Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) antenna device (140) provides magnetic resonance (MR) information from an examination space (116) of a MR imaging system (110). At least one RF coil (142) with at least one connection port (144) receives an analog MR information signal and at least one analog-to-digital converter (ADC) (150) converts the analog MR information signal into a digital MR information signal with a sampling frequency which is below the Nyquist frequency of an RF carrier signal. The at least one ADC (150) is a RF band-pass sub-sampled sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter. The RF coil and the components into the RF antenna device are integrated to provide the MR information signal as a digital signal. The digital MR information signal can easily be further processed and transmitted, even in the presence of strong magnetic and RF fields.

Abstract: A wide band through-body communication system communicates data through the body ultrasonically. A MEMS device such as a CMUT transducer is configured to transmit and/or receive ultrasonic data signals within a broad band of operating frequencies. The transducer transmits the ultrasonic data signals through the body to a similarly configured ultrasonic receiver, and/or receives ultrasonic data signals which have been conveyed through the body from a similarly configured ultrasonic transmitter for decoding and processing. In a preferred implementation a CMUT transducer is operated in a collapsed mode.

Abstract: A communication apparatus comprising a receiver and a transmitter for receiving/transmitting signals in the range of 100 kHz to 100 MHz. A controller is configured to cause a clock signal used by one of the receiver and the transmitter part with to be offset with respect to a clock signal used by the other of the receiver and the transmitter. A switch arrangement is provided between an input and output, and the receiver and the transmitter. The switch arrangement is configured to switch between the receiver and the transmitter during a clock cycle such that, in use, part of a clock cycle is available for signal transmission and part of the clock cycle is available for signal reception.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of performing analog-to-digital conversion on an input signal (Pin) within a range (R1) using a sigma-delta modulator (1) comprising a feedback digital-to-analog conversion arrangement (12, 120), which method comprises the steps of: obtaining an amplitude estimate (E1, E2, E3, E4) of the input signal (Pin); defining a subsequent subrange (R2, R3, R4) on the basis of the amplitude estimate (E1, E2, E3); and adjusting operation parameters of the feedback digital-to-analog conversion arrangement (12, 120) on the basis of the subsequent subrange (R2, R3, R4); whereby the method steps are repeated a predefined number of iterations (N). The invention further describes a sigma-delta modulator (1), an analog-to-digital converter (50), and a monitoring device (5) for monitoring an analog input signal (Pin).

Abstract: A start of packet detector comprises an input which receives start of packet information. The detector has a first stage which determines if there is a match between a respective subset of received start of packet information with a respective subset of reference start of packet information. The first stage repeats the determining for each of the subsets of received start of packet information and said respective subset of reference start of packet information. An output will provide a start of packet detected output which is dependent on the determining of the first stage.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system probe comprises an imaging transducer head and a reception circuit for processing received reflected ultrasound signals. The reception circuit comprises an analogue to digital sigma delta converter which comprises a closed loop which comprises a tunable band pass filter. This enables the analog to digital converter to process only the desired frequency band. The ADC conversion bandwidth and ENOB are in this way programmable giving a more efficient probe design, and also enabling analog to digital conversion early in the signal processing chain.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of performing analog-to-digital conversion on an input signal (Pin) within a range (R1) using a sigma-delta modulator (1) comprising a feedback digital-to-analog conversion arrangement (12, 120), which method comprises the steps of: obtaining an amplitude estimate (E1, E2, E3, E4) of the input signal (Pin); defining a subsequent subrange (R2, R3, R4) on the basis of the amplitude estimate (E1, E2, E3); and adjusting operation parameters of the feedback digital-to-analog conversion arrangement (12, 120) on the basis of the subsequent subrange (R2, R3, R4); whereby the method steps are repeated a predefined number of iterations (N). The invention further describes a sigma-delta modulator (1), an analog-to-digital converter (50), and a monitoring device (5) for monitoring an analog input signal (Pin).

Abstract: A receiver module (101), transceiver module for body coupled communication devices (100) and a method of waking-up a body coupled receiver of a body coupled communication device (100) are provided. The receiver module (101) of the body coupled communication device (100) comprises couplers (102) for receiving signals via a body transmission channel (160) which follows a body of a user (150). A wake-up receiver (108) and a main receiver (106) of the receiver module (101) are coupled to the couplers (102). The main receiver (106) may operate in a sleep mode and in an operational mode. The wake-up receiver (108) generates a wake-up signal (107) when signals received via the body transmission channel (160) in a predefined spectral range exceed an energy threshold level. The wake-up signal (107) is provided to a circuitry of the body coupled communication device (100) to directly or indirectly configuring the main receiver (106) in the operational mode.

Abstract: A body-coupled communication apparatus (100) comprises a coupler arrangement (10) comprising a plurality of couplers (11,12,13) configured to couple signals (S) between the apparatus (100) and a body (200). Signal electronics (20) are configured to process and/or generate the signals depending on an operational mode (OT,OR,OW) of the apparatus. A routing network (40) is configured to provide variable routing of the signals (S) between the signal electronics (20) and the couplers (11,12,13) thereby providing a selection between distinct coupling modes (CT,CR,CW) of the coupler arrangement (10). A mode selector (30) is configured to switch the apparatus (100) between the operational modes (OT,OR,OW) and control the routing network (40) to select between the distinct coupling modes (CT,CR,CW) based on the operational mode (OT,OR,OW) of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a communication device for performing data communication using a human or animal body as transmission medium. The communication device comprises a transceiver unit comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver. The communication device also comprises an electrostatic transducer for enabling data communication via a surface of the body with one or more user devices in touch with or located near (i.e. in close proximity, e.g. within a range of 0-10 mm therefrom) the body. The communication device further comprises an ultrasonic transducer for enabling data communication through the body using ultrasonic waves. Both the electrostatic transducer and the ultrasonic transducer are capacitive type transducers connected to and operated via the transceiver unit.

Abstract: A body-coupled communication device (201) adapted to receive signals via a body transmission channel (160), the first device comprising couplers (102) arranged to receive a body-coupled signal, a synchronization-indicator (272) to storing a level of synchronization between the first device and a second device, and a band-pass filter (250) arranged to filter the received body-coupled signal depending on the synchronization level, the band-pass filter being arranged to allow passage of frequencies in a frequency-interval around a tunable filter frequency, wherein the frequency-interval is narrow if the synchronization-level is high and wherein the frequency-interval is broad if the synchronization-level is low.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe has a two dimensional matrix array transducer and a digital microbeamformer. The microbeamformer comprises a plurality of transmitters and amplifiers coupled to elements of the array transducer, a plurality of low power analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry coupled to the amplifiers, a microbeamformer controller, a power supply and a USB controller which cumulatively consume three watts or less.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe contains an array transducer and a microbeamformer coupled to elements of the array. The microbeamformer comprises analog to digital converters and digital beamforming circuitry for at least thirty-two digital channels in the microbeamformer. Preferably the analog to digital converters are low power ADCs for reduced power consumption in the probe. Integrated circuits of thirty-two channels can be cascaded to produce 64-channel and 128-channel digital microbeamformers for an ultrasound array probe.

Abstract: A wide band through-body communication system communicates data through the body ultrasonically. A MEMS device such as a CMUT transducer is configured to transmit and/or receive ultrasonic data signals within a broad band of operating frequencies. The transducer transmits the ultrasonic data signals through the body to a similarly configured ultrasonic receiver, and/or receives ultrasonic data signals which have been conveyed through the body from a similarly configured ultrasonic transmitter for decoding and processing. In a preferred implementation a CMUT transducer is operated in a collapsed mode.

Abstract: A body-coupled communication apparatus (100) comprises a coupler arrangement (10) comprising a plurality of couplers (11,12,13) configured to couple signals (S) between the apparatus (100) and a body (200). Signal electronics (20) are configured to process and/or generate the signals depending on an operational mode (OT,OR,OW) of the apparatus. A routing network (40) is configured to provide variable routing of the signals (S) between the signal electronics (20) and the couplers (11,12,13) thereby providing a selection between distinct coupling modes (CT,CR,CW) of the coupler arrangement (10). A mode selector (30) is configured to switch the apparatus (100) between the operational modes (OT,OR,OW) and control the routing network (40) to select between the distinct coupling modes (CT,CR,CW) based on the operational mode (OT,OR,OW) of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a communication device for performing data communication using a human or animal body as transmission medium. The communication device comprises a transceiver unit comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver. The communication device also comprises an electrostatic transducer for enabling data communication via a surface of the body with one or more user devices in touch with or located near (i.e. in close proximity, e.g. within a range of 0-10 mm therefrom) the body. The communication device further comprises an ultrasonic transducer for enabling data communication through the body using ultrasonic waves. Both the electrostatic transducer and the ultrasonic transducer are capacitive type transducers connected to and operated via the transceiver unit.

Abstract: A body-coupled communication device (201) adapted to receive signals via a body transmission channel (160), the first device comprising couplers (102) arranged to receive a body-coupled signal, a synchronization-indicator (272) to storing a level of synchronization between the first device and a second device, and a band-pass filter (250) arranged to filter the received body-coupled signal depending on the synchronization level, the band-pass filter being arranged to allow passage of frequencies in a frequency-interval around a tunable filter frequency, wherein the frequency-interval is narrow if the synchronization-level is high and wherein the frequency-interval is broad if the synchronization-level is low.

Abstract: A logging system (200) and a method of registering data for enabling monitoring of intake of a product by a user according to an intake plan are provided. The logging system (200) comprises a dispensing device (220) for dispensing the product to the user who operates the dispensing device by manual interaction and a logging device (240). The dispensing device has identification data (ID) which identifies the device itself or identifies the product dispensed by the device. The dispensing device and the logging device are able to communicate via body coupled communication. When the dispensing device and the logging device are both in the close vicinity of the body of the user (110) who carries the logging device during said manual interaction, the identification data is transmitted via body coupled communication to the logging device which subsequently stores the received data in a data storage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radio frequency (RF) antenna device (140) for providing magnetic resonance (MR) information from an examination space (116) of a MR imaging system (110), comprising at least one RF coil (142) with at least one connection port (144) for receiving an analog MR information signal, and at least one analog to digital converter (ADC) (150), which is connected to the at least one connection port (144) and which converts the analog MR information signal into a digital MR information signal, whereby the at least one ADC (150) is a RF band-pass sub-sampled sigma-delta analog to digital converter. The present invention also provides a MR imaging system (110) comprising such a RF antenna device (140). This provides an integration of the RF coil and the components into the RF antenna device, which are required to provide the MR information signal as a digital signal.

Abstract: A receiver module (101), transceiver module for body coupled communication devices (100) and a method of waking-up a body coupled receiver of a body coupled communication device (100) are provided. The receiver module (101) of the body coupled communication device (100) comprises couplers (102) for receiving signals via a body transmission channel (160) which follows a body of a user (150). A wake-up receiver (108) and a main receiver (106) of the receiver module (101) are coupled to the couplers (102). The main receiver (106) may operate in a sleep mode and in an operational mode. The wake-up receiver (108) generates a wake-up signal (107) when signals received via the body transmission channel (160) in a predefined spectral range exceed an energy threshold level. The wake-up signal (107) is provided to a circuitry of the body coupled communication device (100) to directly or indirectly configuring the main receiver (106) in the operational mode.