Contactless audio adapter, and methods

• US 9,219,956 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2013
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US13/776,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20130266154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 307/151, 320/103, 323/222, 370/474, 370/277, 370/466, 375/295, 375/219, 375/259, 381/117, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/234.1, 455/39, 455/63.1, 455/67.11, 455/113, 704/271, 343/893, 343/905
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48137 the bodies being arranged next to each other, e.g. on a common substrate
• 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 2924/3011 Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3025 Electromagnetic shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2283 mounted in or on the surface of a semiconductor substrate as a chip-type antenna or integrated with other components into an IC package
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

A contactless, electromagnetic (EM) replacement for cabled Standards-based interfaces (such as USB, I2S) which handles data transfer requirements associated with the Standard, and capable of measuring and replicating relevant physical conditions on data lines so as to function compatibly and transparently with the Standard. A contactless link between devices having transceivers. A non-conducting housing enclosing the devices. A dielectric coupler facilitating communication between communications chips. Conductive paths or an inductive link providing power between devices. An audio adapter communicates over a contactless link with a source device, and via a physical link with a destination device such as a conventional headset. Power may be provided to the adapter from the source device, and by the adapter to the destination device.

Claims

1. An audio adapter for providing a communications link between a first device which comprises at least a source of electronic audio signals and a second device which comprises at least a destination for electronic audio signals, the audio adapter comprising:

means for converting between digital electrical signals and analog electrical signals; and

means for exchanging the analog electrical signals with the second device over a physical link;

characterized by;

means for communicating EHF signals contactlessly with the first device over an anisotropic physical path through a dielectric medium, and for converting between EHF signals and digital electrical signals, wherein the anisotropic physical path through the dielectric medium is further characterized by a point-to-point contactless communications scheme that has an effective range on the order of one centimeter when the dielectric medium is air.

2. The audio adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving power from an external power source and for providing the power to at least one of the first and second devices.

3. The audio adapter of claim 2, wherein:

the means for receiving power comprises at least one of contacts on the audio adapter, and an inductive coil within the audio adapter.

4. The audio adapter of claim 2, wherein:

the external power source comprises at least one of contacts on at least one of the first and second devices, a coil disposed in at least one of the first and second devices, and an external power supply.

5. The audio adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

means for mounting the audio adapter to at least one of the first and second devices.

6. The audio adapter of claim 1, wherein:

the means for communicating and for converting comprises at least one of a receiver and a transmitter.

7. The audio adapter of claim 1, wherein:

the means for exchanging the analog electrical signals with the second device comprises a jack.

8. The audio adapter of claim 1, wherein:

the means for exchanging the analog electrical signals with the second device comprises a direct wired connection.

9. The audio adapter of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the first and second devices device comprises a host audio source.

10. The audio adapter of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the first and second devices device comprises an audio transducer.

11. The audio adapter of claim 1, wherein:

the first device comprises a destination for audio signals; and

the second device comprises a source for audio signals.

12. The audio adapter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second devices further comprises:

means for decoding and dividing a single encoded digital stream representing constituent signals of a multi-wire standards-based electrical interface into replicas of the original constituent signals.

13. The audio adapter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second devices further comprises:

means for encoding and combining constituent signals of a multi-wire standards-based electrical interface into a single encoded digital stream for transport over the dielectric medium.

14. A method of interfacing a first device comprising a source of electronic audio signals with a second device comprising a destination for electronic audio signals, comprising providing an audio adapter for providing a communications link between the first and second devices, with the audio adapter converting between digital electrical signals and analog electrical signals and exchanging the analog electrical signals with the second device over a physical link, characterized by:

with the audio adapter, communicating contactlessly at extremely high frequency (EHF) over an anisotropic physical path through a dielectric medium with the first device, wherein the anisotropic physical path through the dielectric medium is further characterized by a point-to-point contactless communications scheme that has an effective range on the order of one centimeter when the dielectric medium is air.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

with the audio adapter, performing at least one of (i) decoding and dividing a single encoded digital stream representing constituent signals of a multi-wire standards-based electrical interface into replicas of the original constituent signals and (ii) encoding and combining constituent signals of a multi-wire standards-based electrical interface into a single encoded digital stream for transport over the dielectric medium.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

at the audio adapter, receiving power from an external power source comprising one of the first device and an external power supply.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

with the audio adapter, providing the power to the second device.