Exchanging signals wirelessly between devices

• US 10,103,787 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Castell, Robin T
• Primary Examiner(s): Ayotunde, Ayodeji
• Application Number:
  US15/511,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20170288740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• 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: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils

Abstract

Examples disclosed herein provide for the exchange of signals wirelessly between devices. One example includes a first wireless communication unit of a first device and a second wireless communication unit of a second device. The example further includes a first magnetic member disposed within the first device to magnetically couple with a second magnetic member disposed within the second device when the first and second devices are to be placed within proximity of each other. The first and second wireless communication units may exchange signals between the first device and the second device over a wireless communication link formed by the magnetically coupled magnetic members.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first wireless communication unit of a first device;

a second wireless communication unit of a second device; and

a first hollow magnetic member disposed within the first device to magnetically couple with a second hollow magnetic member disposed within the second device when the first and second devices are to be placed within proximity of each other, wherein;

the first hollow magnetic member comprises a first waveguide disposed in a hollow core of the first hollow magnetic member;

the second hollow magnetic member comprises a second waveguide disposed in a hollow core of the second hollow magnetic member; and

the first and second wireless communication units are to exchange signals between the first device and the second device over a wireless communication link formed by the magnetically coupled magnetic members.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each waveguide is recessed within the first and second hollow magnetic members.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein an end of each waveguide is curved to form a lens to control the transmission of the signals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second wireless communication units are embedded within the first and second hollow magnetic members, respectively.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second wireless communication units are to communicate data over the wireless communication link only when the first and second devices are to be placed within proximity of each other.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein an outside surface of the first and second hollow magnetic members are coated with an electrically conductive material.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein when the first hollow magnetic member is to magnetically couple with the second hollow magnetic member, the electrically conductive coating of the first hollow magnetic member is to make contact with the electrically conductive coating of the second hollow magnetic member to power the second device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each waveguide is flush with the first and second hollow magnetic members.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a number of additional magnets to align and retain the second device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the second device comprises a number of additional magnets to align and retain the first device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein ends of the first hollow magnetic member and second hollow magnetic member extend through enclosures of respective devices.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

first electrical contacts of the first device; and

second electrical contacts of the second device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the first electrical contacts are disposed within enclosure walls of the first device; and

the second electrical contacts are disposed within enclosure walls of the second device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the electrical contacts are separate from the hollow magnetic members.

8. A system comprising:

a first wireless communication unit of a first device;

a second wireless communication unit of a second device;

a first hollow magnetic member disposed within the first device to magnetically couple with a second hollow magnetic member disposed within the second device when the first and second devices are to be placed within proximity of each other, wherein;

the first hollow magnetic member comprises a first waveguide disposed in a hollow core of the first hollow magnetic member;

the second hollow magnetic member comprises a second waveguide disposed in a hollow core of the second hollow magnetic member; and

the first and second wireless communication units are to exchange signals between the first device and the second device over a wireless communication link formed by the magnetically coupled hollow magnetic members; and

electrically conductive material to coat an outside surface of the first and second hollow magnetic members, wherein when the first hollow magnetic member is to magnetically couple with the second hollow magnetic member, the electrically conductive coating of the first hollow magnetic member is to make contact with the electrically conductive coating of the second hollow magnetic member to power the second device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each waveguide is recessed within the first and second hollow magnetic members.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first and second wireless communication units are embedded within the first and second hollow magnetic members, respectively.