Hospital bed having near field communication capability
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing data communication and power to a device located in a room, the room having a power outlet, the apparatus comprisinga 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 power outlet to receive power,a first near field communication antenna carried by the plug body,near field communication circuitry carried by the device and coupled to the first near field communication antenna via at least one conductor routed along the cable, wherein the plug body is devoid of any circuit components of the near field communication circuitry, anda communication module comprising a second near field communication antenna, the communication module being 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 communicating data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna, wherein the first near field communication antenna is included in a label that sticks to the plug body, wherein the label is devoid of any electrical components other than the antenna and at least one conductor leading to the antenna.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
101 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for providing data communication and power to a device located in a room, the room having a 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 power outlet to receive power, a first near field communication antenna carried by the plug body, near field communication circuitry carried by the device and coupled to the first near field communication antenna via at least one conductor routed along the cable, wherein the plug body is devoid of any circuit components of the near field communication circuitry, and a communication module comprising a second near field communication antenna, the communication module being 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 communicating data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna, wherein the first near field communication antenna is included in a label that sticks to the plug body, wherein the label is devoid of any electrical components other than the antenna and at least one conductor leading to the antenna.
-
10. An apparatus for coupling a patient-support device to a 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 power outlet to receive power, and a first near field communication antenna carried by the plug body, near field communication circuitry carried by the patient-support device and coupled to the first near field communication antenna via at least one conductor routed along the cable, wherein the plug body is devoid of any circuit components of the near field communication circuitry, a communication module comprising a second near field communication antenna, 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, wherein the first near field communication antenna is included in a label that sticks to the plug body, wherein the label is devoid of any electrical components other than the antenna and at least one conductor leading to the antenna.
Specification