EHF hinge assemblies
AssigneeKeyssa Systems, Inc.
InventorsAlan Besel, Eric Sweetman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hinge assemblies that serve as conduits for guiding extremely high frequency (EHF) signals are disclosed herein. The hinge assembly can contain EHF signal energy as data is transmitted from one structure to the other and the hinge assembly can also include a one or more waveguides that define EHF signal pathways through which EHF signal energy is directed. Each hinge assembly may serve as a conduit structure for each coupled pair of contactless communication units (CCUs), and multiple hinge assemblies may be used as separate conduit structures each of several coupled pairs of contactless communication unit.
Claims25
A hinge assembly for use in propagating radio frequency signals, the hinge assembly comprising:
- a first subassembly comprising a first waveguide, wherein the first waveguide comprises a first self-sustaining signal propagation portion and a first co-dependent signal propagation portion;
- a second subassembly that interfaces with the first subassembly and moves at an angular rotation with respect to the first subassembly, the second subassembly comprising a second waveguide, wherein the second waveguide comprises a second self-sustaining signal propagation portion and a second co-dependent signal propagation portion;
- wherein, in a first range of angular rotation, the first and second co-dependent signal propagation portions are in direct contact with each other to form a propagation coupling between the first and second waveguides that enables the radio frequency signals to propagate through the hinge assembly;
- and
- wherein, in a second range of angular rotation, the first and second co-dependent signal propagation portions are not in direct contact with each other and the radio frequency signals are not able to propagate through the hinge assembly.
A hinge assembly comprising:
- a first subassembly that rotates about an axis;
- and
- a second subassembly that interfaces with the first subassembly and rotates about the axis, the second subassembly comprising:
- a first waveguide comprising a first waveguide interfacing region;
- and
- first and second members that partially enclose the first waveguide when the first and second members are coupled together to form a first integrated member having a first planar surface that is coplanar with the first waveguide interfacing region, wherein the first planar surface and the first waveguide interfacing region interface with the first subassembly.
An electronic device comprising:
- a first EHF transceiver operative to transmit or receive EHF signals;
- a second EHF transceiver operative to transmit or receive EHF signals;
- and
- a hinge assembly associated with the first and second EHF transceivers and comprising first and second waveguides, wherein the hinge assembly is operative to enable EHF signals to propagate between the first and second EHF transceivers via the hinge assembly when the first waveguide, which is associated with the first EHF transceiver, is in direct contact with the second waveguide, which is associated with the second EHF transceiver, such that when the first and second waveguides are in direct contact with each other, an EHF propagation coupling exists between the first and second waveguides, and when the first and second waveguides are not in direct contact with each other, the EHF propagation coupling does not exist, wherein when the first and second waveguides are in direct contact with each other, a combination of a first cross-sectional area of a first portion of the first waveguide and a second cross-sectional area of a second portion of the second waveguide yields a combined cross-sectional area sufficient for establishing the EHF propagation coupling, and wherein when the first and second waveguides are not in direct contact with each other, the cross-sectional area of the first portion is not sufficient to carry the EHF signals, and the cross-sectional area of the second portion is not sufficient to carry the EHF signals.
The electronic device 22, wherein the hinge assembly is a first hinge assembly, and the first and second EHF transceivers are a first coupled pair of EHF transceivers, the electronic device comprising:
- a second coupled pair of EHF transceivers comprising third and fourth EHF transceivers;
- and
- a second hinge assembly associated with the third and fourth EHF transceivers and comprising third and fourth waveguides, wherein the second hinge assembly is operative to enable EHF signals to propagate between the third and fourth EHF transceivers via the second hinge assembly when the third waveguide, which is associated with the third EHF transceiver, is in direct contact with the fourth waveguide, which is associated with the fourth EHF transceiver, such that when the third and fourth waveguides are in direct contact with each other, a second EHF propagation coupling exists between the third and fourth waveguides, and when the third and fourth waveguides are not in direct contact with each other, the second EHF propagation coupling does not exist.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.