Connector or other circuit element having an indirectly coupled integrated circuit

• US 20040253874A1
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul J. Plishner
• Original Assignee: Paul J. Plishner
• Inventors: Plishner, Paul J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,869,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/620
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3851 Ferrules having keying or coding means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2038/143 for signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/48 Arrangements for conducting electric current to or from the solid state body in operation, e.g. leads, terminal arrangements ; Selection of materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/58 Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip , for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable for flat or ribbon cables H01R12/771
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7172 Conduits for light transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 : Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/44 : comprising impedance matching means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 : Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

An apparatus (130) including an integrated circuit (200 200a) and at least one coupler (302a 302b) for electromagnetically coupling the integrated circuit (200 200a) to a conductor (323a 323b), which may be man-made or naturally occurring, such as in a human or non-human animal. The coupling is electromagnetic, i.e. indirect, and not a result of a mechanical attachment, but instead via an electromagnetic field (or only an electric or magnetic component). The conductor (323a 323b) may be suitable for conveying electronic or spintronic or optical signals, and the coupling is more specifically a coupling to the fields associated with such signals. The integrated circuit/chip (200 200a) can be electrical, optical, optoelectronic, or quantum, and can be of ordinary scale or nanoscale, and can make use of spintronic devices. A connector (100 100a) including such an apparatus (130) is also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising an integrated circuit (200) and a coupler (302a) for coupling the integrated circuit (200) to at least one conductor (323a 323b), characterized in that the coupler (302a) is configured and disposed so as to electromagnetically couple to at least one conductor (323b) without being physically connected to the at least one conductor (323a 323b).

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the coupler (302a) provides capacitive coupling.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the coupler (302a) provides inductive coupling.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the coupler (302a) includes an antenna for providing the electromagnetic coupling.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the coupler (302a) includes a directional optical coupler.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein at least either the integrated circuit (200) or the coupler (302a) includes nanoscale elements.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the coupler (302a) includes a nanoscale antenna.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the nanoscale antenna includes a carbon nanotube.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein at least either the integrated circuit (200) or the coupler (302a) includes superconducting elements.

10. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the coupler (302a) provides coupling to an electronic current.

11. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the coupler (302a) provides coupling to a spintronic current.

12. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the coupler (302a) provides coupling to an optical signal.

13. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the coupler (302a) relies on electronic or spintronic phenomena as a basis for coupling to the conductor.

14. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit (200) relies on electronic or spintronic phenomena as a basis for responding to a signal conveyed by the conductor.

15. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit (200) comprises transistors made out of electromagnetic materials including nanofibers.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein the integrated circuit (200) comprises magnetically bonded materials.

17. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured so as to electromagnetically couple to tissues of the heart of a human or non-human animal.

18. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the coupler senses electrical signals, and the apparatus further comprises a second coupler configured so as to also electromagnetically couple to tissues of the heart and to provide electrical signals for pacing the heart.

19. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a second coupler configured so as to electromagnetically couple to a second conductor without being physically attached to the second conductor, the apparatus thereby providing a connection between the two conductors without being physically attached to either of the two conductors.

20. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the conductor is a neuron in a synapse of a human or non-human animal, and so the coupler is configured so as to electromagnetically couple to the neuron in a synapse of a human or non-human animal.

21. An apparatus as in claim 20, further comprising a second coupler configured so as to electromagnetically couple to a second neuron in the synapse without being physically attached to the neuron, the apparatus thereby providing a connection between the two neurons.

22. A connector (300), for mediating a connection between two conductors (323a 323b), the connector comprising a first housing (10a) holding one of the conductors (323a) and a second housing (11a) holding the other of the conductors (323b), characterized in that the connector (300) also includes at least one embedded integrated circuit (200) connected to a coupler (302a) configured and disposed so as to electromagnetically couple to at least one of the conductors (323b) without being physically connected to either of the conductors (323a 323b).

23. A connector (300) as in claim 22, wherein at least either the integrated circuit (200) or the coupler (302a) includes nanoscale elements.

24. A connector (300) as in claim 22, wherein the coupler (302a) includes a nanoscale antenna.

25. A connector (300) as in claim 24, wherein the nanoscale antenna includes a carbon nanotube.

26. A connector (300) as in claim 22, wherein at least either the integrated circuit (200) or the coupler (302a) includes superconducting elements.

27. A connector (300) as in claim 22, wherein the two conductors (323a 323b) are insulator-terminated instead of being mechanically connected, and further wherein the embedded integrated circuit (200) includes a second coupler (302b) configured and disposed so as to electromagnetically couple to the other of the two conductors (323a).

28. A connector (300) as in claim 22, wherein the two conductors (323a 323b) are mechanically connected so as to touch each other.

29. A connector (300) as in claim 22, wherein the coupler (302a) provides coupling to an electronic current.

30. A connector (300) as in claim 22, wherein the coupler (302a) provides coupling to a spintronic current.

31. A connector (300) as in claim 22, wherein the coupler (302a) provides coupling to an optical signal.

32. A connector (300) as in claim 22, wherein the coupler (302a) relies on electronic or spintronic phenomena as a basis for coupling to the at least one of the conductors.

33. A connector (300) as in claim 22, wherein the integrated circuit (200) relies on electronic or spintronic phenomena as a basis for responding to a signal conveyed by the at least one of the conductors.