Plug and receptacle having wired and wireless coupling
First Claim
1. A plug for coupling to a standard AC power outlet, the plug comprising a plug body, a plurality of electrical contact members extending from the plug body and configured to receive AC power from the standard AC power outlet, and at least one photodiode carried by the plug body, the photodiode being operable to emit or to receive a wireless signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plug and a communication module communicate wirelessly. The plug includes prongs that couple to sockets of a power outlet to receive power for a device associated with the plug. The plug carries circuitry that communicates wirelessly with circuitry of the communication module. The communication module is located near the power outlet in some embodiments.
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Citations
90 Claims
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1. A plug for coupling to a standard AC power outlet, the plug comprising
a plug body, a plurality of electrical contact members extending from the plug body and configured to receive AC power from the standard AC power outlet, and at least one photodiode carried by the plug body, the photodiode being operable to emit or to receive a wireless signal.
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12. An apparatus for providing data communication and power to a device located in a room having a standard AC power outlet, the apparatus comprising
a cable extending from the device and 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 standard AC power outlet to receive AC power, and a first short-range wireless transceiver carried by the plug body, and a communication module comprising a second short-range wireless transceiver, the communication module being located in the room in proximity to the plug to permit wireless communication between the first and second short-range wireless transceivers.
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29. An apparatus for coupling a patient-support device to a standard AC power outlet and to a computer network in a healthcare facility, the apparatus comprising
a cable extending from the patient-support device and 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 standard AC power outlet to receive AC power, and a first wireless transceiver carried by the plug body, a communication module comprising a second wireless transceiver, the first and second wireless transceivers communicating wirelessly, and signal-processing circuitry coupled to the second wireless transceiver and to the computer network.
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44. A system comprising
a bed having a power plug carrying a first wireless transceiver, a communication module having a second wireless transceiver that communicates wirelessly with the first transceiver, and a bed emulator coupled to the communication module, the bed emulator having circuitry to process data received by the second wireless transceiver from the first wireless transceiver.
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50. A method for using a plug having a first wireless transceiver and a communication module having a second wireless transceiver, the method comprising
coupling the plug having the first wireless transceiver to an AC power outlet, placing near the AC power outlet the communication module having the second wireless transceiver so that the first and second wireless transceivers are able to communicate wirelessly, and coupling the communication module to a data port of a computer network.
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53. An apparatus for use with a simplex AC power outlet having a single power receptacle and a duplex AC power outlet having first and second power receptacles, the apparatus comprising
a first mounting plate having a first opening through which the single power receptacle of the simplex AC power outlet is accessible when the first mounting plate is coupled to the simplex AC power outlet, a second mounting plate having a second opening through which the first power receptacle of the duplex AC power outlet is accessible when the second mounting plate is coupled to the duplex AC power outlet, and a housing that is selectively coupleable to the first mounting plate and to the second mounting plate, the housing carrying wireless communication circuitry.
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64. An apparatus for use with an AC power outlet, the apparatus comprising
a housing that mounts adjacent the AC power outlet, and wireless communication circuitry carried by the housing.
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69. A system for use with a duplex AC power outlet having a first receptacle and a second receptacle, the system comprising
a plug having a plug body, a first set of prongs extending from the plug body and coupleable to the first receptacle, and a first wireless transceiver carried by the plug body, and a communication module having a housing, a second set of prongs extending from the plug body and coupleable to the second receptacle, and a second wireless transceiver carried by the housing, the first and second wireless transceivers being configured to communicating wirelessly.
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76. An adapter for use with an AC power outlet and a power plug, the adapter comprising
a housing, a set of prongs extending from the housing, the prongs being coupleable to the AC power outlet, an adapter outlet coupled to the housing and configured to couple to the power plug, and wireless communication circuitry carried by the housing.
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81. A system comprising,
a patient-support device, a cable extending from the patient-support device and having at one end thereof a plug comprising a plug body, a plurality of prongs extending from the plug body, and a first wireless transceiver carried by the plug body, a piece of architectural equipment, an AC power outlet coupled to the piece of architectural equipment, the prongs being insertable into sockets of the AC power outlet, and a communication module coupled to the piece of architectural equipment and comprising a second wireless transceiver, the first and second wireless transceivers communicating wirelessly.
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85. A method of associating a hospital bed to a location in a healthcare facility, the method comprising
storing a first unique identifier in memory of the hospital bed,. storing a second unique identifier in memory associated with the location, establishing a wireless communication link between a first wireless transceiver of the hospital bed and a second wireless transceiver associated with the location, in response to establishing the wireless communication link, transmitting to a network of the healthcare facility the first and second unique identifiers, and storing in memory of a computer device coupled to the network the first and second unique identifiers.
Specification