Improved communication device for battery packs

Abstract

An assembly is provided for use with a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells. The assembly enables communication between an electronic device and a wireless transceiver located remotely from the electronic device. The assembly includes: a module antenna operatively connected to the electronic device, the module antenna including a transmission line having a first section and a second section arranged in series to form an unbalanced electrical path, the first section and the second section having equal electrical lengths, and a total path length of the first and second sections being an integer multiple of half the operating wavelength of a carrier wave; and a bus antenna configured for operative communication with the wireless transceiver, the bus antenna including two transmission lines, each of which is spaced apart from and adjacent to a different one of the first and second sections of the transmission line of the module antenna, enabling close-field coupling between the module antenna and the bus antenna when a transmission signal is input to either the module antenna or the bus antenna. The assembly includes: a module antenna operably connected to an electronic device, the module antenna including first and second coils that are electrical conductors; a bus antenna configured in use to provide a communication channel for a wireless transceiver, the bus antenna including two transmission lines, each transmission line positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from a different first and second coil, thereby enabling close-range coupling between the module antenna and the bus antenna when a transmission signal is input to either the module antenna or the bus antenna; the two transmission lines are positioned relative to the coils such that the magnitude of the current induced in each transmission line by coupling with its respective adjacent coil is substantially identical.

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