Abstract: One example discloses a near-field converter, including: a near-field magnetic antenna responsive to near-field magnetic signals; a near-field electric antenna responsive to near-field electric signals; wherein the converter is configured to, convert received near-field magnetic signals into and transmit as near-field electric signals; or convert received near-field electric signals into and transmit as near-field magnetic signals.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field measuring device, including: a near-field antenna; a tuning circuit galvanically coupled to the near-field antenna and configured to set a resonant frequency and/or a quality factor of the measuring device; and a current sensor inductively coupled to the near-field antenna and configured to generate a signal in response to a current flowing through the galvanic coupling between the near-field antenna and the tuning circuit; wherein the signal represents a measurement of non-propagating quasi-static near-field signals received by the near-field antenna.

Abstract: One example discloses a combination near-field and far-field antenna configured to be coupled to a conductive host surface, including: a first feed point configured to be coupled to a far-field transceiver; a second feed point configured to be coupled to a near-field transceiver; a first conductive antenna surface; a first filter having a first interface coupled to both the first feed point and the first conductive antenna surface, and having a second interface coupled to the second feed point; wherein the first filter is configured to attenuate far-field signals passing between the first conductive antenna surface and the far-field transceiver from being received by the near-field transceiver; and wherein the first filter is configured to pass near-field signals between the near-field transceiver and the first conductive antenna surface.

Abstract: One example discloses a multi-mode near-field device configured to be coupled to a conductive host surface, including: a conductive antenna surface configured as a near-field electrically inductive (NFEI) antenna; wherein the conductive antenna surface includes a first region and a second region; wherein the first region is configured to be capacitively coupled to the conductive host surface; wherein the second region is configured to be galvanically or capacitively coupled to the conductive host surface; wherein the multi-mode device is configured to operate in, a first mode when the second region is galvanically coupled to the conductive host surface; and a second mode when the second region is capacitively coupled to the conductive host surface.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field wireless device, including: a near-field antenna; a variable current source; a controller coupled to the near-field antenna and the variable current source; wherein the controller is configured to measure a transmit quality-factor (Qtx) of the near-field antenna; and wherein the controller is configured to increase current sent by the variable current source to the near-field antenna if the measured Qtx is lower than a minimum Qtx.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field device, including: an electric (E-Field) antenna including a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate responsive to non-propagating quasi-static electric near-field signals; wherein the electric antenna is configured to be coupled to a transceiver circuit; a substrate configured to be worn by a user; wherein the first conductive plate is located on a first side of the substrate configured to face away from the user; and wherein the second conductive plate is located on a second side of the substrate configured to face toward the user.

Abstract: One example discloses a combination near-field and far-field antenna configured to be coupled to a conductive host surface, including: a first feed point configured to be coupled to a far-field transceiver; a second feed point configured to be coupled to a near-field transceiver; a first conductive antenna surface; a first filter having a first interface coupled to both the first feed point and the first conductive antenna surface, and having a second interface coupled to the second feed point; wherein the first filter is configured to attenuate far-field signals passing between the first conductive antenna surface and the far-field transceiver from being received by the near-field transceiver; and wherein the first filter is configured to pass near-field signals between the near-field transceiver and the first conductive antenna surface.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) device, including: a near-field magnetic antenna having an inductive coil responsive to near-field magnetic signals; wherein the near-field magnetic antenna is configured to be coupled to a tuning circuit having a variable capacitance adjusting a resonance frequency of the NFEMI device and variable resistance adjusting a bandwidth of the NFEMI device; and a near-field electric antenna having a set of conductive surfaces; wherein the near-field electric antenna is configured to be directly connected to a receiver circuit.

Abstract: Example discloses a conductive plane antenna, including, a non-conductive substrate; a conductive plane coupled to the non-conductive substrate; wherein the conductive plane includes an open cavity over the non-conductive substrate; wherein the cavity includes a closed end and an open end; a first feed point coupled to the conductive plane and configured to pass a first polarity of a set of electromagnetic signals; and a second feed point coupled to the conductive plane and configured to pass a second polarity of the set of electromagnetic signals wherein the conductive plane is configured to generate a first antenna gain pattern in response to the first and second polarity signals; wherein the cavity is configured to generate a second antenna gain pattern in response to the first and second polarity signals; and wherein a magnitude of the first antenna gain pattern is greater than a magnitude of the second antenna gain pattern.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field communications device, including: an energy harvesting circuit configured to be coupled to a near-field antenna that is responsive to non-propagating quasi-static near-field energy; wherein the harvesting circuit is configured to harvest energy from the non-propagating quasi-static near-field energy; and wherein the harvesting circuit includes a harvesting filter configured to input a first set of near-field energy and output a second set of near-field energy; and wherein the second set of near-field energy is a sub-set of the first set of near-field energy.

Abstract: One example discloses a noninvasive biological conditioning device, including: a first induction structure; a second induction structure; a barrier configured to block direct contact between the structures and a material; wherein the structures are configured to induce an electrical current in the material; and wherein the electrical current is configured to have a set of attributes for conditioning biological activity in the material.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field communications device, including: a receiver configured to be coupled to a first near-field antenna having a first radiation pattern, and to a second antenna having a second radiation pattern; wherein the first radiation pattern and the second radiation pattern are not spatially aligned; wherein the receiver is configured to subtract a second signal received from the second antenna from a first near-field signal received from the first near-field antenna.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field antenna, comprising: a magnetic (H) field antenna; an electric (E) field antenna; wherein the E-field antenna is galvanically insulated from the H-field antenna; and wherein the E-field antenna is configured to be inductively charged by the H-field antenna.

Abstract: A multi-band antenna suitable for use by vehicles has ports for Wi-Fi and DSRC signals, cellular signals, and GPS signals. A base substrate forms a ground plane, and a shark-fin shaped radiating substrate is transversely aligned with the base substrate. On a first side of the radiating substrate there is a first conductive feed strip with a vertical extending portion that is galvanically connected to the first port, and a second conductive feed strip that is galvanically connected to the second port. On a second side of the radiating substrate there is a first wide-slot that is capacitively coupled to the first and second feed strips, is galvanically connected to the base conductor, and overlaps with at least the extending-portion of the first feed strip. There also is a second wide-slot on the second side that extends from a back edge to a location between the first and second ports.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) antenna device, having: a coil, having first and second coupling points, configured to generate and/or receive a magnetic (H-field) near-field signal; a conductive structure having first and second coupling points separated by a distance; first and second feed points configured to carry a current from a transmitter and/or to a receiver circuit; wherein the first coupling point of the conductive structure is coupled to the first feed point and wherein the second coupling point of the conductive structure is coupled to the first coupling point of the coil; wherein the second coupling point of the coil is coupled to the second feed point; and wherein the conductive structure is configured to generate an electric (E-field) near-field in response to the current flowing over the distance between the first and second coupling points of the conductive structure.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) device configured to be coupled to a non-planar conductive host surface, including: a coil antenna portion configured as a magnetic field antenna; and a conductive antenna surface configured as an electric field antenna; wherein the conductive antenna surface geometrically conforms to the non-planar host surface.

Abstract: One example discloses a wireless device, including: a first near-field device, including a near-field receiver, configured to be coupled to a first surface; wherein the first near-field device is configured to receive a received near-field signal having a received signal strength (RSS); wherein the received near-field signal originates from a second near-field device having a near-field transmitter and configured to be coupled to a second surface; wherein the second near-field device is configured to generate a transmitted near-field signal having a transmitted signal strength (TSS); wherein the TSS of the transmitted near-field signal interacts with a third surface to transform into the RSS of the received near-field signal; and wherein the first near-field device is configured to translate a magnitude of the RSS to a distance of the first and/or second surfaces from the third surface.

Abstract: A wireless vehicle communication system (500, 600) includes a vehicle (200) having a plurality of wireless communication units (220, 240, 260) located in or attached to the vehicle (200). The plurality of wireless communication units is configured to operate in a first communication mode of operation that wirelessly transfers data to a communication unit located in a vicinity of the vehicle (200). The plurality of wireless communication units (220, 240, 260) is additionally configured to operate in a second communication mode of operation that wirelessly transfers data to at least one other of the plurality of communication units (220, 240, 260) located In or attached to the vehicle (200).

Abstract: One example discloses a first near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) device, including: a controller configured to be coupled to an NFEMI antenna and to a structure; wherein the NFEMI antenna includes electric (E) near-field and magnetic (H) near-field generating and/or receiving portions; wherein the controller is configured to modulate a ratio of energy sent to and/or received from the electric and magnetic portions; wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal corresponding to whether the structure is between the first NFEMI device and a second NFEMI device; and wherein the controller is configured to decrease the ratio of energy sent to and/or received from the electric (E) portion as compared to energy sent to and/or received from the magnetic (H) portion if the structure is between the first and second NFEMI devices.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field circuit configured to be coupled to a near-field antenna wherein the near-field antenna includes, a first conductive structure, a second conductive structure, a first feeding connection, and a second feeding connection, wherein the conductive structures are configured to transmit and/or receive non-propagating quasi-static electric (E) field signals, the near-field circuit including: a transmit circuit having a first coupling connection and a second coupling connection; a voltage boost circuit configured to be coupled in series between the first coupling connection of the transmit circuit and the first feeding connection of the near-field antenna; wherein the second coupling connection of the transmit circuit is configured to be coupled to the second feeding connection of the near-field antenna.