Coupling system

A method of magnetically coupling first and second signals through a coupling device, said device comprising at least first and second mutually complementary magnetic cores configured to provide in operation a magnetic circuit, said circuit being provided with a first set of electrical windings and a second set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling first and second signals respectively through said coupling device, said method including steps of:

• (a) applying said first signal to said first set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling said first electrical signal through the device by way of a first magnetic path in the circuit;
• and
• (b) applying said second signal to said second set of the electrical windings for magnetically coupling said second electrical signal through the device by way of a second magnetic path in the circuit;
• and
• wherein said first and second set of windings are configured so that:
• (i) the first set of windings are substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path;
• and
• (ii) the second set of windings are substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path;
• and
• wherein said first and second paths are partially spatially intersecting, and said at least first and second magnetic cores are configured to enable in operation relative motion there between with their associated windings whilst magnetically coupling said first and second signals through the circuit.

A medical system comprising:

• a carrier for receiving a subject, said carrier being provided substantially along at least one peripheral edge thereof with at least one device for magnetically coupling first and second signals there through to system apparatus, said first and second signals being magnetically coupled through said at least one device substantially without crosstalk arising in operation between said first and second signals, said at least one device including at least first and second mutually complementary magnetic cores configured to form in operation a magnetic circuit, said magnetic circuit being provided with a first set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a first electrical signal through the device by way of a first magnetic path in the circuit, said circuit being provided with a second set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a second electrical signal through the device by way of a second magnetic path in the circuit, said first and second paths partially spatially intersecting, said first and second sets of windings being configured so that:
• (a) the first set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path;
• and
• (b) the second set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path;
• and
• wherein said at least first and second magnetic cores are configured so as to enable in operation relative motion there between with their associated windings whilst magnetically coupling said first and second signals through the circuit.

A vehicle comprising:

• a coupling device for providing a magnetic data signal and a power supply coupling to units included in said vehicle, the coupling device including at least first and second mutually complementary magnetic cores configured to form in operation a magnetic circuit, said magnetic circuit being provided with a first set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a first electrical signal through the device by way of a first magnetic path in the circuit, said circuit being provided with a second set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a second electrical signal through the device by way of a second magnetic path in the circuit, said first and second paths partially spatially intersecting, said first and second sets of windings being configured so that:
• (a) the first set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path;
• and
• (b) the second set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path;
• and
• wherein said at least first and second magnetic cores are configured so as to enable in operation relative motion there between with their associated windings whilst magnetically coupling said first and second signals through the circuit.

A domestic appliance comprising:

• a coupling device for providing a magnetic data signal and a power supply coupling to units compatible with said appliance, the coupling device including at least first and second mutually complementary magnetic cores configured to form in operation a magnetic circuit, said magnetic circuit being provided with a first set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a first electrical signal through the device by way of a first magnetic path in the circuit, said circuit being provided with a second set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a second electrical signal through the device by way of a second magnetic path in the circuit, said first and second paths partially spatially intersecting, said first and second sets of windings being configured so that:
• (a) the first set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path;
• and
• (b) the second set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path;
• and
• wherein said at least first and second magnetic cores are configured so as to enable in operation relative motion there between with their associated windings whilst magnetically coupling said first and second signals through the circuit.