Contactless communication unit connector assemblies
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.
1. A first contactless connector assembly for use in interfacing with a second contactless connector assembly, the first contactless connector assembly comprising:
a first connector interface constructed to be coupled to a second connector interface, the first connector interface comprising:
a plurality of extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless communication units (CCUs) operable to selectively transmit and receive EHF signals wherein the EHF CCUs are arranged in a multi-row, multi-column array within the first connector interface; and
a plurality of signal directing structures coupled to the EHF CCUs, wherein the signal directing structures direct the EHF signals along EHF signal pathways dedicated to each of the plurality of DAT CCUs, and wherein the plurality of signal directing structures are constructed to interface with reciprocal signal direction structures of the second connector interface to form an EMI shield for each of the EHF signal pathways when the first and second connector interfaces are connected together.
2. The first contactless connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of signal directing structures comprise a plurality of waveguides.
3. The first contactless connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of signal directing structures comprises a plurality of extension members, and wherein each one of the plurality of waveguides are positioned within respective ones of the plurality of extension members.
4. The first contactless connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of signal directing structures comprise a plurality of extension members that form part of the EMI shield for each of the EHF signal pathways.
5. The second contactless connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reciprocal signal direction structures comprise a plurality of receiving members that form part of the EMI shield for each of the EHF signal pathways.
6. The first contactless connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the EHF CCUs transmit data according to a Standards-based protocol for communicating electrical signals over a physical link.
7. The first contactless connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the Standards-based protocol is a USB protocol.
8. The first contactless connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the Standards-based protocol is selected from the group consisting of DisplayPort, PCIe, SATA, SAS, MHI, HDMI, Ethernet, Thunderbolt, Quickpath, D-PHY, M-PHY, DVI, and Hypertransport.
9. A passive waveguide cable for use in transmitting EHF contactless signals comprising:
a first connector interface;
a second connector interface; and
a bundled waveguide coupled to the first and second connector interfaces, the bundled waveguide comprising a multi-row, multi-column matrix of EHF signaling pathways that span a distance between the first and second connector interfaces, wherein the bundled waveguide is constructed from a dielectric material, wherein each of the EHF signaling pathways is individually covered with a conductive coating, and wherein at least one of the first connector interface and the second connector interface is operative to be coupled to a third connector interface having a reciprocal multi-row, multi-column matrix arrangement for transceiving EHF contactless signals to or from the passive waveguide.
10. The passive waveguide cable of claim 9 , wherein the bundled waveguide comprises:
an interface portion that interfaces with the first connector interface;
a taper portion; and
an extension portion, wherein a cross-section of the interface portion exceeds a cross-section of the extension portion.
11. The passive waveguide cable of claim 9 , wherein the bundled waveguide comprises:
a first interface portion that interfaces with the first connector interface;
a first taper portion;
a second interface portion that interfaces with the second connector interface;
a second taper portion; and
an extension portion existing between the first and second taper portions, wherein a cross-section of the first and second interface portions exceeds a cross-section of the extension portion.
12. The passive waveguide cable of claim 9 , wherein the first connector interface comprises at least one alignment element and wherein the second connector interface comprises at least one alignment element.
13. The passive waveguide cable of claim 12 , wherein the at least one alignment element of the first and second connector interfaces is a magnet.
14. The passive waveguide cable of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first and second connector interfaces is wedge shaped.
15. The passive waveguide cable of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first and second connector interfaces is plugged shaped.
16. The passive waveguide cable of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first and second connector interfaces is polygonal column shaped.