Extremely high frequency systems and methods of operating the same to establish USB data transport protocols
First Claim
1. A contactless communications transmitter unit (CCTU) for use in establishing a contactless communications link with a first contactless communications receiver unit (CCRU) that is associated with a second USB device and for use in communicating with a second CCRU via at least one wired path, the contactless communication transmitter unit comprising:
- a plurality of pins, wherein at least a first pin is used to communicate with the second CCRU via a wired path and at least a second pin is used to communicate with a first Universal Serial Bus (USB) device;
a transducer for transmitting extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless signals to the first CCRU;
circuitry operative to;
execute a CCTU state machine that tracks a state of the CCTU during the establishment of the contactless communications link, wherein the state machine transitions through a plurality of states in response to signals received by the first pin, wherein one of the plurality of states comprises a capabilities state for determining a data transfer protocol;
execute a USB state machine during the capabilities state to enable the first USB device to establish a USB connection with the second USB device via the contactless communication link, wherein the USB state machine transitions through a plurality of USB states in response to signals received by the at least a first pin and the at least a second pin; and
selectively transmit EHF signals, using the transducer, in response to a state transition in at least one of the CCTU state machine and the USB state machine.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
EHF communication systems described herein can selectively implement any one of the USB standards by mapping appropriate USB signal conditions over an EHF contactless communication link. The EHF contactless communication link may serve as an alternative to conventional board-to-board and device-to-device connectors, and as such enables wired connection USB signaling protocols to be used in a non-wired environment provided by the EHF contactless communications link. Use of a USB protocol over the EHF communications link can be accomplished by establishing the EHF link between counterpart EHF communication units, and then by establishing the appropriate USB protocol over the link.
22 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A contactless communications transmitter unit (CCTU) for use in establishing a contactless communications link with a first contactless communications receiver unit (CCRU) that is associated with a second USB device and for use in communicating with a second CCRU via at least one wired path, the contactless communication transmitter unit comprising:
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a plurality of pins, wherein at least a first pin is used to communicate with the second CCRU via a wired path and at least a second pin is used to communicate with a first Universal Serial Bus (USB) device; a transducer for transmitting extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless signals to the first CCRU; circuitry operative to; execute a CCTU state machine that tracks a state of the CCTU during the establishment of the contactless communications link, wherein the state machine transitions through a plurality of states in response to signals received by the first pin, wherein one of the plurality of states comprises a capabilities state for determining a data transfer protocol; execute a USB state machine during the capabilities state to enable the first USB device to establish a USB connection with the second USB device via the contactless communication link, wherein the USB state machine transitions through a plurality of USB states in response to signals received by the at least a first pin and the at least a second pin; and selectively transmit EHF signals, using the transducer, in response to a state transition in at least one of the CCTU state machine and the USB state machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A contactless communications receiver unit (CCRU) for use in establishing a contactless communications link with a first contactless communications transmitter unit (CCTU) and for use in communicating with at least a second CCTU via at least one wired path, the contactless communication receiver unit comprising:
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a plurality of pins, wherein at least a first pin is used to communicate with the second transmitter unit via a wired path and at least a second pin is used to communicate with a first Universal Serial Bus (USB) device; a transducer for receiving extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless signals from the first CCTU; and circuitry operative to; execute a CCRU state machine that tracks the state of the CCRU during the establishment of the contactless communications link, wherein the state machine transitions through a plurality of states in response to signals received by the transducer, wherein one of the plurality of states comprises a capabilities state for determining a data transfer protocol; execute a USB state machine during the capabilities state to establish a USB connection with a second USB device associated with the first CCTU, wherein the USB state machine transitions through a plurality of USB states in response to signals received by the transducer; and selectively drive a signal on the first pin used to communicate with the second transmitter unit in response to a state transition in at least one of the CCRU state machine and the USB state machine. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A first contactless communications unit (CCU) for use in establishing a contactless communications link with a second CCU that is associated with a second USB device, the first CCU comprising:
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a plurality of pins, wherein at least a first pin is used to communicate with a first USB device; a transducerfor transmitting extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless signals to the second CCU and for receiving EHF contactless signals from the second CCU; circuitry operative to; execute a CCU state machine that tracks a state of the first CCU during the establishment of the contactless communications link, wherein the state machine transitions through a plurality of states in response to signals received by the second CCU, wherein one of the plurality of states comprises a capabilities state for determining a data transfer protocol; execute a USB state machine during the capabilities state to enable the first USB device to establish a USB connection with the second USB device via the contactless communication link, wherein the USB state machine transitions through a plurality of USB states in response to signals received by the transducer and the at least a first pin; and selectively transmit and receive EHF signals, using the transducer, in response to a state transition in at least one of the CCU state machine and the USB state machine. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification