Plug and receptacle having wired and wireless coupling
First Claim
1. A plug for coupling to a standard AC power outlet, the plug comprisinga 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, andat least one photodiode carried by the plug body, the photodiode being operable to emit or to receive a wireless signal to provide for wireless communication of data without communicating data to, and without receiving data from, the electrical contact members.
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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.
213 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 to provide for wireless communication of data without communicating data to, and without receiving data from, the electrical contact members.
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9. 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, at least one photodiode carried by the plug body, the photodiode being operable to emit or to receive a wireless signal, wherein the photodiode emits the wireless signal as an FMIR signal, and signal-processing circuitry coupled to the photodiode, the signal-processing circuitry receiving a pair of raw data signals and frequency modulating a first signal of the pair of raw data signals at a first frequency to generate a first frequency modulated signal, the signal-processing circuitry frequency modulating a second signal of the pair of raw data signals at a second frequency to generate a second frequency modulated signal, and the signal-processing circuitry mixing the first and second frequency modulated signals into a mixed signal that is emitted as the FMIR signal by the photodiode.
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10. 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, wherein the at least one photodiode comprises a first photodiode operable as a photoemitter and a second photodiode operable as a photodetector, wherein the photoemitter emits a first FMIR signal modulated at a first frequency and the photodetector detects a second FMIR signal modulated at a second frequency, the wireless signal being one of the first and second FMIR signals.
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11. 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, wherein the at least one photodiode comprises a first photodiode operable as a photoemitter and a second photodiode operable as a photodetector, wherein the photoemitter emits a first mixed signal comprising a first audio portion that is frequency modulated at a first frequency and a first data portion that is frequency modulated at a second frequency, the photodetector detects a second mixed signal comprising a second audio portion that is frequency modulated at a third frequency and a second data portion that is frequency modulated at a fourth frequency, the wireless signal being one of the first and second mixed signals.
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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 of data between the first and second short-range wireless transceivers without communicating data to, and without receiving data from, any of the plurality of prongs.
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26. 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, wherein the first and second short-range wireless transceivers communicate via wireless FMIR signals, wherein each of the first and second short-range wireless transceivers has associated therewith signal-processing circuitry that receives a pair of data signals, the signal-processing circuitry of the first short-range wireless transceiver frequency modulates a first signal of the associated pair of data signals at a first frequency to generate a first frequency modulated signal and frequency modulates a second signal of the associated pair of raw signals at a second frequency to generate a second frequency modulated signal, and the signal-processing circuitry of the first short-range wireless transceiver mixes the first and second frequency modulated signals into a first mixed signal that is emitted as one of the FMIR signals.
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28. 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, wherein each of the first and second short-range wireless transceivers comprises a first photodiode that is operable as a photoemitter and a second photodiode that is operable as a photodetector, wherein the photoemitter of the first short-range wireless transceiver emits a first mixed signal comprising a first audio portion that is frequency modulated at a first frequency and a first data portion that is frequency modulated at a second frequency, the photoemitter of the second short-range wireless transceiver emits a second mixed signal comprising a second audio portion that is frequency modulated at a third frequency and a second data portion that is frequency modulated at a fourth frequency, the photodetector of the first short-range wireless transceiver detects the second mixed signal, and the photodetector of the second short-range wireless transceiver detects the first mixed signal.
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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 data wirelessly without communicating data to, and without receiving data from, any of the plurality of prongs, and signal-processing circuitry coupled to the second wireless transceiver and to the computer network.
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43. 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, wherein the first wireless transceiver transmits a first signal which is received by the second wireless transceiver, the second wireless transceiver transmits a second signal which is received by the first wireless transceiver, the first signal comprises a first audio portion that is frequency modulated at a first frequency and a first data portion that is frequency modulated at a second frequency, and the second signal comprises a second audio portion that is frequency modulated at third frequency and a second data portion that is frequency modulated at a fourth frequency.
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44. A system comprising
a bed having a power plug carrying a first wireless transceiver, the bed having bed control circuitry to control functions of the bed and to monitor the status of bed features, 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 being spaced apart from the bed and having circuitry to process data received by the second wireless transceiver from the first wireless transceiver, the circuitry of the bed emulator being configured to emulate the bed control circuitry.
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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 plug having a plurality of prongs configured to couple to an AC power outlet to receive AC power, the method comprising
coupling the plurality of prongs of the plug having the first wireless transceiver to the 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 data wirelessly without communicating data to, and without receiving data from, any of the plurality of prongs, 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, the housing at least partially overlapping a cover plate associated with the AC power outlet, the housing having an opening configured to permit a plug to pass therethrough to couple to 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 housing 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 data wirelessly without communicating data to, and without receiving data from, any of the first and second set of prongs.
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76. An adapter for use with an AC power outlet and a power plug having a first set of prongs, the adapter comprising
a housing, a second set of prongs extending from the housing, the second set of prongs being coupleable to the AC power outlet, an adapter outlet coupled to the housing and configured to couple to the power plug via receipt of the first set of prongs in sockets of the adapter outlet, and wireless communication circuitry carried by the housing and configured to communicate data wirelessly without communicating data to, and without receiving data from, any of the first and second set of prongs.
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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 data wirelessly without communicating data to, and without receiving data from, any of the plurality of prongs.
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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, after 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