# US 10,122,059 B2 · Contactless communication unit connector assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,059 B2 - Document ID: US10122059B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/423,499 - Filed: 2017-02-02 - Published: 2017-05-25 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-13 - Assignees: Keyssa, Inc. - Applicants: Keyssa, Inc. - Inventors: Eric Almgren; Anthony Michael Fadell; Roger D. Isaac; Gary D. McCormack; Mariel van Tatenhove - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122059B2 ## CPC - H01P 5/02: with invariable factor of coupling (H01P5/12 takes precedence {choke joints H01P1/04, H01P1/06}) - H01P 3/00: Waveguides; Transmission lines of the waveguide type - H04B 5/20: characterised by the transmission technique; characterised by the transmission medium - H04B 5/70: specially adapted for specific purposes - H10W 70/421: {Shapes or dispositions} - H01P 3/14: flexible - H01Q 7/00: Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop - H10W 70/655: Fan-out layouts - H10W 72/884: {Die-attach connectors and bond wires} - H10W 74/00: Encapsulations, e.g. protective coatings - H10W 90/754: {between a chip and a stacked insulating package substrate, interposer or RDL} - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract Contactless extremely high frequency connector assemblies, passive cable connector assemblies, and active cable connector assemblies are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a contactless connector assembly can include several (EHF) contactless communication units operable to selectively transmit and receive EHF signals, and several signal directing structures coupled to the EHF CCUs. The signal directing structures can direct the EHF signals along a plurality of EHF signal pathways. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A first contactless connector assembly for use in interfacing with a second contactless connector assembly, the first contactless connector assembly comprising: a first connector interface constructed to be coupled to a second connector interface, the first connector interface comprising: a plurality of extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless communication units (CCUs) operable to selectively transmit and receive EHF signals wherein the EHF CCUs are arranged in a multi-row, multi-column array within the first connector interface; and a plurality of signal directing structures coupled to the EHF CCUs, wherein the signal directing structures direct the EHF signals along EHF signal pathways dedicated to each of the plurality of DAT CCUs, and wherein the plurality of signal directing structures are constructed to interface with reciprocal signal direction structures of the second connector interface to form an EMI shield for each of the EHF signal pathways when the first and second connector interfaces are connected together. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The first contactless connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of signal directing structures comprise a plurality of waveguides. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The first contactless connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of signal directing structures comprises a plurality of extension members, and wherein each one of the plurality of waveguides are positioned within respective ones of the plurality of extension members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The first contactless connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of signal directing structures comprise a plurality of extension members that form part of the EMI shield for each of the EHF signal pathways. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The second contactless connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the reciprocal signal direction structures comprise a plurality of receiving members that form part of the EMI shield for each of the EHF signal pathways. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The first contactless connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the EHF CCUs transmit data according to a Standards-based protocol for communicating electrical signals over a physical link. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The first contactless connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the Standards-based protocol is a USB protocol. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The first contactless connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the Standards-based protocol is selected from the group consisting of DisplayPort, PCIe, SATA, SAS, MHI, HDMI, Ethernet, Thunderbolt, Quickpath, D-PHY, M-PHY, DVI, and Hypertransport. ### Claim 9 A passive waveguide cable for use in transmitting EHF contactless signals comprising: a first connector interface; a second connector interface; and a bundled waveguide coupled to the first and second connector interfaces, the bundled waveguide comprising a multi-row, multi-column matrix of EHF signaling pathways that span a distance between the first and second connector interfaces, wherein the bundled waveguide is constructed from a dielectric material, wherein each of the EHF signaling pathways is individually covered with a conductive coating, and wherein at least one of the first connector interface and the second connector interface is operative to be coupled to a third connector interface having a reciprocal multi-row, multi-column matrix arrangement for transceiving EHF contactless signals to or from the passive waveguide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The passive waveguide cable of claim 9, wherein the bundled waveguide comprises: an interface portion that interfaces with the first connector interface; a taper portion; and an extension portion, wherein a cross-section of the interface portion exceeds a cross-section of the extension portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The passive waveguide cable of claim 9, wherein the bundled waveguide comprises: a first interface portion that interfaces with the first connector interface; a first taper portion; a second interface portion that interfaces with the second connector interface; a second taper portion; and an extension portion existing between the first and second taper portions, wherein a cross-section of the first and second interface portions exceeds a cross-section of the extension portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The passive waveguide cable of claim 9, wherein the first connector interface comprises at least one alignment element and wherein the second connector interface comprises at least one alignment element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The passive waveguide cable of claim 12, wherein the at least one alignment element of the first and second connector interfaces is a magnet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The passive waveguide cable of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second connector interfaces is wedge shaped. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The passive waveguide cable of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second connector interfaces is plugged shaped. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The passive waveguide cable of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second connector interfaces is polygonal column shaped.