Connector device

• US 20080070434A1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Saab AB
• Original Assignee: Saab AB
• Inventors: Akerlund, Hans
• Application Number:
  US11/902,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20080070434A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/73 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensing coils

Abstract

A connector device comprising including a first connector part operatively connectable to a first external unit and a second connector part operatively connectable to a second external unit. The first connector part is connectable to the second connector part enabling communication between the first and second external units. Each connector part includes a surface in which a plurality of transmitting/receiving areas are formed. The first connector part is connectable to the second connector part via the transmitting/receiving areas. At least the first connector part includes a first processing unit operatively connected to the plurality of transmitting/receiving areas. The processing unit is arranged to detect a first subset of transmitting/receiving areas in communication with a corresponding second subset of receiving/transmitting areas in the second connector part and to control communication between the first and second external units over the first subset of transmitting/receiving areas.

Claims

1. A connector device, comprising:

a first connector part operatively connectable to a first external unit and a second connector part operatively connectable to a second external unit, wherein said first connector part is connectable to said second connector part enabling communication between the first and second external units, wherein each connector part comprises a surface in which a plurality of transmitting/receiving areas are formed, wherein the first connector part is connectable to the second connector part via said transmitting/receiving areas and wherein at least the first connector part comprises a first processing unit operatively connected to the plurality of transmitting/receiving areas, said processing unit being arranged to detect a first subset of transmitting/receiving areas in communication with a corresponding second subset of receiving/transmitting areas in the second connector part and to control communication between the first and second external units over said first subset of transmitting/receiving areas.

2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first processing unit comprises a transmitting unit arranged to divide at least one signal from the first external unit into a plurality of packages and to control the transmission of packages over said first subset of transmitting/receiving areas.

3. The connector device according to claim 2, wherein at least the second connector part comprises a second processing unit comprising a reception unit arranged to put together packages received via the second subset of receiving/transmitting areas to the at least one signal.

4. The connector device according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting unit is arranged to associate to each package information related to its position in the at least one signal and in that the reception unit is arranged to put together packages to the at least one signal in accordance with the position information associated to each package.

5. The connector device according to claim 4, wherein the position information is an identity code.

6. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of at least one of the connector parts is formed in a soft material.

7. The connector device according to claim 6, wherein the soft material is a textile.

8. The connector device according to claim 6, wherein magnets are disposed in the soft material.

9. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein one of the connector parts comprises at least one heating element arranged to heat the surface of the connector part.

10. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting/receiving areas and receiving/transmitting areas comprises an electrically or optically conducting part.

11. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the first processing unit is arranged to work in a first mode of operation, a second mode of operation or a third mode of operation, and to switch between said modes of operation an accordance with a predetermined scheme, wherein the first processing unit is arranged to

monitor whether there is a contact between the transmitting/receiving areas of the corresponding plate and any other receiving/transmitting areas in the first mode of operation,

examine the available bandwidth in the second mode of operation, and

distribute data to the first subset of transmitting/receiving areas in the third mode of operation.