Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to systems, methods, and circuits for locating obfuscated EHF contactless connectors so that a contactless communication link can be established between two devices. When connector interfaces are not readily ascertainable, a user may rely on the location embodiments discussed herein to quickly and correctly orient his or her device with respect to another device to establish the contactless communication link.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for EM isolation structures. One of the apparatus includes a communication module, the communication module including: a printed circuit board; a plurality of integrated circuit packages, each integrated circuit package including at least one transmitter, receiver, or transceiver; and one or more metallic blocking structures configured to at least partially encircle a corresponding one of the plurality of integrated circuit packages, wherein each metallic blocking structure is configured to reduce signal leakage from the corresponding integrated circuit package.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for EM communications. One of the methods includes determining, at a first device, that a second device is present; initiating a half duplex communication with the second device; configuring communication with the second device including determining whether full duplex communication is available; in response to a determination that full duplex communication is not available, communicating with the second device in half duplex mode; and in response to a determination that full duplex communication is available, communication with the second device in full duplex mode.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus for electromagnetic communications are provided. One of the apparatuses include a communication module, the communication module including: a printed circuit board; a plurality of integrated circuit packages, each integrated circuit package including at least one transmitter, receiver, or transceiver; a plurality of signal guiding structures, each signal guiding structure being associated with a corresponding integrated circuit package of the plurality of integrated circuit packages; and one or more signal blocking structures positioned between one or more pairs of integrated circuit packages.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to systems and structures for focusing dispersal of electromagnetic signals. Focusing of the electromagnetic signals is achieved by a reflective lens that is constructed from several extremely high frequency focusing layers. Each focusing layer can include an extremely high frequency focusing window that, collectively, define the geometry of a cavity backed reflective lens and its ability to focus electromagnetic signal dispersion.

Abstract: An adapter may facilitate easy and swift data transfer amongst two previously incompatible electronic devices. Such an adapter may be operative to communicate data with a first of the two electronic devices using a contactless communication link and a first communication protocol and to communicate data with a second of the two electronic devices using a mechanical communication link and/or using a second communication protocol that is different than the first communication protocol, such that data may be transferred between the first and second electronic devices via the adapter. The adapter may be communicatively coupled to both the first electronic device and the second electronic device at the same time. The adapter may rapidly transition between communicating data with the first device and communicating data with the second device (e.g., without altering a physical connection between the adapter and one of the first and second devices during such a transition).

Abstract: Conduit structures for redirecting extremely high frequency (EHF) signals are disclosed herein. The conduit structures discussed herein are designed to re-direct EHF or RF signal energy from a first signal path to a second signal path. The conduit structures according to embodiments discussed herein can re-direct the RF signal energy while simultaneously adhering to specified signaling characteristic of the RF signal and minimizing stray RF signal radiation within a device to support device-to-device contactless communications.

Abstract: An EHF receiver that determines an initial slicing voltage level and dynamically adjusts the slicing voltage level and/or amplifier gain levels to account for characteristics of the received EHF electromagnetic data signal. The architecture includes an amplifier, detector, adaptive signal slicer, and controller. The detector includes a main detector and replica detector that convert the received EHF electromagnetic data signal into a baseband signal and a reference signal. The controller uses the baseband signal and reference signal to determine an initial slicing voltage level, and dynamically adjust the slicing voltage level and the gain settings of the amplifier to compensate for changing signal conditions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for EM communications. One of the apparatus includes a super-regenerative amplifier (SRA) configured to receive a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulated signal and to output an amplitude signal as a function of changes in phase in the BPSK modulated signal; a pseudo synchronous demodulator that rectifies the amplitude signal and generates an envelope of the rectified amplitude signal; and an analog to digital converter that converts the amplitude values of the envelope to digital binary values.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for EM communications. One of the methods includes determining, at a first device, that a second device is present; initiating a half duplex communication with the second device; configuring communication with the second device including determining whether full duplex communication is available; in response to a determination that full duplex communication is not available, communicating with the second device in half duplex mode; and in response to a determination that full duplex communication is available, communication with the second device in full duplex mode.

Abstract: A device comprises a clock data recovery (CDR) circuit. The CDR circuit has an input node to receive an input data signal, an output node, a data recovery circuit, and a self-test circuit. The CDR circuit supports a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. In the first mode, the CDR circuit receives the input data signal at the input node and provides the input data signal to an input of the data recovery circuit, the data recovery circuit recovers first data from the input data signal, and the CDR circuit provides the first data for output at the output node. In the second mode, the self-test circuit generates a test data pattern which is provided to the output node and looped back to the input of the data recovery circuit, the data recovery circuit recovers second data from the test data pattern, and the self-test circuit checks the second data for errors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for inserting a re-timer signal between a transmitter and a receiver, including receiving, from the transmitter, an input data signal having encoded words, where each encoded word of the encoded words has a word length of a predetermined number of bits; generating, by a re-timer and based on the input data signal, a regenerated clock signal and an output data signal; determining, based on the regenerated clock signal, a timing difference between the input data signal and the output data signal of the re-timer; and applying, by the re-timer and based on the timing difference between the input data signal and the output data signal, a delay to the input data signal to generate a delayed output data signal, such that a timing difference between the input data signal and the delayed output data signal corresponds to N word lengths.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to systems, methods, and circuits for managing and establishing contactless communications lanes between two contactlessly coupled systems. A contactless communication lane can be formed for each coupled pair of contactless communication units existing in the two systems. A contactless communications interface can enable software-defined connectivity that manages use of the contactless communication data lanes to enable data communications according to a selected one of a plurality of communications interfaces. The contactless communications interface may serve as a protocol translator and virtualization layer for enabling higher level software such as an operating system of a first system to communicate with a second system without requiring interface protocol specific hardware and software. This advantageously simplifies hardware and software components needed to simultaneously service a multitude of interface protocols.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to systems, methods, and circuits for conforming to power up sequencing rules of a conventional hard-wired data connection even though the hard-wired data connection that would ordinarily exist between two data controllers has been replaced with one or more contactless connectors. A consequence of replacing the hard-wired connection with a contactless connector is that the data controllers no longer directly control the power sequencing between the controllers because they are not able to directly communicate with each other over the hard-wired data connections. Power sequence assist circuitry may be used to assists the data controllers in establishing a link in accordance with the power sequencing rules of a particular wired interface despite the intentionally broken hard-wired data connection between the two controllers by instructing the contactless connectors to communicate with their respective data controllers in compliance with the power sequencing rules.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for generating a clock signal using re-timer circuitry, including receiving an input data signal transmitted without a reference clock signal; comparing the input data signal with a re-timer clock signal to determine a frequency difference between the input data signal and the re-timer clock signal; determining a data rate of the input data signal based on the frequency difference between the input data signal and the re-timer clock signal; and generating, based on the data rate of the input data signal, a control signal for adjusting a frequency of the re-timer clock signal to frequency-lock the re-timer clock signal with the input data signal.

Abstract: Multiple order connectors for contactless communication devices and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a first device for use in establishing a contactless communications link with a second device is provided. The first device can include a first order connection, which can be constructed to interface with a counterpart first order connection of the second device, and a second order connection. The second order connection can include a substrate, at least one contactless communications unit (CCU) mounted on the substrate and that is operative to establish the contactless communications link with a respective counterpart CCU of the second device, and an actuator operative to move the substrate such that the at least one CCU is optimally aligned with its respective counterpart CCU to establish the contactless communications link.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for generating a clock signal using re-timer circuitry, including receiving an input data signal transmitted without a reference clock signal; comparing the input data signal with a re-timer clock signal to determine a frequency difference between the input data signal and the re-timer clock signal; determining a data rate of the input data signal based on the frequency difference between the input data signal and the re-timer clock signal; and generating, based on the data rate of the input data signal, a control signal for adjusting a frequency of the re-timer clock signal to frequency-lock the re-timer clock signal with the input data signal.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for EM communications. One of the apparatus includes a super-regenerative amplifier (SRA) configured to receive a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulated signal and to output an amplitude signal as a function of changes in phase in the BPSK modulated signal; a pseudo synchronous demodulator that rectifies the amplitude signal and generates an envelope of the rectified amplitude signal; and an analog to digital converter that converts the amplitude values of the envelope to digital binary values.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for EM communications. One of the apparatus includes a first device comprising: a first contactless connector and a second contactless connector, and a first controller configured to test the first contactless connector and the second contactless connector to determine a primary connector and a redundant connector, wherein the primary connector is configured to establish a communication link with a connector of another device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for EM isolation structures. One of the apparatus includes a communication module, the communication module including: a printed circuit board; a plurality of integrated circuit packages, each integrated circuit package including at least one transmitter, receiver, or transceiver; and one or more metallic blocking structures configured to at least partially encircle a corresponding one of the plurality of integrated circuit packages, wherein each metallic blocking structure is configured to reduce signal leakage from the corresponding integrated circuit package.