Wireless connections with virtual hysteresis
First Claim
1. A first contactless connector included in a first device for communicating with a second contactless connector included in a second device using extremely high frequency (EHF) signals, the first contactless connector comprising:
- a receiver configured to receive a transmitted EHF electromagnetic signal from the second contactless connector;
an output circuit coupled to receive the transmitted EHF signal from an output of the receiver, the output circuit configured to;
output the transmitted EHF signal when a control signal has a first state and configured to not output the transmitted EHF signal when the control signal has a second state; and
a controller coupled to the receiver and configured to;
determine a signal strength of the transmitted EHF signal;
produce the control signal having the second state until the determined signal strength of the transmitted EHF signal exceeds a first threshold for a first time interval, whereupon the controller produces the control signal having the first state to enable the output circuit to output the transmitted EHF signal from the receiver; and
thereafterproduce the control signal with the second state to disable the output circuit from outputting the transmitted EHF signal from the receiver when the determined signal strength of the transmitted EHF signal fails to meet a second threshold for a second time interval.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Circuit connectors for establishing EHF communication include a receiver configured to receive a transmitted EHF electromagnetic signal, and an output circuit coupled to the receiver. The output circuit has two states of operation that correspond to enabling a signal output and disabling the signal output. The output circuit is also configured to change its state of operation responsive to a state of a control signal, and a controller is coupled to the receiver and configured to produce the control signal. The control signal has two states that correspond to a first condition when the received signal exceeds a first threshold and a second condition when the received signal is less than a second threshold.
269 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A first contactless connector included in a first device for communicating with a second contactless connector included in a second device using extremely high frequency (EHF) signals, the first contactless connector comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive a transmitted EHF electromagnetic signal from the second contactless connector; an output circuit coupled to receive the transmitted EHF signal from an output of the receiver, the output circuit configured to; output the transmitted EHF signal when a control signal has a first state and configured to not output the transmitted EHF signal when the control signal has a second state; and a controller coupled to the receiver and configured to; determine a signal strength of the transmitted EHF signal; produce the control signal having the second state until the determined signal strength of the transmitted EHF signal exceeds a first threshold for a first time interval, whereupon the controller produces the control signal having the first state to enable the output circuit to output the transmitted EHF signal from the receiver; and
thereafterproduce the control signal with the second state to disable the output circuit from outputting the transmitted EHF signal from the receiver when the determined signal strength of the transmitted EHF signal fails to meet a second threshold for a second time interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A first contactless connector included in a first device for communicating with a second contactless connector included in a second device using extremely high frequency (EHF) signals, the first contactless connector comprising:
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an output circuit coupled to an output of a receiver, the output circuit configured to; output a transmitted EHF signal received by the receiver when a control signal has a first state and configured to not output the transmitted EHF signal received by the receiver when the control signal has a second state; and a controller coupled to the receiver and configured to; determine a signal strength of the transmitted EHF signal; produce the control signal having the second state until the determined signal strength of the transmitted EHF signal exceeds a first threshold for a first time interval, whereupon the controller produces the control signal having the first state to enable the output circuit to output the transmitted EHF signal from the receiver; and
thereafterproduce the control signal with the second state to disable the output circuit from outputting the transmitted EHF signal from the receiver when the determined signal strength of the transmitted EHF signal fails to meet a second threshold for a second time interval. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for controlling an electronic signal using a first contactless connector included in a first device configured to communicate with a second contactless connector included in a second device via extremely high frequency (EHF) electromagnetic signals, the method comprising:
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receiving a transmitted EHF electromagnetic signal from the second contactless connector at the first contactless connector; determining a signal strength of the transmitted EHF signal; comparing the determined signal strength to a first signal strength threshold; initiating a first timer when the determined signal strength exceeds the first signal strength threshold; measuring a first time interval during which the determined signal strength exceeds the first signal strength threshold; outputting a first timer output signal when the determined signal strength exceeds the first signal strength threshold for the first time interval; enabling an output circuit to output the transmitted EHF signal from a receiver included in the first contactless connector in response to the first timer output signal; comparing the determined signal strength to a second signal strength threshold; initiating a second timer if the determined signal strength fails to meet the second signal strength threshold; measuring a second time interval during which the determined signal strength fails to meet the second signal strength threshold; outputting a second timer output signal when the determined signal strength fails to meet the second signal strength threshold for the second time interval; and disabling the output circuit to output the transmitted EHF signal from the receiver included in the first contactless connector in response to the second timer output signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for establishing a communication link between a first contactless connector included in a first device and a second contactless connector included in a second device using extremely high frequency (EHF) electromagnetic signals, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a receiver, a transmitted EHF signal from the second contactless connector at the first contactless connector; determining a signal strength of the transmitted EHF signal; comparing the determined signal strength to a first signal strength threshold; measuring an amount of time the determined signal strength exceeds the first signal strength threshold; outputting a first output signal when the determined signal strength exceeds the first signal strength threshold for a first time interval; and enabling an output circuit to output the transmitted EHF signal from the receiver included in the first contactless connector in response to the first output signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification