Abstract: An antenna system is provided that is capable of transmitting and receiving using near-field magnetic induction (NFMI). The antenna system includes a non-magnetic metallic core, a ferrite shield, and at least one electrically conducting winding. The ferrite shield is positioned between the non-magnetic metallic core and the electrically conducting winding. The non-magnetic metallic core may be a battery. The ferrite material forms a low impedance path for the magnetic field lines and increases inductance, thus providing increased energy efficiency and transmission quality. The antenna system is suitable for use in space constrained battery powered devices, such as hear instruments including hearing aids and earbuds.

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: Example antenna configured to be coupled to a first conductive structure having a first portion and a second portion, the antenna including: a second conductive structure having a first portion and a second portion; wherein the first portion of the second conductive structure is configured to be coupled to the first portion of the first conductive structure; a first feed point configured to be coupled to the second portion of the first conductive structure; wherein the first portion of the first conductive structure is configured to carry the RF signal current with a first current density; wherein the first portion of the second conductive structure is configured to carry the RF signal current with a second current density; wherein the first and second current densities are different.

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 wireless device, comprising a near-field transceiver configured to be coupled to a host structure; a controller coupled to the transceiver; wherein the near-field transceiver includes a feed point configured to be coupled to a conductive surface; wherein the conductive surface is configured to be capacitively coupled to the host structure to form part of a near-field electric antenna; and wherein the conductive surface is configured to be in repeated, but not continuous, contact with a ground.

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: One example discloses a near-field device, configured to receive a non-propagating quasi-static near-field signal from a near-field antenna, comprising: a tuning circuit including a set of impedance tuning banks; and a controller configured to, identify a set of impedance values for the impedance tuning banks corresponding to an initial resonance frequency, bandwidth and/or quality factor of the near-field antenna and near-field device combination; detect a change in the resonance frequency, bandwidth and/or quality factor; access a pre-stored set of specific resonance frequency, bandwidth and/or quality factor changes corresponding to a set of specific conductive structures; identify a conductive structure from the set of conductive structures corresponding to the detected change; access a pre-stored set of specific near-field device actions corresponding to the set of conductive structures; and effect a set of specific actions from the set of near-field device actions corresponding to the identified conduct

Abstract: One example discloses a combination antenna, including a near-field antenna, having a first portion and a second portion; and a far-field antenna, having a cavity; wherein the first portion of the near-field antenna structure is inside the cavity and the second portion is outside of the cavity.

Abstract: One example discloses a vibration sensor, comprising: an RF receiver circuit configured to receive an RF input signal; an RF signal characterization circuit configured to measure an attribute of the RF input signal over a set time-period; wherein the attribute of the RF input signal varies based on a physical motion between the vibration sensor and an RF source transmitting the RF input signal; and a vibration profiling circuit configured to map the attribute of the RF input signal to a vibration level.

Abstract: One example discloses an antenna combination device, comprising: a modulation unit; wherein the modulation unit is configured to be coupled to: a first antenna, having a first set of electromagnetic field lobes and configured to pass a first signal; a second antenna, having a second set of electromagnetic field lobes and configured to pass a second signal; wherein the modulation unit is configured to vary the first signal and the second signal, resulting in a third set of electromagnetic field lobes from a combination of the first and second sets of electromagnetic field lobes; wherein the first, second and third electromagnetic field lobes are in a same plane; and wherein a number of the third set of lobes is less than or equal to either a number of the first set of lobes or a number of the second set of lobes.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field communications device, including: a near-field antenna; a conformal material having a first surface and a second surface; wherein the first surface is dielectrically coupled to the antenna; and wherein the second surface is configured to be galvanically coupled to a host-structure.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field device, comprising: a near-field receiver coupled to a near-field receiver antenna and a decoder circuit; wherein the near-field receiver antenna is configured to be capacitively coupled at a first location of a first substance; wherein the near-field receiver antenna is configured to receive a first near-field signal from the first substance through the receiver's capacitive coupling; and wherein the decoder circuit is configured to compare an attribute of the first near-field signal to an attribute of a second near-field signal received from a second substance.

Abstract: An interference sensor device is disclosed. The interference sensor device includes a first conductive plate, a second conductive plate aligned parallel to the first conductive plate, a non-conductive matter between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate and a coil electrically coupled to the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate.

Abstract: An antenna for transmitting a first frequency and a second frequency signals is enclosed. The antenna includes a first metallic section having a first end and a second end, a second metallic section located on a side of the first metallic section and having a first end and a second end. The second metallic section is separated from the first metallic section by a first non-conducting gap. The antenna further includes a third metallic section located on a side of the second metallic section and having a first end and a second end. The third metallic section is separated from the second metallic section by a second non-conducting gap. The first end of the first metallic section is connected to a first electronic circuit, the first end of the third metallic section is connected to a second electronic circuit, and the first end of the second metallic section is connected to a feeding port. The second end of the first metallic section is electrically attached to a first metallic plate.

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 circuit for varying a quality-factor of a wireless device: wherein the wireless device includes an antenna tuning circuit and a communications signal interface; the circuit including, a quality-factor circuit having a feedback circuit; wherein the feedback circuit is configured to be coupled between the antenna tuning circuit and the communications signal interface; wherein the quality-factor circuit is configured to measure an antenna system bandwidth of the wireless device; and wherein the feedback circuit is configured to apply positive feedback to the antenna tuning circuit if the measured bandwidth is greater than a maximum communication signal bandwidth.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) antenna, having: a core; an electric antenna including an electrically conductive surface; a magnetic antenna including a first coil coupled to a second coil; a first feeding connection coupled to one end of the first coil; a second feeding connection coupled to another end of the first coil and coupled to one end of the second coil; wherein the first and second feeding connections are configured to be coupled to an electrical apparatus; wherein another end of the second coil is coupled to the electrically conductive surface; a magnetic permeable material between a first side of the magnetic antenna and the core; and wherein the first coil, the second coil, the magnetic permeable material, and the electrically conductive surface are wrapped around the core.

Abstract: One example discloses an electromagnetic device, including: a first circuit, configured to generate a first electromagnetic field; a second circuit responsive to the first electromagnetic field; a damping circuit configured to generate a second electromagnetic field in response to a current induced by the first electromagnetic field; and wherein the second electromagnetic field reduces the second circuit's responsiveness to the first electromagnetic field.

Abstract: One example discloses a near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) antenna, including: an electric antenna including a first electrically conductive surface; a magnetic antenna including a first coil (L1) coupled to a second coil (L2); a first feeding connection coupled to one end of the first coil; a second feeding connection coupled to another end of the first coil and one end of the second coil; wherein a another end of the second coil is connected to the electrically conductive surface; and a magnetic permeable material coupled to one side of the magnetic antenna and configured to be placed between the magnetic antenna and a set of electric components.

Abstract: One example discloses a device for electromagnetic structural characterization, including: a controller having an electromagnetic transmitter output and a communications interface; wherein the controller is configured to send a signal over the electromagnetic transmitter output that causes an electromagnetic transmitter to generate a first electrical field (E1) and a first magnetic field (H1); wherein the controller configured to receive over the communications interface a second electric field (E2) and a second magnetic field (H2) received by an electromagnetic receiver; wherein the first electrical field and the first magnetic field correspond to when the electromagnetic transmitter is at a first location proximate to a structure and the second electrical field and the second magnetic field correspond to when the electromagnetic receiver is at a second location proximate to the structure; and wherein the controller is configured to calculate an impedance based on the electric and magnetic fields interacting