Patent Publication Number: US-2023134291-A1

Title: Coupling device for wireless data and energy transfer, and coupling system for wireless data and energy transfer

Description:
FIELD 
     The invention relates to a coupling device for wireless data and energy, i.e. power, transfer and to a coupling system for data and power transfer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Plug-in connector systems for data and power transfer are known. If plug-in connectors have to be disengaged and reconnected frequently, wear on the terminals is quite high, even if they are of very high quality. Such a scenario is known, for example, from industrial robotics, where a robot arm frequently has to grip and exchange changing tools, for example. In this case, the changing tool has to be mechanically and electrically connected to the robot arm. The mechanical connection is made using a coupling, while the electrical connection is often made using plug-in connectors equipped with wear-resistant gold terminals. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a coupling device and a coupling system which in particular allow to replace an industrial plug-in connector and provide for both efficient wireless power transfer and fast wireless data transfer by virtue of a space-saving arrangement of the components within the coupling device. 
     What can be considered as a key idea of the invention is to provide a coupling device for wireless data and power transfer, which is adapted to 
     i) inductively transfer supply energy, by using an air coil, also known as air core coil, which acts as a primary coil, and a ferrite body having a through-opening, to a secondary coil of a coupling device that is acting as a secondary coupler, and to
 
ii) transmit, by using a communication device, data in the form of electromagnetic signals in a main emission direction through the through-opening of the ferrite body and through the air coil to a complementary communication device of the secondary coupler. By virtue of this measure, a compact design is created, which provides for efficient wireless power and data transfer between two coupling devices. Fast data transfer can in particular be achieved by the fact that the communication device is able to emit radio-frequency electromagnetic signals in the sense of a directional radio transmission.
 
     The technical problem stated above is solved by the features of claim  1 , by the features of claim  3 , and by the features of claim  18 . 
     Advantageous embodiments and refinements are specified by the subject-matter of the dependent claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of a few exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    shows an exemplary coupling device with the housing closed; 
         FIG.  2    shows the coupling device of  FIG.  1    with the housing partially removed; 
         FIG.  3    shows a bottom view of the cover shown in  FIG.  1   , with the ferrite body and the air coil mounted on the cover; 
         FIG.  4    shows the air coil of  FIGS.  2  and  3    arranged on the ferrite body; 
         FIG.  5   a    is a schematic view of the coupling device illustrated in  FIG.  2   , with the communication device arranged spaced apart from the ferrite body; 
         FIGS.  5   b  and  5   c    are schematic views of an alternative coupling device, with the communication device at least partially located in the through-opening of the ferrite body; 
         FIG.  6    shows a communication device mounted on a printed circuit board, comprising a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna spatially separated from each other; 
         FIG.  7    shows the communication device illustrated in  FIG.  2    and in  FIG.  5   a   , comprising a single antenna device that is operative as a transmitting and receiving antenna; 
         FIG.  8    shows an alternative communication device mounted on a printed circuit board, comprising an optical transmitter and an optical receiver; and 
         FIG.  9    shows an exemplary coupling system illustrating the coupling device shown in  FIGS.  2  and  5     a  in a coupled state with a complementary coupling device, each one connected to an electrical and/or electronic device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    shows an exemplary coupling device  10  for wireless data and power transfer, which may advantageously comprise a two-part housing comprising of a base part  20  and a cover  30  that is adapted to close the base part  20 . Furthermore, the coupling device  10  has a power supply connection  40  to which an external power supply source can be connected. In addition, the coupling device  10  has a communication interface  41  via which data can be transmitted to an external data sink or can be received from an external data source. Coupling device  10  is particularly suitable for use in an industrial environment, such as in robot-assisted automation systems. 
       FIG.  2    shows the coupling device  10  illustrated in  FIG.  1   , with the housing  20 ,  30  partially removed. A communication device  60  for wireless data transfer is accommodated in the housing  20 ,  30 . The communication device  60  is in particular adapted to emit electromagnetic signals in a main emission direction. This means that the communication device  60  is designed in such a way that the majority of energy emitted therefrom will propagate along the main emission direction. As can be seen in particular in  FIG.  5   a   , the main emission direction extends parallel to an axis, here parallel to the y-axis of the coordinate system shown in  FIG.  5   a   . Furthermore, a wireless power transfer device  50  is accommodated in the housing  20 ,  30 , which comprises a ferrite body  51  with a through-opening  53  and at least one air coil  52  defining an opening  54 , which is arranged on the ferrite body  51 . For example,  FIG.  2    illustrates two air coils arranged one above the other. Power transfer device  50  is again illustrated separately in  FIG.  4   . 
     As can be seen in  FIG.  4   , the ferrite body may have a substantially disk-shaped configuration, for example, with through-opening  53  provided centrally therein. Through-opening  53  may have an inner diameter of 14 mm, for example, while the disk-shaped ferrite body  51  may have a diameter of 45 mm, for example. The air coil  52  is arranged so that, at a surface of the ferrite body  5  which preferably extends parallel to the cover  30 , the opening  54  defined by the air coil  52  is aligned with the through-opening  53 . It should be noted that the surface of the ferrite body  51  facing the cover  30  may have a groove provided therein, into which the at least one air coil  52  can be inserted. In this way it is possible to fix the position of the air coil  52  relative to the ferrite body  51 . 
     As can furthermore be seen in  FIG.  2   , the power transfer device  50  can be detachably supported on the cover, for example by latching lugs  31  which can be formed integrally with the cover  30 . In the exemplary views of  FIGS.  2  and  5     a , the at least one air coil  52  is arranged between the ferrite body  51  and the cover  30 . 
     As can be seen in particular in  FIG.  5   a   , the communication device  60 , the ferrite body  51 , and the air coil  52  are arranged one behind the other and in different planes with respect to the main emission direction which extends in the y-direction, each of these planes being parallel to a plane spanned by the x- and z-axes. In other words: referring to the coupling device  10  as shown in  FIG.  5   a   , the communication device  60  is arranged below and spaced apart from the power transfer device  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2    and in  FIG.  5   a   , the air coil  52 , the ferrite body  51  and the communication device  60  are arranged relative to one another in such a way that electromagnetic signals emitted by the communication device  60  propagate in the main emission direction  80  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 air coil  52  thus form a type of funnel for the electromagnetic signals emitted by the communication device  60 , through which data from a data source can be transmitted. 
     The communication interface  41  of coupling device  10  can also be seen in  FIG.  2   . 
     Cover  30  preferably has an area that is transmissive for electromagnetic waves, and the main emission direction  80  extends orthogonally to the area that is transmissive for electromagnetic waves, as can be seen in particular in  FIG.  5   a   . The area of the cover  30  transmissive for electromagnetic waves is in particular aligned with the through-opening  53  of ferrite body  51  and with the opening  54  of air coil  52 . Preferably, the entire cover  30  is made of a plastics material that is transmissive for electromagnetic waves. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the base part  20  of the housing may have a base wall  22 , and a circuit board  70  with the communication device  60  mounted thereon can be arranged parallel thereto. As can be seen in particular in  FIG.  5   a   , in the assembled state, the printed circuit board  70 , the at least one air coil  52 , and the ferrite body  51  are each arranged in different planes which lie parallel to each other and parallel to a plane spanned by the x- and z-axes. As can be seen in particular in  FIG.  5   a   , the main emission direction  80  is perpendicular to these planes. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment, the communication device  60  has an antenna device which is adapted for emitting radio signals in the main emission direction  80 , which emitted radio signals are in a first frequency band. It is preferred to use a frequency band which provides sufficiently high bandwidth, for example in order to be able to simultaneously transmit and receive radio signals over different frequencies. In this respect, it proved to be advantageous to use a frequency band which has relatively poor propagation properties. For example, an ISM band in the gigahertz range is used for this purpose. Preferably, the first frequency band is within a frequency range from 57 to 66 GHz. It is also conceivable to use an ISM band in a higher frequency range. 
     The communication device  60  comprising an antenna device is also adapted to receive radio signals in a second frequency band. The received radio signals have a main reception direction which coincides with the main emission direction  80  if a single antenna is used for transmitting and receiving, and which extends parallel to the main emission direction  80  through the through-opening  53  in the ferrite body  51  and through the opening  54  in the at least one air coil  52  if a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna are used for transmitting and receiving, which are spatially separated from one another. The first frequency band and the second frequency band are preferably different, but they may also be the same. Preferably, the second frequency band is also an ISM band in the gigahertz range, which is preferably within a frequency range from 57 to 66 GHz. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment, the antenna device of communication device  60  may comprise a combined antenna  63  for transmitting and receiving radio signals. For example, 
       FIG.  7    shows an exemplary printed circuit board  70  with communication device  60 , which comprises the combined antenna  63  as the antenna device. The printed circuit board  70  equipped like this by way of example is installed in the coupling device  10  which is shown in  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  5   a   , by way of example. Radio-frequency electronics  200  can be used in a manner known per se for controlling the single antenna  63 , for example by comprising a duplexer which alternately allows radio signals to be emitted by the antenna  63  in the first frequency band or radio signals to be received by the antenna  63  in the second frequency band. In this case, the first frequency band and the second frequency band for the radio signals to be transmitted and for the radio signals received can be the same. It is also possible to employ a diplexer, which is known per se, instead of a duplexer. 
     Instead of the single transmitting and receiving antenna  63 , it is also possible to use a communication device  60 . 1  which comprises a transmitting antenna  61  and a receiving antenna  62  spatially separated therefrom, as illustrated in  FIG.  6   . The communication device  60 . 1  may again be mounted on a printed circuit board  70 . 1 . The two antennas  61  and  62  can be controlled by radio-frequency electronics  190  in a manner known per se. The transmitting and receiving antenna  63  as shown in  FIG.  7    as well as the transmitting antenna  61  and the receiving antenna  62  as shown in  FIG.  6    can be connected to the communication interface  41  that can be seen in  FIG.  5   a   , in particular via the radio-frequency electronics  200  or  190 , respectively. It should be noted that the communication interface  41  can be in the form of an optical or an electrical communication interface. Advantageously, the communication interface  41  may be an Ethernet-based communication interface which supports an Ethernet protocol. It should be noted here, that the radio-frequency electronics  200  can also be a component of communication device  60 , and that the radio-frequency electronics  190  can also be a component of communication device  60 . 1 . It will be apparent that the radio-frequency electronics  190  can be arranged either on the same face of the printed circuit board as the antennas  61  and  62  or else on the back of the printed circuit board  70 . It is also conceivable to provide further printed circuit boards in the housing  20 ,  30 , with electronics and/or electrical circuits required for the operation of coupling device  10  mounted thereon. Radio-frequency electronics  190  and  200  may each comprise a modulator for modulating the electromagnetic waves with data to be transmitted and a demodulator for demodulating received electromagnetic signals, as is known per se. 
     It should be noted at this point that the connections  55  of the air coil  52 , which can be seen in particular in  FIG.  3   , can be connected to the power supply connection  40  as schematically illustrated in  FIG.  5   a   , either directly or via respective voltage converters (not shown). 
     In order to provide for an efficient and space-saving design, the two antennas  61  and  62  may each be in the form of a patch antenna and can be arranged on printed circuit board  70 . 1 . Similarly, the transmitting and receiving antenna  63  according to  FIG.  7    can be in the form of a patch antenna and can be arranged on printed circuit board  70 . 
     Instead of the transmitting and receiving antenna  63  according to  FIG.  7    or the transmitting antenna  61  and the receiving antenna  62  according to  FIG.  6   , a communication device  60 . 2  can be provided, which may comprise an optical transmitter  64  and optionally an optical receiver  65  arranged spatially separated therefrom, as schematically illustrated in  FIG.  8   . The optical transmitter  64  and the optical receiver  65  can again be mounted on a printed circuit board  70 . 2 , in which case the printed circuit board  70 . 2  can again be installed in the coupling device  10  shown in  FIG.  2   , instead of printed circuit board  70  or printed circuit board  70 . 1 . An LED or a laser diode can be used as the optical transmitter  64 , as is known per se, while the optical receiver  65  can be implemented in the form of a phototransistor, for example. Appropriate control electronics  210  can again be provided on the printed circuit board  70 . 2 , adapted for controlling the optical transmitter  64  and the optical receiver  65  for transmitting and receiving optical signals. Optical reception signals and optical transmission signals may differ in their wavelength, for example. The optical transmitter  64  is adapted to emit optical signals in a main emission direction through the through-opening  53  of ferrite body  51  and through the opening  54  defined by air coil  52 , which main emission direction extends parallel to the y-axis shown in  FIG.  5   a   . The optical signals received by the optical receiver  65  from a complementary coupling device have a main beam direction through the through-opening  53  of ferrite body  51  and through the opening  54  of air coil  52  substantially parallel to the main emission direction of the optical transmitter  64 . 
       FIG.  5   b    shows an alternative coupling device  110  for wireless data and power transfer. Essentially, coupling device  110  differs from coupling device  10  in that a communication device  160 , which is adapted to emit electromagnetic signals in a main emission direction  180 , is at least partially arranged within a through-opening  153  of a ferrite body  151 . The communication device  160  can be arranged on a printed circuit board  160  similar to communication device  60 . The explanations regarding coupling device  10  thus essentially also describe the coupling device  110 . At least one air coil  152  defining an opening  154  may be arranged on the ferrite body  151 . The air coil  152  and the ferrite body  151  form a power transfer device  150  which may substantially be configured like power transfer device  50 . In this respect, reference is made to the explanations of power supply device  50  and to  FIGS.  3  and  4   . Similar to coupling device  10 , the coupling device  110  preferably has a power supply connection  140  and a communication interface  141 . 
       FIG.  5   c    shows the coupling device  110  illustrated in  FIG.  5   b   , with the communication device  160  now completely accommodated in the through-opening  153  of ferrite body  151  and in the opening  154  of air coil  152 . 
     According to an exemplary embodiment as illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the ferrite body  53  is disk-shaped, and the air coil  52  may also have the same cross section. In this case, the main emission direction of communication device  60 ,  60 . 1 , or  60 . 2  extends substantially parallel to the rotational axis of ferrite body  51  and of air coil  52 . The ferrite body  51  and thus the air coil  52  can be detachably mounted on the cover  30  using latching lugs  31  to  33 . The ferrite body  151  and thus the air coil  152  can also be detachably mounted on the cover  30  in a similar way. 
     In order to be able to wirelessly transfer data and energy between a first electrical and/or electronic device  220  and a second electrical and/or electronic device  230 , for example, an exemplary coupling system  300  is provided, which is exemplified in  FIG.  9   . The coupling system  300  comprises a first coupling device, which in the present example is the coupling device  10  as shown in  FIGS.  2 ,  5     a , and  7 , and a second, complementary coupling device  310 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , coupling device  10  is connected to the electronic and/or electrical device  220  via power supply connection  40  and via communication interface  41 . Assuming, for the present example, that 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  and is capable of supplying those data to communication interface  41  via an electrical or optical transfer medium. Furthermore, by way of example, the electrical and/or electronic device  220  comprises a power supply device that transfers energy, i.e. electrical power, to power supply connection  40 , for example via an electrical cable, which can then be transferred via power transfer device  50  and the complementary coupling device  310  to the electrical and/or electronic device  230  in a wireless manner. It should be noted at this point, that both the coupling device  10  and the complementary coupling device  310  are adapted to process the power supplied by the electrical and/or electronic device  220  in such a way that the components of coupling device  10  and the components of coupling device  310  can be powered adequately. 
     The term “complementary” in particular means that at least a communication device  360  of the coupling device  310  is configured so as to be complementary to the communication device  60  of coupling device  10 . In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG.  9    this means that the communication device  60  includes the single transmitting and receiving antenna  63  as shown in  FIG.  6   , and the communication device  360  also includes a single transmitting and receiving antenna  363 , which are arranged so as to be aligned with one another in the coupled state. In this example, the main emission direction and the main receiving beam direction, which are parallel to the x-axis with respect to communication device  60 , coincide. 
     However, if the coupling device  10  has the communication device  60 . 1  as shown in  FIG.  7    implemented therein, which comprises the transmitting antenna  61  and the receiving antenna  62 , then the communication device  360  will also include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna spatially separated therefrom. In the coupled state, the transmitting antenna  61  is arranged in alignment with the receiving antenna of communication device  360 , and the receiving antenna  62  is arranged in alignment with the transmitting antenna of communication device  360 . In this way, bidirectional data transfer is made possible between the device  220  and the device  230 . It should moreover be noted that the main emission direction of transmitting antenna  61  and, if provided, that of the transmitting antenna of communication device  360  are parallel to one another and parallel to the x-axis of the coordinate system indicated in  FIG.  9   . A similar complementary design of the coupling device  360  results when the communication device  60 . 2  comprising the optical transmitter  64  and the optical receiver  65  is implemented in coupling device  10 . 
     The transmitting and receiving antenna  363  of communication device  360  may be arranged on a printed circuit board  370 . Otherwise, the coupling device  310  is preferably configured similarly to coupling device  10 . In other words: coupling device  310  has a housing  320 ,  330  which may comprise a cover  330  and a base part  320 . The housing  320 ,  330  accommodates the communication device  360  for wireless data transfer, and the communication device  360  is adapted for receiving electromagnetic signals in a main receiving direction. In the coupled state, the main emission direction of the transmitting and receiving antenna  63  of coupling device  10  and the main receiving direction of the transmitting and receiving antenna  363  of coupling device  310  lie on a common line  380  which is parallel to the x-axis of the coordinate system indicated in  FIG.  9   . Similar to coupling device  10 , the power transfer device  350  comprising an air coil  352  and a ferrite body  351  is detachably mounted in the housing of coupling device  310 , preferably on the cover  330  of the housing. Power transfer device  350  can be configured similarly to the power transfer device  50  of coupling device  10  shown in  FIG.  4   . Therefore, a more detailed explanation is not necessary. Air coil  352 , ferrite body  351 , and communication device  360  are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the electromagnetic radio signals emitted by the transmitting and receiving antenna  63  of coupling device  10  propagate to the communication device  360  and to the transmitting and receiving antenna  363  through the opening  354  of air coil  352  and through the through-opening  353  of ferrite body  351  in the main receiving direction which is along line  380 . As can be seen in  FIG.  9   , in the coupled state, the through-opening  53  of ferrite body  51 , the opening  54  of air coil  52  of the first coupling device  10  are aligned with each other and with the through-opening  353  of the ferrite body  351  and with the opening  354  of the air coil  352  of the second coupling device  310 , so that the electromagnetic signals emitted by the transmitting and receiving antenna  63  of communication device  60  can be received by the transmitting and receiving antenna  363  of communication device  360 . For example, the main emission direction and main reception direction extend through the center of through-openings  53  and  353  and of openings  54  and  354 . In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG.  9   , the air coil  52  of the first coupling device  10  acts as the primary coil and the at least one air coil  352  of the second coupling device  310  acts as the secondary coil for wireless power transfer. As shown in  FIG.  9   , a spacing between coupling device  10  and coupling device  310  is small in the coupled state, it may range between 0 and 10 cm, for example. Obviously, it is also conceivable that the two coupling devices  10  and  310  contact each other in the coupled state. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG.  9   , the covers  330  and  30  are each effective as coupling surfaces of the coupling system  300 . 
     In order to enable bidirectional data communication, data can be transferred from the device  230  via the transmitting and receiving antenna  363  of coupling device  310  to the transmitting and receiving antenna  63  of coupling device  10  and from there to the device  220 . 
     At least some of the aforementioned exemplary aspects shall again be summarized below. 
     A coupling device  10  for wireless data and power transfer is provided, which is shown in  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  5   a    by way of example, in conjunction with  FIGS.  3  and  4   . By way of example, it comprises the following features: 
     a housing  20 ,  30 ,
 
a communication device  60  for wireless data transfer accommodated in the housing  20 ,  30 , the communication device  60  being adapted for emitting electromagnetic signals in a main emission direction which extends parallel to the y-axis as shown in  FIG.  5   a   , for example, and
 
a wireless power transfer device  50  accommodated in the housing  20 ,  30 , which comprises a ferrite body  51  with a through-opening  53  and at least one air coil  52  defining an opening  54  and arranged on the ferrite body  51 , and the air coil  52 , the ferrite body  51 , and the communication device  60  are arranged to each other in such a way that electromagnetic signals emitted by the communication device  60  in the main emission direction propagate through the through-opening  53  of the ferrite body  51  and through the opening  54  of the at least one air coil  52 .
 
     The power transfer device  50  and the communication device  60  may be arranged one behind the other with respect to the main emission direction, for example. 
     The communication device  60  may advantageously comprise an antenna device  61 ,  62 , or  63 , which can be configured for emitting radio signals in a first frequency band and for simultaneously receiving radio signals in a second frequency band, and each of the first and second frequency bands can be an ISM band in the GHz range and can advantageously lie within a frequency range from 57 to 66 GHz or in a higher frequency range. 
     An alternative coupling device  110  for wireless data and power transfer is shown in  FIGS.  5   b  and  5   c   . By way of example, it comprises the following features: 
     a housing  120 ,  130 ,
 
a communication device  160  for wireless data transfer accommodated in the housing  120 ,  130 , the communication device  160  being adapted for emitting electromagnetic signals in a main emission direction,
 
a wireless power transfer device  150  accommodated in the housing  120 ,  130 , which comprises a ferrite body  151  with a through-opening  153  and at least one air coil  152  defining an opening  154  and being arranged on 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 one another, and with the communication device  160  being at least partially accommodated within the through-opening  153  of the ferrite body  151 .
 
     Advantageously, the communication device  160  may comprise an antenna device which can be similar to the antenna device  61 ,  62 , or  63 . The antenna device can be configured for emitting radio signals in a first frequency band and for simultaneously receiving radio signals in a second frequency band, and each of the first and second frequency bands can be an ISM band in the GHz range and can advantageously lie within a frequency range from 57 to 66 GHz or in a higher frequency range. 
     Advantageously, the air coil  152 , the ferrite body  151 , and the communication device  160  are arranged to each other in such a way that electromagnetic signals emitted by communication device  160  in the main emission direction can propagate through the through-opening  153  of ferrite body  151  and through the opening  154  of the at least one air coil  152 . 
     Coupling device  10  and  110  preferably has a power supply connection  40 ;  140  electrically connected to the at least one air coil  52 ;  152 , to which an external power supply device can be connected, and 
     a communication interface  41 ;  141  electrically or optically connected to the communication device  60 ;  160 , to which an external message source  220  can be connected. 
     The housing  20 ,  30 ;  120 ,  130  can preferably comprise a cover  30 ;  130  and a base part  20 ;  120  that can be covered by the cover  30 ;  130 , and the power transfer device  50 ;  150  can be adapted to be mounted on the cover  30 ;  130 . 
     The cover  30 ,  130  can preferably have a portion that is transmissive to electromagnetic waves, and the main emission direction extends orthogonally to the portion that is transmissive to electromagnetic waves. 
     Preferably, the cover  30 ,  130  is made of a plastics material. 
     The base part  20  may have a base wall  22 , and a printed circuit board  70 ,  70 . 1 ,  70 . 2  can be arranged parallel thereto, on which the communication device  60 ,  60 . 1 ,  60 . 2  can be mounted, and, in the 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 a respective plane, which planes are parallel to one another, and with the main emission direction extending perpendicular to these planes. 
     The communication device  60 ,  60 . 1  preferably has an antenna device which is configured for emitting radio signals in the main transmission direction, and the emitted radio signals are in a first frequency band. 
     The first frequency band can be an ISM band in the GHz range, which preferably is within a frequency range from 57 to 66 GHz. 
     The antenna device can be configured for receiving radio signals in a second frequency band, and the received radio signals have a main reception direction that extends parallel to the main emission direction through the through-opening  53  of the ferrite body  51  and through the opening  54  of the at least one air coil  52 , wherein, depending on the implementation, the first frequency band and the second frequency band can be different or the same. 
     The second frequency band can be an ISM band in the GHz range and is preferably within a frequency range from 57 to 66 GHz. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment, the antenna device  60  and also the antenna device of the coupling device  110  may each comprise a combined antenna  63  for transmitting and receiving radio signals, and in this case the received radio signals have a main reception direction which can preferably coincide with the main emission direction. Alternatively, the antenna device  60  and also the antenna device of the coupling device  110  may comprise a transmitting antenna  61  and a separate receiving antenna  62 , and in this case the received radio signals have a main reception direction which preferably extends at least in part parallel to the main emission direction through the through-opening  53  of ferrite body  51  and through the opening  54  of the at least one air coil  52 . 
     Both the combined antenna  63  for transmitting and receiving as well as the transmitting antenna  61  and the separate receiving antenna  62  may each be in the form of a patch antenna. 
     Alternatively, the communication device  60 . 2  may comprise an optical transmitter  64  for emitting optical signals in the main emission direction and optionally an optical receiver  65  for receiving optical signals, and the received optical signals have a main beam direction that extends parallel to the main emission direction through the through-opening  53  of the ferrite body  51  and through the opening  54  of the at least one air coil  52 . 
     Preferably, the communication device  60 ,  60 . 1 ,  60 . 2  has a control device  200 ,  190 ,  210  associated therewith. 
     According to a further advantageous aspect, a coupling system  300  for wireless data and power transfer is provided as shown in  FIG.  9    by way of example, which can comprise the following exemplary features: 
     a first coupling device  10 ,  110  as described above, which first coupling device  10  can be connected to a first electronic and/or electrical device  220 , and
 
a second, complementary coupling device  310  which can be connected to a second electrical and/or electronic device  230  and may have the following features:
 
a housing  320 ,  330 ,
 
a communication device  360  for wireless data transfer accommodated in the housing  320 ,  330 , which communication device  360  can be adapted complementary to the communication device  60  to receive electromagnetic signals in a main receiving direction, and
 
a wireless power transfer device accommodated in the housing  320 ,  330 , which comprises a ferrite body  351  with a through-opening  353  and at least one air coil  352  defining an opening  354  and being arranged on the ferrite body  351 , wherein the air coil  352 , the ferrite body  351  and the communication device  360  are arranged to each other in such a way that received electromagnetic signals propagate to the communication device  360  in the main receiving direction through the through-opening  353  of the ferrite body  351  and through the opening  354  of the at least one air coil  352 ,
 
wherein, 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, so that the electromagnetic signals emitted by the communication device  60  of the first coupling device  10  are received by the communication device  360  of the second coupling device  310 , and 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.