EHF enabled display systems

• US 10,082,995 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2017
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Keyssa, Inc.
• Inventors: McCormack, Gary D., Isaac, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US15/642,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20170300279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/42 Bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/127 with a circular, elliptic, or parabolic cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

Display systems that use contactless connectors for transmitting data are provided. The contactless connectors are electromagnetic connectors that form an electromagnetic communications link. The electromagnetic communications link can be established within different locations of the same device, or between two different devices. The communications link can be established using at least two transceivers. The transceivers can be incorporated in different enclosures that are hinged together, or the transceivers can be incorporated within a hinge that enables two enclosures to move with respect to each other. A transceiver can be incorporated into a display device that can receive data from an active surface that has a transceiver. When the display device is placed on the active surface, the display device may serve as an access point to content contained within the active surface.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a hinge having a rotational axis;

a first enclosure coupled to the hinge, the first enclosure comprising;

a first waveguide having a first curved portion that is at least partially disposed along the rotational axis; and

a first EHF transceiver operative to transmit or receive EHF signals to or from the first waveguide;

a second enclosure coupled to the hinge and operative to rotate about the rotational axis, the second enclosure comprising;

a second waveguide having a second curved portion adapted to follow a contour of the first curved portion of the first waveguide as the second enclosure rotates about the rotational axis such that a first EHF coupling exists between the first and second waveguides via direct contact between the second curved portion and a portion of the first curved portion; and

a second EHF transceiver operative to transmit or receive EHF signals to or from the second waveguide, wherein the first EHF coupling enables the first EHF transceiver to communicate EHF signals with the second EHF transceiver.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first curved portion has a hook shape.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second waveguide has a rectangular shape extending from the second curved portion.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first waveguide has a rectangular shape extending from the first curved portion.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first curved portion comprises a circular shape that partially surrounds an interior region, wherein the interior region is occupied by a material other than the second waveguide.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first curved portion comprises a EHF interface that includes the portion that is in direct contact with the second curved portion.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first and second waveguides are constructed from a plastic material.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first waveguide is in physical contact with the second waveguide independent of the second enclosure'"'"'s position with respect to the first enclosure.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first enclosure further comprises:

a third waveguide having a third curved portion that at partially surrounds the rotational axis; and

a third EHF transceiver operative to transmit or receive EHF signals to or from the third waveguide; and

wherein the second enclosure further comprises;

a fourth waveguide having a fourth curved portion adapted to follow a contour of the third curved portion of the third waveguide as the second enclosure rotates about the rotational axis such that a second EHF coupling exists between the third and fourth waveguides via direct contact between the fourth curved portion and a portion of the third curved portion of the third waveguide; and

a fourth EHF transceiver operative to transmit or receive EHF signals to or from the fourth waveguide, wherein the second EHF coupling enables the third EHF transceiver to communicate EHF signals with the fourth EHF transceiver.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a first EHF transceiver operative to transmit or receive EHF signals;

a second EHF transceiver operative to transmit or receive EHF signals;

a hinge assembly associated with the first and second EHF transceivers and comprising first and second waveguides each having a circular portion, wherein the hinge assembly is operative to enable EHF signals to propagate between the first and second EHF transceivers via the hinge assembly when the first waveguide, which is associated with the first EHF transceiver, is in direct contact with the second waveguide, which is associated with the second EHF transceiver, such that when the first and second waveguides are in direct contact with each other, an EHF propagation coupling exists between the first and second waveguides, and when the first and second waveguides are not in direct contact with each other, the EHF propagation coupling does not exist.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the EHF propagation coupling enables EHF signals being transmitted by the first EHF transceiver to be received by the second EHF transceiver.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the circular portion of the first waveguide partially surrounds an interior region, wherein the interior region is occupied by a material other than the first waveguide.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the first waveguide comprises a rectangular portion, wherein EHF signals propagate through the rectangular portion and the circular portion.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the circular portion of the second waveguide partially surrounds an interior region, wherein the interior region is occupied by a material other than the first waveguide.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the second waveguide comprises a rectangular portion, wherein EHF signals propagate through the rectangular portion and the circular portion.

16. The electronic device 10, wherein the hinge assembly is a first hinge assembly, and the first and second EHF transceivers are a first coupled pair of EHF transceivers, the electronic device comprising:

a second coupled pair of EHF transceivers comprising third and fourth EHF transceivers; and

a second hinge assembly associated with the third and fourth EHF transceivers and comprising third and fourth waveguides each having a circular portion, wherein the second hinge assembly is operative to enable EHF signals to propagate between the third and fourth EHF transceivers via the second hinge assembly when the third waveguide, which is associated with the third ERE′

transceiver, is in direct contact with the fourth waveguide, which is associated with the fourth EHF transceiver, such that when the third and fourth waveguides are in direct contact with each other, a second EHF propagation coupling exists between the third and fourth waveguides, and when the third and fourth waveguides are not in direct contact with each other, the second EHF propagation coupling does not exist.