Hospital bed having near field communication capability
First Claim
1. A system comprisinga bed having an auxiliary power outlet,a medical device including a cable having at one end thereof a plug comprising a plug body, a plurality of prongs extending from the plug body and configured to couple to the auxiliary power outlet to receive power,a first near field communication antenna carried by the plug body,a communication module comprising a second near field communication antenna, the communication module being coupled to the bed in proximity to the auxiliary power outlet, at least one of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna communicating data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna, andfirst near field communication circuitry carried by the medical device and coupled to the first near field communication antenna via at least one conductor routed along the cable, wherein the bed receives data from the medical device via the first and second near field communication antennae.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for providing data communication and power to a device located in a room having a power outlet is disclosed. The power outlet may be a standard AC outlet, for example. The apparatus includes a cable extending from the device and having a plug comprising a plug body. Prongs extend from the plug body and couple to the power outlet to receive power. A first near field communication antenna is carried by the plug body. A communication module has a second near field communication antenna and is located in the room in proximity to the plug. At least one of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna communicates data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising
a bed having an auxiliary power outlet, a medical device including a cable having at one end thereof a plug comprising a plug body, a plurality of prongs extending from the plug body and configured to couple to the auxiliary power outlet to receive power, a first near field communication antenna carried by the plug body, a communication module comprising a second near field communication antenna, the communication module being coupled to the bed in proximity to the auxiliary power outlet, at least one of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna communicating data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna, and first near field communication circuitry carried by the medical device and coupled to the first near field communication antenna via at least one conductor routed along the cable, wherein the bed receives data from the medical device via the first and second near field communication antennae.
Specification