Communication link for communicating data
View Patent ↗A communication link for communicating data between a first opto-electronic equipment capable of providing an optical signal and a second opto-electronic equipment capable of receiving the optical signal is described. The communication link includes a first optical channel and a second channel. The first optical channel is preferably a high-speed optical channel for conveying information requiring high-speed connection and the second channel is preferably a slow channel providing, for example a low-power monitoring function. An opto-mechanical device for providing a communication link, including a first opto-electronic equipment for providing an optical signal, a second opto-electronic equipment for receiving the optical signal, a first optical channel and a second channel is also described.
1. Apparatus, comprising:
first receiver circuitry configured to receive, via a first communication channel, first data transmitted from within the apparatus in the form of an optical signal; and
second receiver circuitry configured to receive, via a second communication channel, second data transmitted from within the apparatus;
wherein the first receiver circuitry has a first mode in which it is not operable to receive the first data, and a second mode in which it is operable to receive the first data, and in response to the second receiver circuitry receiving the second data when the first receiver circuitry is in the first mode, the first receiver circuitry is operable to switch from being in the first mode to being in the second mode,
wherein the first receiver circuitry comprises an opto-electronic device, wherein the second data is in the form of an optical signal and the second receiver circuitry comprises a second opto-electronic device, and wherein the first and second opto-electronic devices are provided in a same package.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the first receiver circuitry is in the second mode, it is configured to consume more power than the second receiver circuitry when the second receiver circuitry is operable to receive the second data.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first communication channel is operable to transfer data more quickly than the second communication channel.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second data is in the form of an optical signal, and the first receiver circuitry and the second receiver circuitry have different control circuits.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the first receiver circuitry does not receive an optical signal for a period of time, it is configured to enter into a sleep mode.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that the second data indicates that the second receiver circuitry is to wake up the first receiver circuitry from the sleep mode.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second receiver circuitry is configured to continuously monitor the second communication channel for the second data.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a portable electronic apparatus.
9. Apparatus comprising:
first receiver circuitry configured to receive, via a first communication channel, first data transmitted from within the apparatus in the form of an optical signal; and
second receiver circuitry configured to receive, via a second communication channel, second data transmitted from within the apparatus;
wherein the first receiver circuitry has a first mode in which it is not operable to receive the first data, and a second mode in which it is operable to receive the first data, and in response to the second receiver circuitry receiving the second data when the first receiver circuitry is in the first mode, the first receiver circuitry is operable to switch from being in the first mode to being in the second mode,
wherein the second data is in the form of an electrical signal, and wherein the second communication channel is provided by a cable for conveying power from a battery to the second receiver circuitry.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the second data is an alternating current modulated signal.
11. Apparatus comprising:
first receiver circuitry configured to receive, via a first communication channel, first data transmitted from within the apparatus in the form of an optical signal; and
second receiver circuitry configured to receive, via a second communication channel 1 second data transmitted from within the apparatus;
wherein the first receiver circuitry has a first mode in which it is not operable to receive the first data, and a second mode in which it is operable to receive the first data, and in response to the second receiver circuitry receiving the second data when the first receiver circuitry is in the first mode, the first receiver circuitry is operable to switch from being in the first mode to being in the second mode,
wherein the apparatus comprises an optical transmitter for transmitting the first data, and wherein the apparatus comprises two parts, one of which comprises the optical transmitter and one of which comprises the first receiver circuitry and the second receiver circuitry.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the two parts are movable relative to each other.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the two parts are connected by a hinge for rotating one of the parts relative to another.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the hinge is an optical hinge comprising the first communication channel.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein one of the parts is detachable from the other part.
16. A method, comprising:
receiving data at first receiver circuitry;
in response to receiving the data at the first receiver circuitry, switching second receiver circuitry from being in a first mode in which the second receiver circuitry is not operable to receive further data in the form of an optical signal, to being in a second mode in which the second receiver circuitry is operable to receive the further data in the form of an optical signal; and
receiving, at the second receiver circuitry, the further data in the form of an optical signal,
wherein the first receiver circuitry is art of a portable electronic apparatus and the first receiver circuitry and the second receiver circuitry are located in a first part of the portable electronic apparatus, the first data is transmitted by an optical transmitter, located in a second part of the portable electronic apparatus, and the first and second parts of the portable electronic apparatus are movable relative to each other, and wherein the first and second parts are connected to each other by a hinge for rotating the first and second parts relative to each other.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein when the second receiver circuitry is in the second mode, it consumes more power than the first receiver circuitry when the first receiver circuitry is operable to receive the data.
18. A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the second receiver circuitry comprises an opto-electronic device and processes an optical signal.
19. A method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the data is in the form of an optical signal and the first receiver circuitry comprises the opto-electronic device, and the first receiver circuitry and the second receiver circuitry have different control circuits.
20. A method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the data is in the form of an optical signal and the first receiver circuitry comprises a second opto-electronic device.
21. A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the data is in the form of an electrical signal.
22. A method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein a communication channel is provided by a cable conveying power from a battery to the second receiver circuitry.
23. A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein when the second receiver circuitry does not receive an optical signal for a period of time, it enters into a sleep mode.
24. A method as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the data indicates that the first receiver circuitry is to wake up the second receiver circuitry from the sleep mode.
25. Apparatus, comprising:
a first part;
a second part, movable relative to the first part;
an optical transmitter, located in the second part, for transmitting first data in the form of an optical signal;
first receiver circuitry, located in the first part, for receiving the first data in the form of an optical signal, via a first communication channel; and
second receiver circuitry, located in the first part, for receiving second data transmitted from the second part, via a second communication channel;
wherein the first receiver circuitry has a first mode in which it is not operable to receive the first data, and a second mode in which it is operable to receive the first data, and in response to the second receiver circuitry receiving the second data when the first receiver circuitry is in the first mode, the first receiver circuitry is operable to switch from being in the first mode to being in the second mode.