CONTACTLESS REPLACEMENT FOR CABLED STANDARDS-BASED INTERFACES

• US 20130266026A1
• Filed: 02/06/2013
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Keyssa, Inc.
• Inventors: McCormack, Gary D., Kyles, Ian A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,191,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/474
• 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: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A contactless, electromagnetic (EM) replacement (substitute, alternative) for cabled (electric) Standards-based interfaces (such as, but not limited to USB) which effectively handles the data transfer requirements (such as bandwidth, speed, latency) associated with the Standard, and which is also capable of measuring and replicating relevant physical conditions (such as voltage levels) on data lines so as to function compatibly and transparently with the Standard. A contactless link may be provided between devices having transceivers. A non-conducting housing may enclose the devices. Some applications for the contactless (EM) interface are disclosed. A dielectric coupler facilitating communication between communications chips which are several meters apart. Conductive paths may provide power and ground for bus-powered devices.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data comprising:

at a first device, determining an electrical condition of a first set of signal lines carrying data, and transmitting an electromagnetic (EM) signal indicative of the electrical condition associated with the data;

wherein;

the signal lines are configured for transporting a Standards-based protocol which is designed for communicating electrical signals over a physical link.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the first device, receiving an electromagnetic signal indicative of a second electrical condition associated with data originated on second set of signal lines at a second device, and replicating the second electrical condition at the first device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at a second device, receiving the electromagnetic signal indicative of the electrical condition and replicating a similar electrical condition on a second set of signal lines.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the first and second devices are not physically connected with one another.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the Standards-based protocol is selected from the group consisting of USB, PCIe, SATA, SAS, MHL, HDMI, DP, Ethernet I2S, I2C, Thunderbolt, Quickpath, D-PHY, M-PHY and Hypertransport.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic signal is transmitted within criteria established by a Standards-based protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic signal is transmitted with an energy output below that of FCC requirements for transmitting an identification code.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device communicates electromagnetically, over an air gap.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device communicates electromagnetically, through one or more dielectric mediums.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device communicates over an electromagnetic interface in an extremely high frequency (EHF) band.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device communicates by modulating and demodulating a carrier having a frequency of at least 30 GHz (gigahertz)

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device communicates data by modulating and demodulating a carrier with a data rate which is greater than or equal to 1 Gbps (gigabits per second).

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

enclosing the device with a non-conducting barrier.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the device is hermetically sealed by a housing.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the electromagnetic (EM) signal is transmitted through a dielectric cable.

16. System for communicating data from signal lines configured for a Standards-based protocol which is designed for communicating electrical signals over a physical link, characterized in that a first device comprises:

means for converting electrical signal inputs into electromagnetic (EM) signal outputs to support an extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless communication link; and

means for determining an electrical condition of a first set of signal lines carrying data and for transmitting an electromagnetic (EM) signal indicative of the electrical condition associated with the data.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

in the first device, means for receiving an electromagnetic signal indicative of a second electrical condition associated with data originated on second set of signal lines at a second device, and for replicating the second electrical condition at the first device.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

at the second device, means for receiving the electromagnetic signal indicative of the electrical condition and replicating a similar electrical condition on a second set of signal lines.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a non-conducting barrier enclosing the first device.