Extremely high frequency systems and methods of operating the same

A contactless communications transmitter unit (CCTU) for use in establishing a contactless communications link with a first contactless communications receiver unit and for use in communicating with a second contactless communications receiver unit via at least one wired path, the contactless communication transmitter unit comprising:

• a plurality of pins, wherein at least one pin is used to communicate with the second receiver unit via a wired path;
• a transducer for transmitting extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless signals to the first receiver unit;
• 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 at least one pin;
• and
• selectively transmit EHF signals, using the transducer, in response to a state transition.

A method for establishing an EHF communications link, comprising:

• executing a state machine that tracks a state of a first EHF communication unit to establish the EHF communications link, the state machine operative to transition through a plurality of states responsive to signals provided by an upstream EHF communication unit, wherein executing the state machine comprises:
• determining whether to transition to a selected one of the plurality of states in response to a signal received by the upstream EHF communication unit;
• transitioning to the selected state when it is determined to transition to the selected state;
• and
• communicating a signal to a downstream EHF communication unit in response to the state transition.