Patents by Inventor Gary D. McCormack

Gary D. McCormack has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150094002
    Abstract: An EHF communication system including an EHF communication chip. The EHF communication chip may include an EHF communication circuit having at least one controllable parameter-based module having a testable and controllable operating parameter The EHF communication chip may further include a test and trim circuit coupled to the EHF communication circuit, where the test and trim circuit includes a logic circuit having one or more memory elements, where the logic circuit is coupled to the controllable parameter-based module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Ian A. Kyles, Gary D. McCormack
  • Publication number: 20150065069
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a dielectric substrate, an electronic circuit supported by the substrate, for processing data, and a communication unit having an antenna. The communication unit may be mounted to the substrate in communication with the electronic circuit for converting between a first EHF electromagnetic signal containing digital information and a data signal conducted by the electronic circuit. The electromagnetic signal may be transmitted or received along a signal path by the antenna. An electromagnetic signal guide assembly may include a dielectric element made of a dielectric material disposed proximate the antenna in the signal path. The electromagnetic signal guide may have sides extending along the signal path. A sleeve element may extend around the dielectric element along sides of the dielectric element. The sleeve element may impede transmission of the electromagnetic signal through the sides of the dielectric element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Ian A. Kyles
  • Publication number: 20150048907
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Eric Almgren, Anthony Michael Fadell, Roger D. Isaac, Gary D. McCormack, Mariel van Tatenhove
  • Patent number: 8939773
    Abstract: A first connector may include a housing defining a first connector face to be positioned in a first position or a second position proximate to a second connector face of a second connector. A first extremely high frequency (EHF) communication unit may be disposed in the housing for communicating with a second EHF communication unit of the second connector when the first connector face is positioned in first or second position relative to the second connector face. A first magnet may be disposed in the housing. The first magnet may align with and repel a second magnet disposed relative to the second connector face when the first connector face is positioned in the second position. The first magnet may be configured not to align with and not to repel the second magnet when first connector face is positioned in the first position relative to the second connector face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Keyssa, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary D. McCormack
  • Patent number: 8929834
    Abstract: An EHF communication system including an EHF communication chip. The EHF communication chip may include an EHF communication circuit having at least one controllable parameter-based module having a testable and controllable operating parameter The EHF communication chip may further include a test and trim circuit coupled to the EHF communication circuit, where the test and trim circuit includes a logic circuit having one or more memory elements, where the logic circuit is coupled to the controllable parameter-based module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Keyssa, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian A. Kyles, Gary D. McCormack
  • Patent number: 8909135
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a dielectric substrate, an electronic circuit supported by the substrate, for processing data, and a communication unit having an antenna. The communication unit may be mounted to the substrate in communication with the electronic circuit for converting between a first EHF electromagnetic signal containing digital information and a data signal conducted by the electronic circuit. The electromagnetic signal may be transmitted or received along a signal path by the antenna. An electromagnetic signal guide assembly may include a dielectric element made of a dielectric material disposed proximate the antenna in the signal path. The electromagnetic signal guide may have sides extending along the signal path. A sleeve element may extend around the dielectric element along sides of the dielectric element. The sleeve element may impede transmission of the electromagnetic signal through the sides of the dielectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Keyssa, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Ian A. Kyles
  • Publication number: 20140355700
    Abstract: A system for communicating modulated EHF signals may include a modulation circuit responsive to a bi-level transmit information signal for generating a transmit output signal. The transmit output signal may have an EHF frequency when the transmit information signal is at a first information state and may be suppressed when the transmit information signal is at a second information state. A transmit transducer operatively coupled to the modulation circuit may be responsive to the transmit output signal for converting the transmit output signal into an electromagnetic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Ian A. Kyles
  • Patent number: 8897700
    Abstract: A system for sensing proximity using EHF signals may include a communication circuit configured to transmit via a transducer an EM signal at an EHF frequency, and a proximity sensing circuit configured to sense a nearby transducer field-modifying object by detecting characteristics of a signal within the communication circuit. A system for determining distance using EHF signals may include a detecting circuit coupled to a transmitting communication circuit and a receiving communication circuit, both communication circuits being mounted on a first surface. The transmitting communication circuit may transmit a signal toward a second surface, and the receiving communication circuit may receive a signal relayed from the second surface. The detecting circuit may determine distance between the first surface and a second surface based on propagation characteristics of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Keyssa, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Ian A. Kyles
  • Publication number: 20140342579
    Abstract: A first connector may include a housing defining a first connector face to be positioned in a first position or a second position proximate to a second connector face of a second connector. A first extremely high frequency (EHF) communication unit may be disposed in the housing for communicating with a second EHF communication unit of the second connector when the first connector face is positioned in first or second position relative to the second connector face. A first magnet may be disposed in the housing. The first magnet may align with and repel a second magnet disposed relative to the second connector face when the first connector face is positioned in the second position. The first magnet may be configured not to align with and not to repel the second magnet when first connector face is positioned in the first position relative to the second connector face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Gary D. McCormack
  • Publication number: 20140341232
    Abstract: An extremely high frequency (EHF) protocol converter may include a transducer, an EHF communication circuit, a protocol conversion circuit, and a circuit port. The transducer may be configured to convert between an electromagnetic EHF data signal and an electrical EHF signal. The EHF communication circuit may be configured to convert between a baseband data signal and the electrical EHF signal. The protocol conversion circuit may be adapted to convert between the baseband data signal having data formatted according to a first data protocol associated with a first external device and a second baseband data signal having data formatted according to a second data protocol associated with a second external device. The second data protocol may be different from the first data protocol. The circuit port may conduct the second baseband data signal to the second external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Roger Isaac, Eric Almgren
  • Publication number: 20140273852
    Abstract: A Physical Layer (PHY) of a host system of an electronic device may be implemented as a contactless PHY (cPHY) for extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless communication and the operation of EHF transmitters (TX), receivers (RX) and transceivers (EHF-XCVR) in an extremely high frequency integrated circuit (EHF IC) of the electronic device. The Host-cPHY translates logical communications requests from the Link Layer (LINK) into hardware-specific operations to affect transmission or reception of signals over an EHF contactless link. The Link Layer (LINK) may also be optimized as a contactless Link Layer (cLINK) for EHF contactless communication. A virtualized contactless Physical Layer (VcPHY) may comprise a contactless Physical Layer (Host-cPHY), and a contactless Link Layer (cLINK) for coupling a conventional Link Layer (LINK) with the contactless Physical Layer (Host-cPHY). Multiple data streams may be transported over the EHF contactless link over a range of frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Ian A. Kyles, Roger D. Isaac
  • Publication number: 20140273837
    Abstract: An electronic device may include an auxiliary circuit providing an operative function, a data signal circuit, and an extremely high frequency (EHF) wireless transmitter. The auxiliary circuit may produce a first low frequency data signal. The data signal circuit may be coupled to the auxiliary circuit for encoding a first composite data signal including the first low frequency data signal and the first base high frequency data signal. The EHF wireless transmitter may transmit the first encoded composite data signal to an external device over a wireless EHF communication link. The transmitted encoded composite data signal may have a predefined rate of carrier modulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Ian A. Kyles
  • Publication number: 20140273833
    Abstract: A Physical Layer (PHY) of a host system of an electronic device may be implemented as a contactless PHY (Host-cPHY) for extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless communication and the operation of EHF transmitters (TX), receivers (RX) and transceivers (EHF-XCVR) in an extremely high frequency integrated circuit (EHF IC) of the electronic device. The Host-cPHY translates logical communications requests from the Link Layer (LINK) into hardware-specific operations to affect transmission or reception of signals over an EHF contactless link). The Link Layer (LINK) may also be optimized as a contactless Link Layer (cLINK) for EHF contactless communication. Multiple data streams may be transported over the EHF contactless link over a range of frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Ian A. Kyles, Roger D. Isaac
  • Publication number: 20140273894
    Abstract: An electromagnetic Extremely High Frequency (EHF) communication chip includes one or more local oscillator circuits, a transducer circuit and at least one of a modulator or a demodulator coupled to the transducer circuit. Each of the local oscillator circuits may have a local oscillator and configured collectively to generate first and second carrier signals having respective first and second EHF frequencies. The first EHF frequency may be different than the second EHF frequency.The transducer circuit may have a first transducer for transmitting and receiving EHF communication signals. The modulator may be coupled to the local oscillator circuits for modulating the first carrier signal or the second carrier signal with a first transmit base data signal. The demodulator may be for demodulating the first carrier signal or the second carrier signal to produce a first receive base data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Ian A. Kyles
  • Publication number: 20140273856
    Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to systems, methods, and circuits for establishing EHF contactless communications links. The EHF contactless communication link may serve as an alternative to conventional board-to-board and device-to-device connectors. The link may be a low-latency protocol-transparent communication link capable of supporting a range of data rates. The link may be established through a close proximity coupling between devices, each including at least one EHF communication unit. Each EHF unit involved in establishing an EHF communication link may progress through a series of steps before data can be transferred between the devices. These steps may be controlled by one or more state machines that are being implemented in each EHF communication unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: WAVECONNEX, INC.
    Inventors: Ian A. Kyles, Ken Kveton, Mike Bourdess, John Wolcott, Steve Novak, Roger D. Isaac, Gary D. McCormack
  • Patent number: 8811526
    Abstract: A system for communicating modulated EHF signals may include a modulation circuit responsive to a bi-level transmit information signal for generating a transmit output signal. The transmit output signal may have an EHF frequency when the transmit information signal is at a first information state and may be suppressed when the transmit information signal is at a second information state. A transmit transducer operatively coupled to the modulation circuit may be responsive to the transmit output signal for converting the transmit output signal into an electromagnetic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Keyssa, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Ian A. Kyles
  • Patent number: 8794980
    Abstract: A first connector may include a housing defining a first connector face to be positioned in a first position or a second position proximate to a second connector face of a second connector. A first extremely high frequency (EHF) communication unit may be disposed in the housing for communicating with a second EHF communication unit of the second connector when the first connector face is positioned in first or second position relative to the second connector face. A first magnet may be disposed in the housing. The first magnet may align with and repel a second magnet disposed relative to the second connector face when the first connector face is positioned in the second position. The first magnet may be configured not to align with and not to repel the second magnet when first connector face is positioned in the first position relative to the second connector face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Keyssa, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary D. McCormack
  • Patent number: 8757501
    Abstract: A scalable, high-bandwidth connectivity architecture for portable storage devices and memory modules may utilize EHF communication link chip packages mounted in various two-dimensional and three-dimensional configurations on planar surfaces such as printed circuit boards. Multiple electromagnetic communication links between devices distributed on major faces of card-like devices may be provided with respectively aligned pairs of communication units on each device. Adjacent communication units on a printed circuit board may transmit or receive electromagnetic radiation having different polarization, such as linear or elliptical polarization. Power and communication between communication devices may both be provided wirelessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: WaveConnex, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Ian A. Kyles
  • Publication number: 20140170982
    Abstract: One or more files may be transmitted from a first electronic device to a second electronic device via an EHF communication link. The first and second electronic devices may each include a processor coupled to a memory and to an EHF communication unit. The processors may be configured to establish the EHF communication link between the EHF communication unit of the first electronic device and the EHF communication unit of the second electronic device, and to transmit a copy of the one or more files via the EHF communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Roger Isaac
  • Publication number: 20140169486
    Abstract: A computing device includes an integrated unit having a plurality of functional components, and an extremely high frequency (EHF) communication unit operatively coupled to the integrated unit. The EHF communication unit includes a transducer configured to transmit and receive EHF electromagnetic signals, and convert between electrical signals and electromagnetic signals. The computing device includes a transceiver operatively coupled to the transducer. The EHF communication unit may enable at least one of the functional components of the computing device to be supplemented by a functional component of an external computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Gary D. McCormack, Roger Isaac, Ian A. Kyles