Coupling device for wireless data transmission and wireless energy transmission, and coupling system for wireless data transmission and wireless power transmission

Abstract

To provide a coupling device and a coupling system which can replace industrial plug-in connectors and achieve both efficient wireless power transmission and high-speed wireless data transmission by arranging components inside the coupling device in a space-saving manner.SOLUTION: A coupling device 10 includes a housing (base portion and cover 30), a communication device 60 installed inside the housing and designed to perform wireless data transmission and to radiate electromagnetic signals in a main radiation direction, and a wireless power transmission device 50 installed inside the housing, the wireless power transmission device includes a ferrite body 51 with a through opening 53 and including at least one air coil 52 defining the opening and arranged on a surface of the ferrite body, the air coil, the ferrite body, and the communication device are arranged relative to one another such that an electromagnetic signal radiated by the communication device in the main radiation direction propagates through the through opening of the ferrite body and the opening of the at least one air coil.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coupling device for wireless data and energy (ie, power) transmission, and to a coupling system for data and power transmission. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known plug-in connector systems for data and power transmission. Frequent disconnections and reconnections in these plug-in connectors result in very high wear on the terminals, even if the terminals are of very high quality. Such scenarios are known, for example, from industrial robotics, where a robot arm has to frequently grab and replace an exchange tool. It is then mandatory to mechanically and electrically connect the exchange tool to the robot arm, the mechanical connection being made using a coupling and the electrical connection being made typically using a plug-in connector with wear-resistant gold terminals. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a coupling device and coupling system that can replace industrial plug-in connectors, in particular, and that achieves both efficient wireless power transmission and high-speed wireless data transmission by means of a space-saving arrangement of the internal components of the coupling device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The key idea of ​​the present invention is to provide a coupling device for wireless data transmission and wireless power transmission. i) inductively transmitting the supply energy to a secondary coil of a coupling device, which acts as a secondary coil, using an air coil, also known as an air core coil, and a ferrite body having a through opening, which acts as a primary coil; and ii) using the communication device to transmit data in the form of an electromagnetic signal through the through opening of the ferrite body and the air coil in the main radiation direction to the complementary communication device of the secondary coupler. This measure establishes a compact design and provides efficient wireless power and data transmission between the two coupling devices. In particular, the communication device capable of emitting radio frequency electromagnetic signals in the manner of directional wireless transmission can achieve high speed data transmission.

[0005] The aforementioned technical problem is solved by the features of claim 1, the features of claim 3 and the features of claim 18.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments and refinements are specified in the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to some exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a coupling device with a closed housing. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a view of the coupling device of FIG. 1 with the housing partially removed. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the cover shown in FIG. 1 with the ferrite body and air coil mounted thereon. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram of the air coil of FIGS. 2 and 3 disposed in a ferrite body. [Figure 5a] FIG. 5a is a schematic diagram of the coupling device shown in FIG. 2, in which the communication device is spaced apart from the ferrite body. [Figure 5b] FIG. 5b is a schematic diagram of the coupling arrangement shown in FIG. 2, with at least a portion of the communication device disposed in a through opening in the ferrite body. [Figure 5c] FIG. 5c is a schematic diagram of the coupling device illustrated in FIG. 2, where at least a portion of the communication device is disposed in a through opening in the ferrite body. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a communications device with spaced apart transmit and receive antennas mounted on a printed circuit board. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram of the communications device illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5a with a single antenna device operable as both a transmit and receive antenna. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram of another communication device including an optical transmitter and an optical receiver mounted on a printed circuit board. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a coupling system illustrating the coupling devices of FIGS. 2 and 5 coupled with complementary coupling devices, each coupled to an electrical and / or electronic device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] 1 shows an exemplary coupling device 10 for wireless data and power transmission. It may advantageously comprise a two-part housing comprising a base part 20 and a cover 30 adapted to close the base part 20. Furthermore, the coupling device 10 has a power supply connection 40 to which an external power supply can be connected. The coupling device 10 also has a communication interface 41 via which data can be sent to an external data sink or received from an external data source. The coupling device 10 is particularly suitable for use in industrial fields such as robot-assisted automation systems.

[0010] In Fig. 2, the coupling device 10 of Fig. 1 is shown with the housings 20, 30 partially removed. A communication device 60 for wireless data transmission is accommodated in the housings 20, 30. This communication device 60 is in particular adapted for radiating electromagnetic signals in a main radiation direction. This means that the communication device 60 is designed such that the majority of the energy it radiates propagates along the main radiation direction. From Fig. 5a in particular it can be seen that the main radiation direction extends parallel to an axis, here parallel to the y-axis of the coordinate system shown in Fig. 5a. Furthermore, the wireless power transmission device 50 is accommodated in the housings 20, 30 and comprises a ferrite body 51 with a through opening 53 and at least one air coil 52 arranged on the surface of the ferrite body 51 and defining an opening 54. For example, two air coils arranged one above the other are shown in Fig. 2. The power transmission device 50 is reproduced alone in Fig. 4.

[0011] From FIG. 4 it can be seen that the ferrite body may have a substantially disk-shaped configuration, for example with a through opening 53 in its center. The through opening 53 may have an inner diameter of, for example, 14 mm, and the disk-shaped ferrite body 51 may have a diameter of, for example, 45 mm. The air coil 52 is preferably arranged on a surface of the ferrite body 51 extending parallel to the cover 30, such that the opening 54 defined by the air coil 52 is aligned with the through opening 53. Note that the surface of the ferrite body 51 facing the cover 30 may be provided with a groove into which at least one air coil 52 can be inserted. In this way, the position of the air coil 52 relative to the ferrite body 51 can be fixed.

[0012] 2, it can be seen that latch lugs 31, which may be integrally formed with the cover 30, for example, may removably support the power transfer device 50 together with the cover. At least one air coil 52 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5a as being disposed between the ferrite body 51 and the cover 30.

[0013] In particular, the communication device 60, the ferrite body 51, and the air coil 52 are respectively arranged on different planes, one before the other and the other after the main radiation direction extending in the y-direction, and these planes extend in the x-axis direction and the z-axis direction, respectively, as shown in Fig. 5a. In other words, referring to the coupling device 10 shown in Fig. 5a, it can be seen that the communication device 60 is arranged below and spaced apart from the power transfer device 50.

[0014] 2 and 5a, the air coil 52, the ferrite body 51 and the communication device 60 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that an electromagnetic signal radiated by the communication device 60 in the main radiation direction propagates through the through opening 53 of the ferrite body 51 and through the opening 54 of the at least one air coil 52. The through opening 53 and the opening 54 of the air coil 52 thus form a kind of funnel through which the electromagnetic signal radiated by the communication device 60 can transmit data from a data source.

[0015] A communication interface 41 of the coupling device 10 is also shown in FIG.

[0016] It is shown in Fig. 5a that the cover 30 has areas that are transparent to electromagnetic waves, with a main radiation direction 80 extending perpendicular to the areas that are transparent to electromagnetic waves. The areas of the cover 30 that are transparent to electromagnetic waves are in particular aligned with the through openings 53 of the ferrite body 51 and with the openings 54 of the air coil 52. Preferably, the entire cover 30 consists of a plastic material that is transparent to electromagnetic waves.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 2, the base part 20 of the housing may have a base bottom wall 22, and the circuit board 70 carrying the communication device 60 may be arranged parallel to the base bottom wall 22. Fig. 5a shows that in an assembled state, the printed circuit board 70, the at least one air coil 52, and the ferrite body 51 are arranged in different planes extending in the x-axis direction and the z-axis direction, respectively, which are perpendicular to the main radiation direction 80.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, the communication device 60 comprises an antenna arrangement adapted for radiating radio signals in a main radiation direction and radiates radio signals in a first frequency band. Preferably, a frequency band is used that provides a sufficiently high bandwidth, for example allowing simultaneous transmission and reception of radio signals of different frequencies. In this respect, the use of a frequency band with relatively poor propagation characteristics proves to be advantageous. For example, for this purpose an ISM band in the gigahertz range is used. Preferably, the first frequency band is in the frequency range from 57 GHz to 66 GHz. It is also conceivable to use an ISM band in a higher frequency band.

[0019] The communication device 60 also comprises an antenna arrangement adapted for receiving radio signals in a second frequency band. The received radio signals have a main reception direction which coincides with a main radiation direction 80 when a single antenna is used for transmission and reception, and which extends parallel to the main radiation direction 80 through the through opening 53 of the ferrite body 51 and the opening 54 of the at least one air coil 52 when spaced apart transmitting and receiving antennas are used for transmission and reception. The first and second frequency bands are preferably different, but may be the same. Preferably, the second frequency band is also a gigahertz ISM band in the frequency range of 57 to 66 GHz.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment, the antenna arrangement of the communication device 60 may comprise a composite antenna 63 for transmitting and receiving radio signals. For example, FIG. 7 shows an exemplary printed circuit board 70 carrying a communication device 60 with a composite antenna 63 as antenna arrangement. By way of example, the printed circuit board 70 thus mounted is mounted in a coupling device 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5a. The radio frequency electronic device 200 can be used in a manner known per se to control a single antenna 63. For example, the provision of a duplexer allows the antenna 63 to transmit radio signals in a first frequency band, alternately, and the antenna 63 to receive radio signals in a second frequency band. The first frequency band of the transmitted radio signals and the second frequency band of the received radio signals may then be identical. Instead of a duplexer, a diplexer known per se can also be used.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 6, instead of a single transmitting / receiving antenna 63, it is also possible to use a communication device 60.1 with a transmitting antenna 61 and a receiving antenna 62 spaced apart therefrom. The communication device 60.1 can also be mounted on a printed circuit board 70.1. The two antennas 61 and 62 can be controlled by a radio frequency electronics 190 in a manner known per se. It is shown in Fig. 5a that the transmitting / receiving antenna 63 shown in Fig. 7 and the transmitting antenna 61 and the receiving antenna 62 shown in Fig. 6 can be connected to a communication interface 41, in particular through the radio frequency electronics 200 or the electronics 190. It is noted that the communication interface 41 can be in the form of an optical communication interface or an electrical communication interface. Advantageously, the communication interface 41 can be an Ethernet-based communication interface supporting the Ethernet protocol. It is noted here that the radio frequency electronics 200 can be a component of the communication device 60 and the radio frequency electronics 190 can be a component of the communication device 60.1. It will be clear that the radio frequency electronics 190 can be located either on the top side of the same printed circuit board as the antennas 61 and 62, or on the bottom side of the printed circuit board 70. It is also conceivable that further printed circuit boards carrying electronic and / or electrical circuits necessary for the operation of the coupling device 10 are provided within the housings 20, 30. The radio frequency electronics 190 and the electronics 200 may each comprise, as known per se, a modulator for modulating electromagnetic waves with data to be transmitted and a demodulator for demodulating received electromagnetic signals.

[0022] In particular, it should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 3, the connection 55 of the air coil 52 is connectable to the power supply connection 40 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5a, either directly or via a respective voltage converter (not shown).

[0023] To provide an efficient and space-saving design, the two antennas 61 and 62 may each be in the form of a patch antenna and may be located on the surface of the printed circuit board 70.1. Similarly, the transmit / receive antenna 63 of FIG. 7 may also be in the form of a patch antenna and may be located on the surface of the printed circuit board 70.

[0024] Instead of the transmitting and receiving antenna 63 of FIG. 7 or the transmitting antenna 61 and the receiving antenna 62 of FIG. 6, a communication device 60.2 can be provided which can comprise an optical transmitter 64 and an optional optical receiver 65 arranged at a distance therefrom, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 8. The optical transmitter 64 and the optical receiver 65 can also be mounted on a printed circuit board 70.2, which can then be mounted on the coupling device 10 shown in FIG. 2, instead of the printed circuit board 70 or the printed circuit board 70.1. The optical transmitter 64 can be an LED or a laser diode, which are known per se, and the optical receiver 65 can be implemented, for example, in the form of a phototransistor. Also, suitable control electronics 210 adapted to control the optical transmitter 64 and the optical receiver 65 for transmitting and receiving optical signals can be arranged on the surface of the printed circuit board 70.2. For example, the wavelengths of the optical receiving signal and the optical transmitting signal can be different. The optical transmitter 64 is adapted to radiate an optical signal in a main radiation direction through the through opening 53 of the ferrite body 51 and the opening 54 defined by the air coil 52, the main radiation direction extending parallel to the y-axis shown in Fig. 5a. The optical signal received by the optical receiver 65 from the complementary coupling device has a main line direction substantially parallel to the main radiation direction of the optical transmitter 64 through the through opening 53 of the ferrite body 51 and the opening 54 of the air coil 52.

[0025] Fig. 5b shows an alternative coupling device 110 for wireless data transmission and wireless power transmission. Essentially, the coupling device 110 differs from the coupling device 10 in that at least a part of the communication device 160 adapted for radiating electromagnetic signals in a main radiation direction 180 is arranged inside a through opening 153 of the ferrite body 151. The communication device 160 can be arranged on a surface of the printed circuit board 160, similar to the communication device 60. Thus, the description of the coupling device 10 also describes the coupling device 110. At least one air coil 152 defining an opening 154 can be arranged on a surface of the ferrite body 151. The air coil 152 and the ferrite body 151 form a power transfer device 150, which can be configured substantially similarly to the power transfer device 50. In this respect, reference is made to the description of the power supply device 50 and to Figs. 3 and 4. Similar to the coupling device 10, the coupling device 110 preferably has a power connection 140 and a communication interface 141.

[0026] In FIG. 5 c , the coupling device 110 with the communication device 160 illustrated in FIG. 5 b is housed entirely within the through opening 153 of the ferrite body 151 and the opening 154 of the air coil 152 .

[0027] According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the ferrite body 51 may be disk-shaped and the air coil 52 may have a similar cross section, with the main radiation direction of the communication device 60, 60.1 or 60.2 extending substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the ferrite body 51 and the air coil 52. The ferrite body 51 and the air coil 52 can thus be removably mounted to the cover 30 using the latch lugs 31 to 33. The ferrite body 151 and the air coil 152 can thus also be removably mounted to the cover 30 in a similar manner.

[0028] To enable wireless transmission of data and energy between the first electric and / or electronic device 220 and the second electric and / or electronic device 230, an exemplary coupling system 300 is provided, for example as shown in Fig. 9. The coupling system 300 includes a first coupling device, which in this example is the coupling device 10 shown in Figs. 2, 5a and 7, and a complementary second coupling device 310.

[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 9 , the coupling device 10 is connected to the electronic and / or electrical device 220 through a power connection 40 and a communication interface 41. In this example, the electrical and / or electronic device 220 comprises a data source that generates data for wireless transmission to the electrical and / or electronic device 230, which data can be provided at the communication interface 41 using an electrical or optical transmission medium. Furthermore, by way of example, the electrical and / or electronic device 220 comprises a power supply device that transmits energy, i.e. power, for example through an electrical cable to the power connection 40, which can be wirelessly transmitted to the electrical and / or electronic device 230 via the power transmission device 50 and the complementary coupling device 310. In this respect, both the coupling device 10 and the complementary coupling device 310 are adapted to handle the power provided by the electrical and / or electronic device 220, and thus a sufficient supply of power is possible from the components of the coupling device 10 and the components of the coupling device 310.

[0030] The term "complementary" specifically refers to configuring at least the communication device 360 ​​of the coupling device 310 to be complementary to the communication device 60 of the coupling device 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 9, this means that the communication device 60 includes the single transmit / receive antenna 63 shown in Fig. 6, and the communication device 360 ​​includes the single transmit / receive antenna 363, which are aligned and coupled to each other. In this example, the main radiation direction and the main reception line direction are aligned and coupled to the communication device 60 in a direction parallel to the x-axis.

[0031] However, when the coupling device 10 has a communication device 60.1 mounted on the coupling device 10 as shown in FIG. 7, which comprises a transmitting antenna 61 and a receiving antenna 62, the communication device 360 ​​includes a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna spaced apart therefrom. In the coupled state, the transmitting antenna 61 is aligned with the receiving antenna of the communication device 360, and the receiving antenna 62 is aligned with the transmitting antenna of the communication device 360. This allows two-way data transmission between the device 220 and the device 230. Furthermore, it is noted that the main radiation direction of the transmitting antenna 61 and the main radiation direction of the transmitting antenna of the communication device 360 ​​(when installed) are parallel to each other on the x-axis of the coordinate system shown in FIG. 9. When a communication device 60.2 comprising an optical transmitter 64 and an optical receiver 65 is mounted on the coupling device 10, the coupling device 360 ​​also results in a similar complementary design.

[0032] The transmitting / receiving antenna 363 of the communication device 360 ​​may be disposed on the surface of the printed circuit board 370. Alternatively, the coupling device 310 is preferably configured similarly to the coupling device 10. In other words, the coupling device 310 has a housing 320, 330 which may include a cover 330 and a base part 320. The housings 320, 330 accommodate the communication device 360 ​​for wireless data transmission, and the communication device 360 ​​is adapted to receive electromagnetic signals in a main receiving direction. In a coupled state, the main radiation direction of the transmitting / receiving antenna 63 of the coupling device 10 and the main receiving direction of the transmitting / receiving antenna 363 of the coupling device 310 are on a common line 380 parallel to the x-axis of the coordinate system shown in FIG. 9. As with the coupling device 10, the power transmission device 350 including the air coil 352 and the ferrite body 351 is removably mounted within the housing of the coupling device 310, preferably on the surface of the cover 330 of the housing. The power transfer device 350 can be configured similarly to the power transfer device 50 of the coupling device 10 shown in FIG. 4 . Therefore, further detailed description is not necessary. The air coil 352, the ferrite body 351, and the communication device 360 ​​are arranged relative to each other such that the electromagnetic radio signal emitted by the transmitting / receiving antenna 63 of the coupling device 10 propagates to the communication device 360 ​​and the transmitting / receiving antenna 363 in a main receiving direction along the dashed line 380 through the opening 354 of the air coil 352 and the through opening 353 of the ferrite body 351. As shown in FIG. 9 , in the coupled state, the through opening 53 of the ferrite body 51 and the opening 54 of the air coil 52 of the first coupling device 10 are aligned with each other, and the through opening 353 of the ferrite body 351 and the opening 354 of the air coil 352 of the second coupling device 310 are also aligned, so that the electromagnetic signal emitted by the transmitting / receiving antenna 63 of the communication device 60 can be received by the transmitting / receiving antenna 363 of the communication device 360. For example, the main radiation direction and the main reception direction extend through the centers of the through openings 53 and 353 and through the centers of the openings 54 and 354. In the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 9, the air coil 52 of the first coupling device 10 functions as a primary coil and the at least one air coil 352 of the second coupling device 310 functions as a secondary coil for wireless power transmission.As shown in Fig. 9, the distance between the coupling device 10 and the coupling device 310 in the coupled state may be small, for example ranging between 0 and 10 cm. Obviously, it is also conceivable that the two coupling devices 10 and 310 contact each other in the coupled state. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the cover 330 and the cover 330 each serve as a coupling surface of the coupling device 300.

[0033] To allow two-way data communication, data can be transmitted from device 230 through transmit / receive antenna 363 of coupling device 310 to transmit / receive antenna 63 of coupling device 10 and from there to device 220 .

[0034] At least some of the aforementioned exemplary aspects are summarized below.

[0035] A combined device 10 for wireless data transmission and wireless power transmission is provided, an example of which is shown in figures 2 and 5a in conjunction with figures 3 and 4. By way of example, it comprises the following features: Housings 20, 30; a communication device 60 accommodated in the housing 20, 30 and adapted for wireless data transmission and for radiating electromagnetic signals in a main radiation direction extending, for example, parallel to the y-axis shown in FIG. 5a; and a wireless power transmission device 50 accommodated in the housing 20, 30, the wireless power transmission device 50 including a ferrite body 51 having a through opening 53 and at least one air coil 52 defining an opening 54, the at least one air coil 52 being disposed on a surface of the ferrite body 51, and the air coil 52, the ferrite body 51 and the communication device 60 being arranged relative to one another such that an electromagnetic signal radiated by the communication device 60 in a main radiation direction propagates through the through opening 53 of the ferrite body 51 and the opening 54 of the at least one air coil 52.

[0036] For example, the wireless power transmission device 50 and the communication device 60 are disposed in front of and behind each other in the main radiation direction.

[0037] The communication device 60 may advantageously comprise antenna device 61, antenna device 62 or antenna device 63 and may be configured to radiate radio signals in a first frequency band and simultaneously receive radio signals in a second frequency band, each of which may be an ISM band in the gigahertz range and is advantageously within the frequency range of 57 GHz to 66 GHz or a higher frequency range.

[0038] An alternative combined device 110 for wireless data and power transmission is shown in Figures 5b and 5c, and by way of example has the following features: Housings 120, 130; a communication device 160 accommodated in the housing 120, 130 and adapted for wireless data transmission and for radiating electromagnetic signals in a primary radiation direction; The wireless power transmission device 150 includes a ferrite body 151 having a through opening 153 and at least one air coil 152 defining an opening 154, the at least one air coil 152 being disposed on a surface of the ferrite body 151, the through opening 153 of the ferrite body 151 and the opening 154 of the air coil 152 being aligned with each other, and at least a portion of the communication device 160 being accommodated within the through opening 153 of the ferrite body 151.

[0039] Advantageously, the communication device 160 may comprise an antenna arrangement similar to the antenna arrangement 61, the antenna arrangement 62 or the antenna arrangement 63. The antenna arrangement may be configured to radiate radio signals in a first frequency band and simultaneously receive radio signals in a second frequency band, each of which may be an ISM band in the gigahertz range and advantageously lie within the frequency range from 57 GHz to 66 GHz or a higher frequency range.

[0040] Advantageously, the air coil 152, the ferrite body 151 and the communication device 160 are arranged such that an electromagnetic signal radiated by the communication device 160 in a main radiation direction can propagate through the through opening 153 in the ferrite body 151 and the opening 154 in at least one air coil 152.

[0041] The coupling device 10, 110 preferably includes a power supply connection 40, 140 electrically connected to at least one air coil 52, 152 and adapted to connect to an external power supply; The communication device includes a communication interface that is electrically or optically connected to the communication device and to which an external message source can be connected.

[0042] The housings 20, 30, 120, 130 preferably have covers 30, 130 and base portions 20, 120 covered by the covers 30, 130, and the wireless power transmission devices 50, 150 can be mounted on the surfaces of the covers 30, 130.

[0043] The covers 30, 130 preferably have an area that is transmissive to electromagnetic waves, and the main radiation direction may extend perpendicular to the area that is transmissive to electromagnetic waves.

[0044] Preferably, the covers 30, 130 are made from a plastic material.

[0045] The base portion 20 may have a base bottom wall 22 and printed circuit boards 70, 70.1, 70.2 arranged parallel to the base bottom wall 22 and capable of carrying the communication devices 60, 60.1, 60.2, and in an assembled state, the printed circuit boards 70, 70.1, 70.2, the at least one air coil 52 and the ferrite body 51 are each located in respective planes parallel to one another and with the main radiation direction extending perpendicular to these planes.

[0046] The communication device 60, 60.1 preferably comprises an antenna arrangement arranged to radiate radio signals in a main radiation direction and radiates radio signals in a first frequency band.

[0047] The first frequency band is the gigahertz ISM band, preferably in the frequency range from 57 GHz to 66 GHz.

[0048] The antenna device is configured to receive radio signals in a second frequency band, the received radio signals having a main reception direction extending parallel to a main radiation direction through the through opening 53 of the ferrite body 51 and the opening 54 of the air coil 52, and the first frequency band and the second frequency band are different or the same.

[0049] The second frequency band is in the gigahertz ISM band, preferably in the frequency range from 57 GHz to 66 GHz.

[0050] According to an advantageous embodiment, the antenna arrangement 60 and the antenna arrangement of the coupling device 110 may also comprise a composite antenna 63 for transmitting and receiving radio signals, respectively, with the received radio signals having a main reception direction which can preferably coincide with the main radiation direction. Alternatively, the antenna arrangement 60 and the antenna arrangement of the coupling device 110 may comprise a transmitting antenna 61 and a separate receiving antenna 62, with the received radio signals having a main reception direction which preferably extends at least partially parallel to the main radiation direction through the through opening 53 of the ferrite body 51 and the opening 54 of the at least one air coil 52.

[0051] The transmitting and receiving composite antenna 63, and the transmitting antenna 61 and separate receiving antenna 62, each take the form of a patch antenna.

[0052] Alternatively, the communication device 60.2 comprises an optical transmitter 64 for emitting an optical signal in a main radiation direction and an optical receiver 65 for receiving the optical signal, the received optical signal having a main line direction extending parallel to the main radiation direction passing through the through opening 53 of the ferrite body 51 and the opening 54 of the air coil 52.

[0053] Preferably, the communication devices 60, 60.1, 60.2 comprise control devices 200, 190, 210.

[0054] According to a further advantageous embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a combined system 300 for wireless data and power transmission is provided, which may include the following exemplary features: a first coupling device 10, 110 as described above, which is connectable to a first electrical and / or electronic device 220; and a complementary second coupling device 310 connectable to a second electrical and / or electronic device 230, which may have the following features: Housings 320, 330; a communication device 360 ​​accommodated in the housing 320, 330 and adapted for wireless data transmission and for radiating electromagnetic signals in a primary radiation direction; A wireless power transmission device accommodated in a housing 320, 330, The wireless power transmission device includes a ferrite body 351 having a through opening 353 and at least one air coil 352 defining an opening 354 and disposed on a surface of the ferrite body 351, the air coil 352, the ferrite body 351 and a communication device 360 ​​being mutually arranged such that a received electromagnetic signal propagates in a primary receiving direction through the through opening 353 of the ferrite body 351 and the opening 354 of the at least one air coil 352 to the communication device 360; In the coupled state, the through opening 53 of the ferrite body 51 of the first coupling device 10, 110 is aligned with the through opening 353 of the ferrite body 351 of the second coupling device 310 so that the electromagnetic signal radiated by the communication device 60 of the first coupling device 10 is received by the communication device 360 ​​of the second coupling device 310, and at least one air coil 52 of the first coupling device 10 functions as a primary coil and at least one air coil 352 of the second coupling device 310 functions as a secondary coil.

Claims

1. A coupling device (10) for wireless data transmission and wireless power transmission, comprising: A housing (20, 30); a communication device (60) accommodated in said housing (20, 30) and adapted to effect said wireless data transmission and to radiate electromagnetic signals in a primary radiation direction; A wireless power transmission device (50) accommodated in the housing (20, 30), The wireless power transmission device (50) includes a ferrite body (51) having a through opening (53) and at least one air coil (52) defining an opening (54), the at least one air coil (52) being disposed on a surface of the ferrite body (51), the air coil (52), the ferrite body (51) and the communication device (60) being disposed relative to one another such that an electromagnetic signal radiated by the communication device (60) in the main radiation direction propagates through the through opening (53) of the ferrite body (51) and the opening (54) of the at least one air coil (52); The communication device (60, 60.1) comprises an antenna arrangement adapted to radiate radio signals in the main radiation direction, the radiated radio signals being in a first frequency band; the first frequency band is an ISM band in the GHz range, in the frequency range from 57 GHz to 66 GHz or in a higher frequency range; the antenna device is configured to receive radio signals in a second frequency band, the received radio signals having a main reception direction extending parallel to the main radiation direction passing through the through opening (53) of the ferrite body (51) and the opening (54) of the air coil (52), the first frequency band and the second frequency band being different; The coupling device (10), wherein the second frequency band is in the ISM band in the GHz range, the second frequency band being in the frequency range from 57 GHz to 66 GHz or in a higher frequency range.

2. The coupling device (10) of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmission device (50) and the communication device (60) are arranged one behind the other with respect to the main radiation direction.

3. A coupling device (110) for wireless data transmission and wireless power transmission, comprising: A housing (120, 130); a communication device (160) accommodated in said housing (120, 130) and adapted for wireless data transmission and for radiating electromagnetic signals in a primary radiation direction; a wireless power transmission device (150) accommodated in the housing (120, 130); The wireless power transmission device (150) includes a ferrite body (151) having a through opening (153) and at least one air coil (152) defining an opening (154), the at least one air coil (152) being disposed on a surface of the ferrite body (151); the through opening (153) of the ferrite body (151) and the opening (154) of the air coil (152) are aligned with each other, and at least a portion of the communication device (160) is accommodated inside the through opening (153) of the ferrite body (151); The communication device (160) comprises an antenna arrangement configured to radiate a radio signal in the main radiation direction, the radiated radio signal being in a first frequency band; the first frequency band is an ISM band in the GHz range, in the frequency range from 57 GHz to 66 GHz or in a higher frequency range; The ferrite body (151) and the air coil (152) are arranged on different planes, respectively, in front of and behind the main radiation direction, the antenna device is configured to receive radio signals in a second frequency band, the received radio signals having a main reception direction extending parallel to the main radiation direction passing through the through opening (53) of the ferrite body (51) and the opening (54) of the air coil (52), the first frequency band and the second frequency band being different; The coupling device (10), wherein the second frequency band is in the ISM band in the GHz range, the second frequency band being in the frequency range from 57 GHz to 66 GHz or in a higher frequency range.

4. a power supply connection portion (40, 140) electrically connected to the at least one air coil (52, 152) and capable of connecting an external power supply; The coupling device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a communication interface (41, 141) electrically or optically connected to the communication device (60, 160) and capable of connecting an external message source (220).

5. The coupling device (10) of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the housing (20, 30, 120, 130) has a cover (30, 130) and a base portion (20, 120) covered by the cover (30, 130), and the wireless power transmission device (50, 150) is mountable on a surface of the cover (30, 130).

6. 6. The coupling device (10) of claim 5, wherein the cover (30, 130) has an area transparent to electromagnetic waves, and the main radiation direction extends perpendicular to the area transparent to electromagnetic waves.

7. The coupling device (10) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the cover (30, 130) is made of a plastic material.

8. 8. The coupling device (10) according to claim 5, wherein the base portion (20) has a base bottom wall (22) and a printed circuit board (70, 70.1, 70.2) arranged parallel to the base bottom wall (22) and on which the communication device (60, 60.1, 60.2) can be mounted, and in an assembled state, the printed circuit board (70, 70.1, 70.2), the at least one air coil (52) and the ferrite body (51) each lie in respective planes parallel to one another, and the main radiation direction extends perpendicular to these planes.

9. 9. The coupling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna arrangement comprises a combined antenna (63) for transmitting and receiving radio signals or comprises a transmitting antenna (61) and a separate receiving antenna (62).

10. 10. The coupling device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the combined transmitting and receiving antenna (63) or the transmitting antenna (61) and the separate receiving antenna (62) each take the form of a patch antenna.

11. The coupling device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication device (60, 60.1, 60.2) comprises a control device (200, 190, 210).

12. A combination system (300) for wireless data and power transmission, comprising: A first coupling device (10, 110) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, which is connectable to a first electric and / or electronic device (220), a complementary second coupling device (310) connectable to a second electrical and / or electronic device (230), The complementary second coupling device (310) comprises: A housing (320, 330); a communication device (360) accommodated in said housing (320, 330) and adapted for wireless data transmission and for receiving electromagnetic signals from a primary receiving direction; A wireless power transmission device accommodated in the housing (320, 330), the wireless power transmission device includes a ferrite body (351) having a through opening (353) and at least one air coil (352) defining an opening (354), the at least one air coil (352) being disposed on a surface of the ferrite body (351), the air coil (352), the ferrite body (351) and the communication device (360) being disposed relative to one another such that a received electromagnetic signal propagates in the primary receiving direction through the through opening (353) of the ferrite body (351) and the opening (354) of the at least one air coil (352) to the communication device (360); In a coupled state, the through opening (53) of the ferrite body (51) of the first coupling device (10, 110) is arranged to align with the through opening (353) of the ferrite body (351) of the second coupling device (310), so that the electromagnetic signal emitted by the communication device (60) of the first coupling device (10) is received by the communication device (360) of the second coupling device (310); A coupling system (300), wherein the at least one air coil (52) of the first coupling device (10) functions as a primary coil and the at least one air coil (352) of the second coupling device (310) functions as a secondary coil.

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