Abstract: A device includes a plurality of antennas, including one or more active antennas, the antennas being configured in one of a plurality of possible configurations to achieve operation in WAN, LTE, WiFi, or WiMax bands, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a passive antenna is utilized with lumped loading to fix the antenna tuning state. A primary and auxiliary radiator can be included in the device and configured for WAN/LTE bands, while additional antennas can be incorporated for WiFi and WiMax bands. Various antenna configurations incorporate the antenna having multiple coupled regions.

Abstract: A communication system for an altitude changing object is provided. The communication system can include an antenna system having one or more antennas. The one or more antennas can be associated with a single fixed radiation pattern. The communication system can include one or more processors configured to execute a control routine to perform operations. The operations can include obtaining data indicative of one or more communication parameters associated with the altitude changing object. The operations can include determining a transmit power for each of the one or more antennas based at least in part on the one or more communication parameters. The operations can include controlling the antenna system based at least in part on the transmit power to communicate with a node in the communication network.

Abstract: A system is described where antenna beam steering techniques are implemented to optimize time and frequency channel resources in wireless communication systems where repeaters are used. Beam steering modes of the antenna systems in the repeaters as well as the nodes are optimized to improve system capacity and load balancing. Client devices in a wireless LAN system can be configured to work as repeaters, with the repeaters containing a beam steering capability. The beam steering capability can be implemented in one or multiple nodes and repeaters in the communication system.

Abstract: A device includes a plurality of antennas, including one or more active antennas, the antennas being configured in one of a plurality of possible configurations to achieve operation in WAN, LTE, WiFi, or WiMax bands, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a passive antenna is utilized with lumped loading to fix the antenna tuning state. A primary and auxiliary radiator can be included in the device and configured for WAN/LTE bands, while additional antennas can be incorporated for WiFi and WiMax bands. Various antenna configurations incorporate the antenna having multiple coupled regions.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns an antenna subsystem that can be used in various repeater systems to optimize gain of the repeater by increasing isolation between donor and server antennas, wherein at least one of the donor and server antennas is an active multi-mode antenna.

Abstract: A system and method for the supply of a medical storage container that has a required inventory of medical articles. An enclosure is used to isolate, scan, and inventory a tray or other container of medical articles. The container and each of the medical articles stored in the container having a wireless identification device. A probe injects activation energy and receives identification data in the enclosure. A program compares the scanned identification of the tray and the inventory of the tray to the required inventory list for the tray and indicates any differences. Extra articles and expired and recalled articles are identified. Text and graphical data displays of inventory are provided. Selectable periods for expiration of medical articles are also provided.

Abstract: An antenna system is integrated into a cover or accessory and adapted to couple to an antenna in a host device to improve transmission and reception of signals. The antenna system can be passive or active, with the active antenna system designed to amplify coupled signals on the integrated antenna elements in the cover or accessory. Single or multiple frequency bands can be improved with the integrated antenna system, and multiple antennas in the host device can be coupled to and improved. The antenna system can couple to the existing antennas in the host device by capacitive coupling, i.e. no physical contact required, or a connector can be designed into the cover or accessory containing the integrated antenna system that makes contact to electrical ground of the host device or power supply signals or other control signals.

Abstract: A system is described where antenna beam steering techniques are implemented to optimize time and frequency channel resources in wireless communication systems where repeaters are used. Beam steering modes of the antenna systems in the repeaters as well as the nodes are optimized to improve system capacity and load balancing. Client devices in a wireless LAN system can be configured to work as repeaters, with the repeaters containing a beam steering capability. The beam steering capability can be implemented in one or multiple nodes and repeaters in the communication system.

Abstract: An automatic inventory tracking and control system tracks the inventory of medical articles in an enclosure by providing a robust electromagnetic (EM) field within the enclosure. The enclosure has electrically-conductive walls. Wireless identification devices such as RFID tags, attached to each medical article respond to the electromagnetic field by transmitting unique data identified with each medical article. A probe or probes are used to generate transverse electromagnetic modes in the enclosure.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns an antenna subsystem that can be used in various repeater systems to optimize gain of the repeater by increasing isolation between donor and server antennas, wherein at least one of the donor and server antennas is an active multi-mode antenna.

Abstract: A system is described for distributing over the air (OTA) channels within buildings and homes. The system can implement one or more active multi-mode antennas for improved performance and reliability. The system can be configured as a mesh network where multiple nodes are distributed to improve the probability of channel capture across the VHF and UHF frequencies used for over the air TV distribution. A node consists of a beam steering antenna that operates at the VHF and UHF frequencies for TV signal reception, a receiver and demodulation circuit, a transcoder to convert the received information for re-distribution, and a transceiver capable of operation at a secondary frequency band for use in re-distributing the information to communication devices in proximity of the node.

Abstract: A technique is described wherein one or multiple reflectors are integrated into a wideband antenna to provide directional radiation pattern characteristics across the frequency range serviced by the antenna. Distributed filters are designed into the reflector assembly to alter electrical performance as a function of frequency. The directive properties provided by the reflector assembly can be adjusted at specific frequency bands to provide a more or less directive radiation pattern. The reflector assembly is designed to maintain low Passive Intermodulation (PIM) characteristics making the technique applicable to high quality Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and other applications which require low PIM levels and/or a radiation pattern that can be controlled as a function of frequency.

Abstract: An antenna system is described where uniform radiation pattern coverage is provided in the plane of a low profile antenna element. A polarization that is orthogonal to the plane of the low profile antenna element can be achieved for the radiated field. Tuning mechanisms are described to provide a method for dynamically altering the radiation pattern and for adjusting the frequency response of the antenna during the manufacturing process as well as at field installation. The antenna system is capable of being implemented in applications such as local area network (LAN), cellular communication network, and machine to machine (M2M).

Abstract: A system is described where antenna beam steering techniques are implemented to optimize time and frequency channel resources in wireless communication systems where repeaters are used. Beam steering modes of the antenna systems in the repeaters as well as the nodes are optimized to improve system capacity and load balancing. Client devices in a wireless LAN system can be configured to work as repeaters, with the repeaters containing a beam steering capability. The beam steering capability can be implemented in one or multiple nodes and repeaters in the communication system.

Abstract: A load balancing method for cellular communication systems and communication systems in general is described where beam steering antenna systems on the client or user side of the communication link are used to optimize load balancing among the base stations or nodes. A system controller containing an algorithm is implemented to control the radiation modes from the client or user devices to assign the client or user devices to the various base stations or nodes and to dynamically vary the network load across the cellular or communication system.

Abstract: A communication system for an altitude changing object is provided. The communication system can include an antenna system having one or more antennas. The one or more antennas can be associated with a single fixed radiation pattern. The communication system can include one or more processors configured to execute a control routine to perform operations. The operations can include obtaining data indicative of one or more communication parameters associated with the altitude changing object. The operations can include determining a transmit power for each of the one or more antennas based at least in part on the one or more communication parameters. The operations can include controlling the antenna system based at least in part on the transmit power to communicate with a node in the communication network.

Abstract: An antenna comprising an IMD element and one or more parasitic and active tuning elements is disclosed. The IMD element, when used in combination with the active tuning and parasitic elements, allows antenna operation at multiple resonant frequencies. In addition, the direction of antenna radiation pattern may be arbitrarily rotated in accordance with the parasitic and active tuning elements. Unique antenna architectures for beam steering in Wi-Fi band applications is further described.

Abstract: An automatic data collection system tracks medical articles by providing a robust electromagnetic (EM) field within an enclosure in which the articles are stored. Respective data carriers, such as RFID tags, attached to each medical article respond to the EM field by transmitting unique data identified with each medical article. The use of probes for injecting the EM field into the enclosure results in a greater likelihood of activation of the tags and greater accuracy in detecting and tracking medical articles.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the inventory of a medical storage container such as a tray that has a required inventory of medical articles. An enclosure is used to isolate, scan, and take an inventory of the tray or other container of medical articles. The tray and each of the medical articles in the tray have RFID tags. The enclosure having a size differing from the size needed for a resonant frequency at the RFID frequency of operation of the tags. A probe is used to create a robust electromagnetic field standing wave of constructive interference in the enclosure and a program compares the scanned present inventory of the tray to the required inventory database and indicates any differences. Expired and recalled articles and substitutes for recalled articles are identified.

Abstract: An inventory management system for wirelessly taking inventories of medical trays comprises an easily assemblable and disassemblable enclosure comprising interconnected electrically conductive walls to form a Faraday cage. The interior space defined by the walls is large enough to accept the trays. RFID readers are placed within the enclosure directed at the tray to excite and read the RFID tags disposed on the medical articles within the tray. The walls of the enclosure are flexible and one of the walls is rolled up and down to act as an opening to the interior space. A host computer stores the inventory of the tray and compares it against a previous inventory existence for resupply purposes. The host computer also detects expired and recalled medical articles in the tray. If a recalled article is detected, the host computer determines if a substitute article exists.