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 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.
Abstract:
Data may be transferred from a communication subsystem (108) of a first device (102) to a communication subsystem (128) of a second device (104) contactlessly, at high speed, and without intervention by host processors (112, 132) of either device. Devices may be programmed or personalized at the factory or warehouse, and may personalized at a warehouse or at a point of sale while in the box (360). Various modes of operation and use scenarios are described. Portions of the devices themselves, or a transmission path (150, 370, 470) between the devices may be shielded against snooping by a material (480) which degrades an EHF signal passing therethrough.