SMART CONNECTORS AND ASSOCIATED COMMUNICATIONS LINKS

• US 20140024314A1
• Filed: 08/17/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• 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., Isaac, Roger D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0031 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0243 Printed circuits associated with mounted high frequency components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0259 Electrostatic discharge [ESD] protection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10098 Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

“Smart” connectors with embedded processors, measurement circuits and control circuits are disclosed for establishing a “contactless” radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) Extremely High Frequency (EHF) communications link between two electronic devices having host systems. The connectors are capable of monitoring, controlling, and directing (managing) link operation to dynamically adapt to conditions, as well as monitoring and altering (or modifying) data passing through the connector, and selecting a protocol suitable for a communications session. The connectors are capable of identifying the type of content being transferred, providing authentication and security services, and enabling application support for the host systems based on the type of connection or the type of content. The connectors may operate independently of the host systems, and may perform at least one of sensing proximity of a nearby object; detecting a shape of a nearby object; and detecting vibrations.

Claims

1. Method of operating a contactless communications link with a contactless connector associated with an electronic device;

characterized by the contactless connector is capable of performing at least one of;

(i) controlling operation of the communications link;

(ii) monitoring data passing through the connector;

(iii) monitoring operation of the communication link; and

(iv) providing application support to a host system of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactless connector is further capable of performing at least one of:

determining a quality of the communications link;

reacting to a quality of the communications link;

detecting another contactless connector on the communications link;

determining a connection state for the communications link;

verifying a proper connection for the communications link;

providing security for a communication session on the communications link;

determining if a connection failure is imminent;

providing connection strength telemetry;

detecting an onset of a communications link; and

providing information about a quality of the communications link;

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactless connector is further capable of determining a protocol for a communication session with another contactless connector based on at least one of:

information about a device associated with the other contactless connector;

the type of data being transferred over the communications link;

information about the communications link; and

information or requirements relevant to implementing an effective communication session between the devices associated with the contactless connectors.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactless connector is further capable of performing at least one of:

determining a type of data passing through the connector;

providing authentication for data passing through the connector;

altering data passing through the connector;

digitally watermarking data passing through the connector;

signature detection and stamping of data passing through the connector;

applying obfuscation algorithms to data passing through the connector; and

applying steganography to data passing through the connector;

at a device at one end of a communications link, modifying data being transferred based on a characteristic of another device on the communications link; and

preventing certain types of data from passing through the connector.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactless connector is further capable of performing at least one of:

tracking and logging data passing through the connector; and

tracking and logging characteristics of the contactless connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactless connector is further capable of performing at least one of:

waking up the host system;

initiating actions in the host system;

using time of flight or signal strength as a hash in an encryption table;

performing application support based on at least one of the type of connection, the operational state of the link, and the type of content passing over the link;

storing information associated with the type of connection or type of content being sent over the link; and

providing interrupts to the host system based on the presence of the connection or specific qualities of the connection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactless connector is further capable of performing at least one of:

implementing at least one of metering, quotas, speed/power scaling, multi-channel control, lock and key algorithms; and

transferring data over the contactless connection without intervention from the host system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactless connector is further capable of performing at least one of:

performing proximity sensing;

detecting a shape of a nearby object;

detecting a shape of a partner electronic device; and

detecting vibrations.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the contactless connector comprises a transceiver and is further capable of performing at least one of:

. operating the transceiver in a reduced-power state and powering the transceiver up when a link is detected; and

dynamically controlling transceiver power output to achieve at least one of minimizing power usage, maximizing data transfer rate, meeting emission requirements based on connection type, adjusting power output to improve quality of the connection, and meeting emission requirements in different geographic locations.

10. A contactless connector for associating with an electronic device comprising a host system, the contactless connector comprising means for establishing a contactless connection with another contactless connector associated with another electronic device by at least one of sending and receiving data in the form of extremely high frequency (EHF) signals over a contactless communications link, the contactless connector comprising an electrical interface for interfacing with the host system of the device, characterized by the contactless connector being capable of at least one of:

managing the contactless connection;

monitoring data passing over the communications link; and

providing application support for the host system.

11. The contactless connector of claim 10, further comprising at least one of:

a processor and associated memory;

control circuits for altering data passing through the contactless connector; and

measurement circuits for monitoring the connection and the data being sent over the link.

12. The contactless connector of claim 10, capable of at least one of:

determining a quality of the communications link;

controlling operation of the communications link;

reacting to conditions of the communications link; and

modifying the communications link.

13. The contactless connector of claim 10, capable of at least one of:

determining a type of data passing over the communications link;

appending to data passing over the communications link; and

changing data passing over the communications link.

14. The contactless connector of claim 10, capable of at least one of:

initiating actions in the host system;

waking up the host system; and

interfacing with the host system.

15. Method of communicating between electronic devices comprising:

at a first electronic device, with a first contactless connector translating a data signal from a first electrical interface to a modulated carrier signal and transmitting the modulated carrier signal over a contactless communications link to a second electronic device with a second contactless connector capable of translating the modulated carrier to a base signal on a second electrical interface, wherein the electrical interfaces are configured to communicate differential signals with their respective host systems;

characterized in that at least one of the connectors is capable of performing at least one of;

(i) controlling operation of the communications link;

(ii) monitoring data passing through the connector onto the communications link; and

(iii) providing application support to the host system of the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

at least one of the connectors is further capable of performing at least one of;

determining a quality of the communications link;

reacting to a quality of the communications link;

detecting another contactless connector on the communications link;

determining a connection state for the communications link;

verifying a proper connection for the communications link;

providing security for a communication session on the communications link;

determining if a connection failure is imminent;

providing connection strength telemetry;

detecting an onset of a communications link; and

providing information about a quality of the communications link;

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

at least one of the connectors is further capable of determining a protocol for a communication session between the contactless connectors based on at least one of;

information about a device associated with the other contactless connector;

the type of data being transferred over the communications link;

information about the communications link; and

information or requirements that may be relevant to implementing an effective communication session between devices associated with the contactless connectors .

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

at least one of the connectors is further capable of performing at least one of;

determining a type of data passing through the connector;

providing authentication for data passing through the connector;

altering data passing through the connector;

digitally watermarking data passing through the connector;

signature detection and stamping of data passing through the connector;

applying obfuscation algorithms to data passing through the connector; and

applying steganography to data passing through the connector;

at a device at one end of a communications link, modifying data being transferred based on a characteristic of a device at the other end of the link;

preventing certain types of data from passing through the connector. tracking and logging data passing through the connector; and

tracking and logging characteristics of the contactless connection.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein:

at least one of the connectors is further capable of performing at least one of;

waking up the host system;

initiating actions in the host system;

using time of flight or signal strength as a hash in an encryption table;

performing application support based on the type of connection or the type of content passing over the link;

storing information associated with the type of connection or type of content being sent over the link; and

providing interrupts to the host system based on the presence of the connection or specific qualities of the connection.