscillators.
In another embodiment, the one or more adjustment modules 1430 can
be variable capacitors, variable inductors, and/or variable
inductors and the respective capacitance, resistance, and/or
inductance can be changed to tune or detune the wireless transfer
coil 1410.
[0108] In one embodiment, a wireless transfer coil of a first
wireless transfer station can have a fixed impedance and/or
resonant frequency and an impedance and/or resonant frequency of a
second wireless transfer coil of a second wireless transfer station
can be adjustable. In another embodiment, the impedance and/or
resonant frequency of the wireless transfer coil of the first
wireless transfer station and the impedance and/or resonant
frequency of the wireless transfer coil of the second wireless
transfer station can each be adjustable.
[0109] In one embodiment, each wireless transfer station can have a
unique station ID associated with the wireless transfer station. In
another embodiment, each station ID can be used to associate
selected information with each wireless transfer station. In
another embodiment, each wireless transfer station and/or each type
of wireless transfer station can be configured to have a plurality
of different characteristics, such as different form factors,
different voltage inputs and/or outputs, different current inputs
and/or outputs, and so forth.
[0110] In one embodiment, each rechargeable battery or battery cell
in a wireless transfer station can have a different battery ID. In
another embodiment, one or more types of rechargeable batteries or
battery cells in a wireless transfer station can each have
different battery IDs. In another embodiment, a wireless transfer
station can be coupled to a plurality of different types of devices
and/or other wireless transfer stations. In one example, the
different types of devices and/or other wireless transfer stations
can include: devices and/or other wireless transfer stations used
for selected applications, devices and/or other wireless transfer
stations with different voltage inputs or outputs, devices and/or
other wireless transfer stations with different current inputs or
outputs, and so forth. In another embodiment, the different types
of devices can use different types of wireless transfer stations.
In another embodiment, different station IDs for different wireless
transfer stations can be associated with selected types of devices.
In one example, each device and/or wireless transfer station can
determine when a wireless transfer station coupled to the device is
a wireless transfer station that is compatible with the device
using the station ID of the wireless transfer station and/or the
device ID of the device. In one embodiment, a device ID, a station
ID, and/or a battery ID can include: serial number information of
the device, the station, or the battery; a manufacturing date of
the device, the station, or the battery; a manufacturing location
of the device, the station, or the battery; and/or a version number
of the device, battery, or wireless transfer station,
respectively.
[0111] FIG. 15 shows a wireless transfer station 1510 that can
include: wireless transfer coil 1520, a power management module
1530, and a communications module 1540. In one embodiment, the
wireless transfer station 1510 can communicate with one or more
other wireless transfer stations or one or more devices using the
communication module 1540. In one embodiment, the communication
module 1540 of the wireless transfer station 1510 can use a
communications network to communicate the data to a device and/or
another wireless transfer station. In one embodiment, the wireless
transfer station 1510 can use the communications module 1540 to
communicate data or information. In another embodiment the data or
information can include communication information, such as an
Internet Protocol (IP) address of the wireless transfer station, a
media access control (MAC) address of the wireless transfer
station, and/or a communication link quality.
[0112] The communications module 1540 can include wireless
communication capabilities and/or cellular communication
capabilities. In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1510
can communicate using an unlicensed band in a wireless network,
such as a wireless local area network (WLAN). In one embodiment,
the WLAN can operate based on a standard such as the Institute of
Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11-2012, IEEE
802.11ac, or IEEE 802.11ad standards. In another embodiment, the
communications module 1540 can communicate using unlicensed
portions of the radio spectrum, such as Bluetooth v1.0, Bluetooth
v2.0, Bluetooth v3.0, Bluetooth v4.0, IEEE 802.15.4-2003 (ZigBee
2003), IEEE 802.15.4-2006 (ZigBee 2006), IEEE 802.15.4-2007 (ZigBee
Pro). In another embodiment, the communications module can
communicate using licensed bands in a cellular network. In one
embodiment, the cellular network may be 3GPP LTE Rel. 8, 9, 10, 11,
or 12 networks and/or IEEE 802.16p, 802.16n, 802.16m-2011,
802.16h-2010, 802.16j-2009, 802.16-2009.
[0113] In one embodiment, the communications module 1540 of the
wireless transfer station 1510 can communicate data or information
with another wireless transfer station using induction
communication or a resonance communication. In one embodiment, the
wireless transfer station 1510 can receive data from a first device
using the induction communication or the resonance communication
and relay the data to another wireless transfer station, such as a
wireless transfer station attached to a wall or floor.
[0114] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1510 can
determine state information for a rechargeable battery, battery
cell, system, subsystem, or overall state of the wireless transfer
station 1510. In another embodiment, the overall state of the
wireless transfer station 1510 can be a state where the wireless
transfer station 1510 may be malfunctioning or not working
properly. In one example, when the wireless transfer station 1510
determines that the wireless transfer station 1510 may be
malfunctioning or not working properly, the wireless transfer
station 1510 can indicate to a user of the wireless transfer
station 1510 and/or a third party that the wireless transfer
station 1510 may be malfunctioning or not working properly. In
another embodiment, when the wireless transfer station determines
that the wireless transfer station 1510 may be malfunctioning or
not working properly, the wireless transfer station 1510 can use
the communications module 1540 to communicate the state information
to another wireless transfer station.
[0115] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1510 can be
a communication hub between multiple devices and/or wireless
transfer stations. In one example, the wireless transfer station
1510 can be integrated into a medical cart. In this example, the
medical cart can receive data from a first device using the
communications module 1540 in a hospital room and relay the data to
another wireless transfer station, such as a wireless transfer
station attached to a wall or floor.
[0116] In one embodiment, when a wireless transfer station 1510 is
coupled to another wireless transfer station or located adjacent to
the other wireless transfer station, the wireless transfer station
1510 can communicate with the other wireless transfer station using
the communications module 1540. In another embodiment, when the
wireless transfer station 1510 is attached to a device or adjacent
to the device, such as a wheeled medical cart, the wireless
transfer station 1510 can communicate with the medical device using
the communications module 1540.
[0117] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1510 can
monitor an energy usage of the wireless transfer station 1510
and/or another wireless transfer station and determine state
information of the wireless transfer station 1510 and/or the other
wireless transfer station, such as when the wireless transfer
station 1510 and/or the other wireless transfer station may be
malfunctioning or not working properly. In one example, when the
wireless transfer station 1510 consumes energy outside of a
selected range, e.g. an excessive amount of energy or an
insufficient amount of energy, the wireless transfer station 1510
can determine that the state of the wireless transfer station 1510
may be a malfunctioning state or a not working properly state. In
another example, when the wireless transfer station 1510 consumes
energy within a selected range, e.g. a normal energy consumption
level, the wireless transfer station 1510 can determine that the
state of the wireless transfer station 1510 may be a working
properly state.
[0118] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1510 can
provide the energy consumption level information to a data
collection device 1550. In another embodiment, the data collection
device 1550 can be a computing device, such as a central server or
a data center. In another embodiment, the data collection device
1550 can be another wireless transfer station. In another
embodiment, the data collection device 1550 can be integrated into
the computing device and/or the other wireless transfer station. In
another embodiment, the data collection device 1550 can use the
energy consumption level information to determine that the wireless
transfer station 1510 may be malfunctioning or not working
properly. In one embodiment, the data collection device 1550 can
indicate to the user of the device or a third party that the
wireless transfer station 1510 may be malfunctioning or not working
properly. In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1510 can
transfer energy to one or more devices, receive energy from one or
more devices or sources, and/or communicate data or information
with one or more devices.
[0119] In one embodiment, the data collection device 1550 can
record and/or analyze energy information and/or state information
for one or more devices and/or one or more wireless transfer
stations in a wireless transfer system. In another embodiment, the
data collection device 1550 can analyze the energy information
and/or state information to determine the overall state of the
wireless transfer system. The overall state of the wireless energy
system can include: which wireless transfer stations and/or devices
are being used in the wireless transfer system, a battery level of
each wireless transfer station and/or device in the wireless energy
system, a number of wireless transfer stations and/or devices
malfunctioning in the wireless energy system, and so forth. In
another embodiment, the data collection device 1550 can analyze the
energy information and/or state information to diagnose when one or
more devices and/or one or more wireless transfer stations in the
wireless transfer system are malfunctioning.
[0120] In one embodiment, the data collection device 1550 can store
information from one or more devices and/or one or more wireless
transfer stations. In one example, when the wireless transfer
station 1510 is in communication with the data collection device
1550, the wireless transfer station 1510 can communicate
information to the data collection device 1550 and the data
collection device 1550 can store the information. In another
embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1510 can store
information (such as on a non-transitory computer-readable medium)
and/or communicate the information to another wireless transfer
station, such as a wireless transfer station integrated into a
wheeled medical cart, when the wireless transfer station 1510 is in
communication with the other wireless transfer station.
[0121] In one embodiment, the data collection device 1550 can be an
information hub device. In another embodiment, the data collection
device 1550 can be integrated into a mobile information hub device,
such as a wheeled medical cart, and can receive information from
one or more devices and/or one or more wireless transfer stations
within a communications coverage range of the mobile information
hub device. In another embodiment, the mobile communication hub
device can communicate the information to a stationary
communication hub device. In one example, the stationary
communication hub device can be a communication hub device coupled
to a computing device or integrated into a computing device, such
as a server. In one embodiment, the server can be a third party
server, e.g. a server external to an information technology (IT)
infrastructure of a medical facility where the one or more devices
and/or the one or more wireless transfer stations are used. In
another example, the stationary communication hub device can be
another wireless transfer station, such as a wireless transfer
station plate or wireless transfer station floor mat.
[0122] In one embodiment, the data collection device 1550 can
associate a device ID of a device to information for the device
and/or a wireless transfer station coupled to the device. In
another embodiment, the data collection device 1550 can associate a
station ID of a wireless transfer station to information for the
wireless transfer station and/or a device the wireless transfer
station is coupled to. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer
station can link a battery ID of one or more batteries and/or
battery cells of a wireless transfer station to information for the
wireless transfer station. In one example, the device ID, the
station ID, and/or the battery ID can be used to track information
for one or more devices and/or for one or more wireless transfer
station. In another embodiment, the device ID, the station ID,
and/or the battery ID can be used to determine a location of an
associated wireless transfer station and/or an associated
device.
[0123] In one embodiment, the data collection device 1550 can
communicate with one or more devices and/or one or more wireless
transfer stations to determine management information of the one or
more devices and/or the one or more wireless transfer stations. The
management information can include: a battery capacity level of a
device of the one or more devices or a wireless transfer station of
the one or more wireless transfer stations, priority level of the
device or the wireless transfer station, an energy consumption rate
of the device or the wireless transfer station, a number of times
the device or the wireless transfer station has been charged, an
estimation of a number of charges remaining for the device or the
wireless transfer station, an operational temperature of the device
or the wireless transfer station, an internal temperature of the
device or the wireless transfer station, a device ID of the device,
a battery ID of one or more batteries of the wireless transfer
station, a station ID of the wireless transfer station, and so
forth.
[0124] In one embodiment, the data collection device 1550 can
record and/or track the management information of the one or more
devices or the one or more wireless transfer stations. In one
example, each of the one or more devices and/or the one or more
wireless transfer stations can be assigned a device ID or station
ID, respectively. In this example, data collection device 1550 can
receive the management information for each of the one or more
devices and each of the one or more wireless transfer station in a
communications coverage area of the data collection device 1550 and
associate the management information with the device ID or battery
ID, respectively.
[0125] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1510 can
receive control information from another wireless transfer station
or a computing device in the wireless transfer system. In one
example, the control information can include: an estimated total
battery life remaining of the other wireless transfer station or
computing device, an energy usage level adjustment signal of the
other wireless transfer station or computing device, a wireless
transfer station recharge reminder, and so forth.
[0126] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1510 can
communicate data or information over a cellular network or a
wireless network using a data channel and communicate control
information over a cellular network or a wireless network using a
control channel. For example, a wheeled medical cart with an
integrated wireless transfer station can receive a computer
application using a data channel of a cellular network and receive
energy information for the wheeled medical cart using a control
channel.
[0127] In one embodiment, a wireless transfer station can be a
wireless transfer hub (e.g. energy and/or data transfer) for a
plurality of selected devices and/or other wireless transfer
stations. FIG. 16 illustrates a wireless transfer hub 1610
transferring energy and/or information with an electronic device
1620, such as a medical device, and/or another wireless transfer
station 1630 using wireless transfer coils 1640. In one embodiment,
the electronic device 1620 and the other wireless transfer station
1630 can exchange energy and/or information with the wireless
transfer station 1610 at the same time or at different times. In
another embodiment, the electronic device 1620 and the other
wireless transfer station 1630 can transfer energy and/or
information with the wireless transfer hub 1610 using different
wireless transfer coils 1640.
[0128] In one example, the wireless transfer hub 1610 coupled to a
medical cart can wirelessly provide selected levels of energy to
systems and subsystems of the medical cart and/or other devices
coupled to the medical cart. In one embodiment, the wireless
transfer hub 1610 coupled to the medical cart can receive energy
and/or data from a wireless transfer station and relay the energy
and/or data to systems and subsystems of the medical cart and/or
other devices using one or more repeater coils.
[0129] In one embodiment, a medical cart or a device can have an
integrated wireless transfer station to provide energy to systems
and/or subsystems of the medical cart or the device when one or
more external wireless transfer stations (e.g. non-integrated
wireless transfer stations) are being recharged. In one embodiment,
the integrated wireless transfer station can include one or more
wireless transfer coils to receive energy and/or data from another
wireless transfer station. In one example, the medical cart or the
device can receive energy from the one or more external wireless
transfer stations until an energy level of the one or more external
wireless transfer stations is depleted or decreases below a
threshold energy level. In this example, when the energy level of
the one or more external wireless transfer stations is depleted or
decreases below a threshold energy level, the medical cart or the
device can be positioned adjacent a transmitter coil of another
wireless transfer station and the one or more external wireless
transfer stations can receive energy for recharging. In one
embodiment, while the one or more external wireless transfer
stations receive energy for recharging, the integrated wireless
transfer station can provide energy to the medical cart or the
device.
[0130] In one embodiment, the integrated wireless transfer station
can receive energy from the other wireless transfer station to
recharge one or more batteries of the integrated wireless transfer
station. In another embodiment, the integrated wireless transfer
station can receive energy from the one or more external wireless
transfer stations to recharge the one or more batteries of the
integrated wireless transfer station. In another embodiment, when
the one or more external wireless transfer stations receive energy
from another wireless transfer station, the one or more external
wireless transfer stations can provide partial or full energy to
the medical cart or the device.
[0131] In one embodiment, when the energy level of the one or more
external wireless transfer stations is depleted or decreases below
a threshold energy level, the one or more external wireless
transfer stations can be removed from the medical cart or the
device and placed adjacent a transmitter coil of another wireless
transfer station to receive energy to recharge the external
wireless transfer station. In one embodiment, while the one or more
external wireless transfer stations are removed for recharging
and/or until one or more other external wireless transfer stations
are attached to the medical cart or the device, the integrated
wireless transfer station can provide energy to one or more system
or subsystem of the medical cart or the device. In one embodiment,
when the medical cart or the device is placed adjacent to a
transmitter coil of a wireless transfer station, the integrated
wireless transfer station can receive energy from the wireless
transfer station to recharge the integrated wireless transfer
station.
[0132] In one embodiment, the medical cart or a device can include
a wireless transfer coil to transfer energy and/or data with
another wireless transfer station. In one example, the medical cart
or a device can use the wireless transfer coil to receive energy
and provide energy directly to one or more systems and/or
subsystems of the medical cart or the device and/or provide energy
to an energy source, such as a battery, of the medical cart or the
device. In one example, the medical cart or the device with the
wireless transfer coil can be placed near a transmitter coil of a
wireless transfer station and the wireless transfer coil can relay
energy to one or more systems and/or subsystems of the medical cart
or the device.
[0133] FIG. 17 shows a wireless transfer station 1710 configured to
communicate with other wireless transfer stations 1720, 1730,
and/or 1740 and determine which of the one or more other wireless
transfer stations 1720, 1730, and/or 1740 is capable and/or
available to provide energy to a selected device and/or a selected
wireless transfer station. In one example, the selected device or
the selected wireless transfer station can send a wireless transfer
request to the wireless transfer station. When the wireless
transfer station 1710 is not compatible with the selected device or
the wireless transfer station 1710 is not available to provide
energy to the selected device, the wireless transfer station 1710
can communicate with the one or more other wireless transfer
stations 1720, 1730, and/or 1740 to locate an available wireless
transfer station of the one or more other wireless transfer
stations 1720, 1730, and/or 1740 for the selected device or the
selected wireless transfer station to receive wireless energy. When
the wireless transfer station 1710 determines that available
wireless transfer station can provide energy to the selected device
or the selected wireless transfer station, the wireless transfer
station 1710 can provide the selected device or the selected
wireless transfer station with transfer station information for the
available wireless transfer station.
[0134] In one embodiment, the transfer station information can
include: directions to one of the other wireless transfer stations
1720, 1730, or 1740; authentication information to receive energy
from the other wireless transfer stations 1720, 1730, or 1740; a
number of available wireless transfer coils at the other wireless
transfer stations 1720, 1730, or 1740; a type of wireless transfer
coils available at the other wireless transfer stations 1720, 1730,
or 1740; an energy capabilities of the other wireless transfer
stations 1720, 1730, or 1740; and so forth. In one embodiment, when
more than one of the other wireless transfer stations 1720, 1730,
or 1740 are available to provide energy to the selected wireless
transfer station or the selected device, the selected wireless
transfer station or the selected device can select which one of the
one or more other wireless transfer stations 1720, 1730, or 1740 to
receive energy from based on charging criteria. The charging
criteria can include: an energy output capability of each of the
one or more available other wireless transfer stations 1720, 1730,
or 1740; a location of each of the one or more available other
wireless transfer stations 1720, 1730, or 1740; a distance from the
selected device or the selected wireless transfer station to each
of the one or more available other wireless transfer stations 1720,
1730, or 1740; a number of other devices or other wireless transfer
stations receiving energy from each of the one or more available
other wireless transfer stations 1720, 1730, or 1740, and so
forth.
[0135] In one example, the wireless transfer station 1710 is not
compatible with the selected device or the selected wireless
transfer station when a wireless transfer coil of the selected
device or wireless transfer coils of the selected wireless transfer
station are a different shape or size than a wireless transfer coil
of the wireless transfer station 1710. In another example, the
wireless transfer station 1710 is not compatible with the selected
device or the selected wireless transfer station when a wireless
transfer coil of the selected device or a wireless transfer coil of
the selected wireless transfer station receives data and/or
wireless energy at a different resonant frequency range than a
resonant frequency range of a wireless transfer coil of the
wireless transfer station 1710.
[0136] FIG. 18 shows a wireless transfer station 1810 transferring
energy and/or data with one or more wireless transfer stations
and/or devices 1820, 1830, and 1840 within a selected range 1850.
In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station 1810 can adjust
the selected range 1850 based on selected criteria, such as a
number of wireless transfer stations and/or devices within a
threshold range of the wireless transfer station 1810, a number of
devices or other wireless transfer stations the wireless transfer
station 1810 can support transferring energy and/or data to, and so
forth. In one example, the wireless transfer station 1810 can
transfer energy and/or data with wireless transfer stations and/or
devices 1820, 1830, and 1840 that are within the selected range
1850 and not transfer energy and/or data with wireless transfer
station and/or device 1860.
[0137] In one embodiment, a device and/or a wireless transfer
station can store data or information, such as on a non-transitory
computer-readable medium coupled to the device or the wireless
transfer station. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer
station can be a communication hub to receive and/or store data or
information from a device and/or other wireless transfer station.
In one example, the device and/or the other wireless transfer
station can monitor selected events and communicate selected event
information to a wireless transfer station coupled to the device or
the communication hub. In one embodiment, the selected event
information can include safety information, such as: over current
information, over voltage information, under current information,
under voltage information, short circuit information, cell
imbalance information, over temperature information, communication
error information, energy usage information, a change in
temperature information, a change in temperature versus time
ration, voltage information of one or more batteries and/or one or
more battery cells of the wireless transfer station, and so forth.
In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can include a
plurality of battery cells, such as a 15-cell battery with 5 cells
in a series and 3 cells in parallel. In one example, the safety
information can include voltage information of each cell or a
difference between voltages of each cell. In one embodiment the
voltage information of each cell or the difference between voltages
of each cell can be used to determine a balance of each cell of the
battery and/or an approximate age of the battery or the cell. In
one embodiment the selected event information can be an inserted
indicator indicating when a wireless transfer station has been
coupled to a device or wireless transfer station.
[0138] In another embodiment the selected event information can be
error information. In one example, the error information can
include: fuse information, such as blown fuse information; a
battery cell status, such as a failed cell of a battery of the
wireless transfer station; a wire connectivity status, such as a
wire break in the wireless transfer station; an over temperature
event, such as when an internal temperature of the wireless
transfer station exceeds 75 degrees Celsius; an over or under
voltage and/or current event, such as when a voltage or current
level of the wireless transfer station exceeds a selected
threshold; a run time of the wireless transfer station, such as an
actual runtime of the wireless transfer station versus a designed
run time of the wireless transfer station; an outside of warranty
indication; and firmware and/or software error codes. In one
embodiment, error information can be determined based on an actual
full capacity level of a battery of the wireless transfer station
compared to a designed capacity level of the battery. In one
example, when the actual full capacity level of the battery is 20
amp hours and the design capacity level is 30 amp hours, the
difference in actual versus design capacity level (10 amp hours)
can indicate an error of the wireless transfer station. In another
embodiment, the wireless transfer station and/or device can use the
safety information and/or the error information to determine when
the wireless transfer station has been used outside of warranted
uses, e.g. wireless transfer station abuse.
[0139] In one embodiment, when the device and/or the wireless
transfer station detects a safety event and/or an error event, the
device and/or the wireless transfer station can cease transferring
wireless energy. In one example, the wireless transfer station can
cease transferring wireless energy when: a full charge capacity is
below a selected threshold; a current transfer level and/or voltage
transfer level is outside a selected threshold; a current usage
level and/or voltage usage level is outside a selected threshold; a
wireless transfer station is not receiving information from a
module, system, subsystem, battery, and/or battery cell of the
wireless transfer station; an other wireless transfer station is
not receiving energy or data from the wireless transfer station or
the device; the device and/or the wireless transfer station are not
operating using a most recent version of an operation system (OS)
of the device and/or the wireless transfer station; and/or an
internal temperature of the wireless transfer station, a battery or
battery cell of the wireless transfer station, and/or the device
rise beyond a threshold level.
[0140] In one embodiment, the device and/or the wireless transfer
station can measure, store, and/or communicate an amount of time a
selected event may occur. In one example, the device and/or the
wireless transfer station can measure, store, and/or communicate an
amount of time an over temperature event occurs. In another
embodiment, the device and/or the wireless transfer station can
measure, store, and/or communicate selected event information at
selected periods of time, such as at periodic intervals (e.g. every
hour, twice a day, etc.). In another embodiment, when the device
and/or the wireless transfer station detect a selected event, such
as a selected safety event, the device and/or the wireless transfer
station can adjust the selected period of time for measuring and/or
storing selected event information. In one example, when an error
or safety event occurs the device and/or the wireless transfer
station can adjust the selected period of time for measuring and/or
storing selected event information from once an hour to once a
minute. One advantage of adjusting the selected period of time for
measuring and/or storing selected event information can be to
conserve battery energy and/or storage space when a selected event
has not occurred and to capture a finer degree of information
detail during the time period that the selected event occurs.
[0141] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station and/or the
device can send a heartbeat signal to another wireless transfer
station and/or another device to indicate where the wireless
transfer station and/or the device is located. In one example the
wireless transfer station and/or the device can send out a
heartbeat signal every 24 hours to indicate a location of the
wireless transfer station and/or the device. In another embodiment,
the wireless transfer station and/or device can include a radio
frequency identification (RFID) tag or RFID transmitter to indicate
a location of the wireless transfer station and/or device. In one
example, to locate the wireless transfer station and/or device when
the wireless transfer station and/or device has lost all energy or
power, a user can use an RFID reader or RFID scanner to determine a
location of the wireless transfer station and/or the device.
[0142] In one embodiment, the device and/or the wireless transfer
station can include a real-time clock to measure time. In another
embodiment, the device and/or the wireless transfer station can
include a timer to measure time, where the timer begins at a
selected point in time, such as a manufacture day and time.
[0143] In one embodiment, a wireless transfer station coupled to a
device can receive data or information from the device and store
the received data or information. In another embodiment, a wireless
transfer station can be coupled to another wireless transfer
station and when the coupled wireless transfer station receives
energy from the other wireless transfer station, the coupled
wireless transfer station can communicate stored information to a
data collection device, such as a data collection device integrated
into the other wireless transfer station. In one example, a device
can communicate information stored on the device via the wireless
transfer station to the other wireless transfer station. In another
example, the device can communicate the stored information directly
to the other wireless transfer station.
[0144] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can use a
communications module (as shown in FIG. 4) to communicate selected
received data and/or selected stored data to a third-party device.
In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can communicate
the selected information to a third-party device. In another
embodiment, the third-party device can be a server external to a
medical facility where the wireless transfer station is located, a
cloud-based information system, or another computing device
external to the medical facility where the wireless transfer
station is located.
[0145] In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station and/or
the third-party device can receive selected information for a
plurality of wireless transfer stations. In another embodiment, the
wireless transfer station and/or the third-party device can
aggregate the selected information received from the plurality of
wireless transfer stations and/or devices. In another embodiment,
the devices can be non-wireless energy devices (e.g. devices
without wireless transfer coils) with communications modules. In
another embodiment, the devices can be wireless energy devices
(e.g. devices with wireless transfer coils). In another embodiment,
the wireless transfer station and/or the third-party device can
analyze the aggregated selected information to determine selected
result information.
[0146] In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station and/or
the third-party device can format the aggregated selected
information to be compatible with a computing device, such as a
server, of the medical facility. In another embodiment, the
wireless transfer station and/or the third-party device can filter
the aggregated selected information to exclude selected information
and/or included selected information of the aggregated selected
information. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station
and/or the third-party device can format the aggregated selected
information to a format compatible with a computing device or a
computing system, such as a server system, that is part of an
internal computing system or internal network system of a facility
where the devices and/or the wireless transfer stations are
located. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station
and/or the third-party device can communicate the formatted
information to the internal computing device or the internal
computing system. In another embodiment, the third-party device can
be a device external to the internal computing system or internal
network system. In another embodiment, the third-party device can
receive information from one or more devices or one or more
wireless transfer stations, aggregate and/or format the received
information, and communicate the aggregated information to the
internal computing device or the internal computing system.
[0147] One advantage of communicating the formatted information
from the third-party device to the internal server system is that
the internal server system can receive the formatted information in
a bundle or package. In one example, a medical facility, such as
hospital, may have strict regulatory procedures for accessing a
server at the medical facility. The regulatory procedures may
prohibit or limit the access of a device and/or of a wireless
transfer station to the medical facility network or server. In this
example, a third-party server sending the aggregated information to
the medical facility server can limit a number of devices accessing
the medical facility network or server and/or provide a more secure
communication channel to communicate the information to the medical
facility network or server.
[0148] FIG. 19 illustrates a wireless transfer station 1910. FIG.
19 further illustrates that the wireless transfer station 1910 can
include a wireless transfer coil 1920, a power management module
1930, and a private cloud module 1940. In one example, the power
management module 1930 can convert energy received from an energy
source, such as another wireless transfer station or an alternating
current (AC) energy outlet, to a selected amperage level, a
selected current level, a selected voltage level, and/or a selected
wattage level. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer station
1910 can include one or more batteries, such as rechargeable
batteries. In one embodiment, the wireless transfer coil 1920 can
be a transmitting coil and/or a receiving coil.
[0149] In one embodiment, the private cloud module 1940 can create
a private cloud server that can be used to communicate data between
devices and/or other wireless transfer stations. One advantage of
using the private cloud server of the private cloud module 1940 is
that the private cloud server does not interfere with the
throughput of other standard communication systems such as a
cellular network, a wireless network, or a communications network
of a facility where the wireless transfer station is located.
[0150] FIG. 20 uses a flow chart 2000 to illustrate the
functionality of one embodiment of the computer circuitry with an
asset management module operable to communicate energy management
information for a wireless transfer station. The functionality may
be implemented as a method or the functionality may be executed as
instructions on a machine, where the instructions are included on
at least one computer readable medium or one non-transitory machine
readable storage medium. In one embodiment, the asset management
module can be configured to monitor the wireless transfer station
during operation of the wireless transfer station, as in block
2010. In another embodiment, the asset management module can be
further configured to measure one or more parameters of the
wireless transfer station during the operation, as in block 2020.
In another embodiment, the asset management module can be further
configured to receive operation parameters of another wireless
transfer station, as in block 2030. In another embodiment, the
asset management module can be further configured to wirelessly
communicate the measured parameters or the operation parameters to
a data collection device, as in block 2040.
[0151] In one embodiment, the data collection device can be coupled
to a wireless transfer station. In another embodiment, the asset
management module can be configured to associate the measured
parameters with a wireless transfer station identification (ID) of
the wireless transfer station. In another embodiment, the asset
management module can be configured to associate the measured
parameters with a device identification (ID) of the wireless
transfer station. In another embodiment, the measured parameters or
the operation parameters includes: a operational temperature or
internal temperature of the wireless transfer station or a device
coupled to the wireless transfer station; a cell balance of one or
more battery cells of the wireless transfer station or the device
coupled to the wireless transfer station, such as a current level
of each battery cell of a voltage level of each battery cell; a
cell charge status of one or more battery cells of the wireless
transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless transfer
station, such as a voltage capacity level, a current capacity
level, or a charge rate; a cell capacity status of one or more
battery cells of the wireless transfer station or the device
coupled to the wireless transfer station, such as an amount of
energy (e.g. amp hours) the one or more battery cells can hold; a
current draw or voltage draw of the wireless transfer station or
the device coupled to the wireless transfer station; a location of
the wireless transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless
transfer station; a charge state of the wireless transfer station
or the device coupled to the wireless transfer station, such as a
full, a charge level percentage, or depleted; an estimated amount
of time remaining to charge the wireless transfer station or the
device coupled to the wireless transfer station; an amount of time
taken to previously charge the wireless transfer station or the
device coupled to the wireless transfer station; a wireless power
transfer efficiency of the wireless transfer station or the device
coupled to the wireless transfer station; communications parameters
for the wireless transfer station or the device coupled to the
wireless transfer station, such as a communication bandwidth level
or communications channel of the wireless transfer station or the
device coupled to the wireless transfer station; a usage level of
the wireless transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless
transfer station; software management information of the wireless
transfer station or the device coupled to the wireless transfer
station, such as an operating system version, which software
applications are stored on the wireless transfer station or the
device coupled to the wireless transfer station, an amount of use
of one or more the stored software applications, and so forth; an
operational status of the wireless transfer station or the device
coupled to the wireless transfer station (as discussed in the
proceeding paragraphs); communication coordination information,
such as when one or more of the wireless transfer station or the
device coupled to the wireless transfer station can communicate
information; patient data measured using device coupled to the
wireless transfer station; and so forth.
[0152] In one embodiment, the asset management module can be
configured to: receive operation parameters from the other wireless
transfer station; aggregate the operation parameters of the other
wireless transfer station with the measured parameters of the
wireless transfer station; and communicate the aggregated
parameters to the data collection device. In another embodiment,
the measured parameters information can include: a charge level of
the wireless transfer station; an amount of energy provided by the
wireless transfer station to the other wireless transfer station; a
number of times the wireless transfer station has received energy
from the other wireless transfer station; or a type of device
coupled to the wireless transfer station.
[0153] In one embodiment, the operation parameters information can
include: a charge level of the other wireless transfer station; an
amount of energy received by the other wireless transfer station
from the wireless transfer station; a number of times the other
wireless transfer station has received energy from the other
wireless transfer station; or a type of device coupled to the other
wireless transfer station. In another embodiment, the asset
management module can be configured to: analyze the measured
parameters or operation parameters; determine a system status of
the wireless transfer station or the other wireless transfer
station; and communicate the system status to the data collection
device. In another embodiment, the system status can include an
operational status of the wireless transfer station or the other
wireless transfer station or an approximated usage life of the
wireless transfer station or the other wireless transfer
station.
[0154] In one embodiment, the asset management module can be
configured to store the measured parameters or the operation
parameters on a non-tangible computer readable medium coupled to
the asset management module or the wireless transfer station. In
another embodiment, the asset management module can be configured
to communicate the stored measured parameters or operation
parameters to the other wireless transfer station when the wireless
transfer station receives wireless energy. In another embodiment,
the asset management module can be configured to send control
parameters to the wireless transfer station or the other wireless
transfer station based on the measured parameters or the operation
parameters.
[0155] FIG. 21 uses a flow chart 2100 to illustrate the
functionality of one embodiment of the computer circuitry with a
wireless transfer station operable to communicate management
information. The functionality may be implemented as a method or
the functionality may be executed as instructions on a machine,
where the instructions are included on at least one computer
readable medium or one non-transitory machine readable storage
medium. In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be
configured to receive measurement information from one or more
other wireless transfer stations, as in block 2110. In another
embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be configured to
aggregate the measurement information from the one or more other
wireless transfer stations, as in block 2120. In another
embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be configured to
analyze the measurement information to determine a status of the
one or more wireless transfer stations using the aggregated
measurement information, as in block 2130.
[0156] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be
further configured to provide energy to at least one of the one or
more other wireless transfer stations and receive the measurement
information from at least one of the one or more other wireless
transfer stations when the wireless transfer station provides
energy to the at least one of the one or more other wireless
transfer stations. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer
station can be further configured to send a measurement information
request to at least one of the one or more other wireless transfer
stations to request selected data of the measurement information of
the other wireless transfer station and receive the selected data
of the measurement information of the other wireless transfer
station. In another embodiment, the one or more other wireless
transfer stations is attached to a device or a wireless transfer
station. In another embodiment, the status includes: an operational
status of one of the one or more other wireless transfer stations,
such as a functioning status, a malfunctioning status, a partially
operational status, a non-operational status, an out of commission
status, a needs repair status, a non-critical error status, a
critical error status, a send a technician status, a needs
replacement status, an operating system version status, and so
forth; an operational status of all of the one or more other
wireless transfer stations, such as an all wireless transfer
stations are working properly status, an all wireless transfer
stations for selected uses are functioning status, a system wide
error status, a communications network working properly status, a
communications network not working properly status, a status of
which of the one or more other wireless transfer stations are
operating on an outdated operating system or software version, and
so forth; an operational status of a network of wireless transfer
stations, such as a status of a bandwidth of the communications
network, a status of a number of wireless transfer stations using
the network, and so forth.
[0157] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be
further configured to communicate to a server the measurement
information of the one or more wireless transfer stations, the
aggregate measurement information, or the system status information
of the one or more wireless transfer stations. In another
embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be further configured
to communicate with the one or more wireless transfer stations to
determine when at least one of the one or more wireless transfer
stations is available to provide energy to another of the one or
more wireless transfer stations. In another embodiment, the
wireless transfer station can be further configured to: receive a
wireless transfer station location request for a selected wireless
transfer station; identify when the selected wireless transfer
station is coupled to the wireless transfer station; and report a
location of the selected wireless transfer station when the
selected wireless transfer station is coupled to the wireless
transfer station. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer
station can be further configured to enter an energy saving mode
when the wireless transfer station is not providing energy to at
least one of the other wireless transfer stations or communicating
with one at least one of the other wireless transfer stations or a
server.
[0158] FIG. 22 uses a flow chart 2200 to illustrate the
functionality of one embodiment of the computer circuitry with a
wireless transfer station operable to communicate management
information. The functionality may be implemented as a method or
the functionality may be executed as instructions on a machine,
where the instructions are included on at least one computer
readable medium or one non-transitory machine readable storage
medium. In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be
configured to monitor an operation of the wireless transfer
station, as in block 2210. In another embodiment, the wireless
transfer station can be configured to measure one or more
parameters of the wireless transfer station during the operation,
as in block 2220. In another embodiment, the wireless transfer
station can be configured to receive operation parameters of
another wireless transfer station, as in block 2230. In another
embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be configured to
wirelessly communicate the measured parameters or the operation
parameters to a data collection device, as in block 2240.
[0159] In one embodiment, the wireless transfer station can be
further configured to: provide wireless energy to a plurality of
selected wireless transfer stations at different selected times;
receive wireless transfer stations measurement information from the
plurality of selected wireless transfer stations; associate a
wireless transfer station identification (ID) with the wireless
transfer station measurement information of each of the plurality
of selected wireless transfer stations; aggregate the wireless
transfer station measurement information of each of the plurality
of selected wireless transfer stations; and communicate the
aggregated wireless transfer station measurement information to the
data collection device.
[0160] FIG. 23 provides an example illustration of the device, such
as a user equipment (UE), a mobile wireless device, a mobile
communication device, a tablet, a handset, or other type of
wireless device. The wireless device can include one or more
antennas configured to communicate with a wireless transfer
station. The device can be configured to communicate using at least
one wireless communication standard including 3GPP LTE, WiMAX, High
Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. The device can
communicate using separate antennas for each wireless communication
standard or shared antennas for multiple wireless communication
standards. The device can communicate in a wireless local area
network (WLAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN), and/or a
wireless wide area network (WWAN).
[0161] FIG. 23 also provides an illustration of a microphone and
one or more speakers that can be used for audio input and output
from the device. The display screen can be a liquid crystal display
(LCD) screen, or other type of display screen such as an organic
light emitting diode (OLED) display. The display screen can be
configured as a touch screen. The touch screen can use capacitive,
resistive, or another type of touch screen technology. An
application processor and a graphics processor can be coupled to
internal memory to provide processing and display capabilities. A
non-volatile memory port can also be used to provide data
input/output options to a user. The non-volatile memory port can
also be used to expand the memory capabilities of the device. A
keyboard can be integrated with the device or wirelessly connected
to the wireless device to provide additional user input. A virtual
keyboard can also be provided using the touch screen.
[0162] Various techniques, or certain aspects or portions thereof,
can take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in
tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives,
non-transitory computer readable storage medium, or any other
machine-readable storage medium wherein, when the program code is
loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the
machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the various techniques.
In the case of program code execution on programmable computers,
the computing device can include a processor, a storage medium
readable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatile
memory and/or storage elements), at least one input device, and at
least one output device. The volatile and non-volatile memory
and/or storage elements can be a RAM, EPROM, flash drive, optical
drive, magnetic hard drive, or other medium for storing electronic
data. The base station and mobile station can also include a
transceiver module, a counter module, a processing module, and/or a
clock module or timer module. One or more programs that can
implement or utilize the various techniques described herein can
use an application programming interface (API), reusable controls,
and the like. Such programs can be implemented in a high level
procedural or object oriented programming language to communicate
with a computer system. However, the program(s) can be implemented
in assembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the
language can be a compiled or interpreted language, and combined
with hardware implementations.
[0163] It should be understood that many of the functional units
described in this specification have been labeled as modules, in
order to more particularly emphasize their implementation
independence. For example, a module can be implemented as a
hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays,
off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or
other discrete components. A module can also be implemented in
programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate
arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the
like.
[0164] Modules can also be implemented in software for execution by
various types of processors. An identified module of executable
code can, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical
blocks of computer instructions, which can, for instance, be
organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the
executables of an identified module need not be physically located
together, but can comprise disparate instructions stored in
different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise
the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.
[0165] Indeed, a module of executable code can be a single
instruction, or many instructions, and can even be distributed over
several different code segments, among different programs, and
across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data can be
identified and illustrated herein within modules, and can be
embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable
type of data structure. The operational data can be collected as a
single data set, or can be distributed over different locations
including over different storage devices, and can exist, at least
partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network. The
modules can be passive or active, including agents operable to
perform desired functions.
[0166] Reference throughout this specification to "an example"
means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic
described in connection with the example is included in at least
one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the
phrases "in an example" in various places throughout this
specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment.
[0167] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements,
compositional elements, and/or materials can be presented in a
common list for convenience. However, these lists should be
construed as though each member of the list is individually
identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual
member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of
any other member of the same list solely based on their
presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.
In addition, various embodiments and example of the present
invention can be referred to herein along with alternatives for the
various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments,
examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as defacto
equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate
and autonomous representations of the present invention.
[0168] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or
characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or
more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific
details are provided, such as examples of layouts, distances,
network examples, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of
embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will
recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one
or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components,
layouts, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials,
or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid
obscuring aspects of the invention.
[0169] While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the
principles of the present invention in one or more particular
applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of
implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive
faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of
the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention
be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
* * * * *