Patent Application
20080070434
In
In one example, the processing units 7, 9 have three modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, a rest mode, the processing unit is arranged to only monitor whether there is a contact between the conducting areas of the corresponding plate and any other surface. In a second mode of operation, a starting mode, the processing unit is arranged to examine the available bandwidth. When the available bandwidth has been determined, the processing unit can change into a third mode of operation, a transmission mode. In said transmission mode, the processing unit is arranged to distribute data to the conducing areas in communication with the other connector part. The system will continuously shift between the second and third modes, or all three modes, during operation in order to monitor the available bandwidth. This ensures continued transmission with the whole available bandwidth. Thus, when the contact surfaces are displaced in relation to each other, the new set of conducting areas in communication with the other connector part is detected and transmission is performed via the newly detected set of conducting areas. High bandwidth can thus be achieved without the requirement of a determined fixed relation between the contact surfaces of the connector parts.
In
In one example, the first plate 8 is for example made of a rigid material, such as a non-conducting metal. The second plate 10 is in one example made of a soft, flexible material such as a textile. In another example, both of the plates 8, 10 are made of a rigid material and in yet another example, both of the plates 8, 10 are made of a soft, flexible material. The shown, first plate 8 is provided with magnets 17a, 17b, 17c disposed in the surface 16. This is suitable in a case wherein the not shown second plate 10 is made of a magnetic metal and the shown first plate 8 a soft, flexible material. The magnets 17a, 17b, 17c are then arranged to attract to the metal of the other plate and thereby provide coupling between the plates. In an alternative example, magnets are provided in both plates 8 and 10. In yet another example, no magnets are provided in the plates 8 and 10. The shown plate is further provided with a heating element 18 arranged to heat the surface 16. The heating of the surface 16 may be preferred in a moist environment in order to remove moisture between the conducting areas 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d.
In one example, the user and control data communication line 13 and the conducting line parts 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d connecting to the conducting surfaces 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d are made of an optical fibre and the conducting areas 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d are also constituted by said optical fibre material. The light is then emitted by the conducting areas 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d in communication with the second conductor part 5 so as to be received by the conducting areas of the optical fibre material of the second conductor part 5. In accordance with this example, the communication line 6 between the first and second plates 8, 10 does even not require a physical connection between the conducting areas of the first and second plates 8, 10 in order to provide coupling between the first and second connector parts 2, 5.
In another example, the connection lines are electrical cables and the conducting areas are arranged to conduct electrical signals.
In another example, each optically or electrically conducting area 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is replaced with a very short range radio transmitter, in a two-way communication example supplemented with a corresponding very short ranged radio receiver. The range of the transmitter/receiver is chosen such that when the surfaces of the connector parts 2, 5 lie against each other, the transmission only reaches a substantially directly opposing radio receiver.
In another example, the conducting areas comprise a combination of electrically conducting areas and/or optically conducting areas and/or very short range radio transmitters.
In
The transmission unit 21 is arranged to receive signals from the first external unit 1 via the first user data communication line 11. The received signals are divided into packages in a packaging unit 23 and the transmission of packages is performed over the user and control data communication line 13 over the first subset of conducting areas under the control of a transmission control unit 24. In one example, the packaging unit 23 is arranged to associate information to each package related to its position in the signal. The position information is for example an identity code. The transmission unit comprises in one example algorithms arranged to determine what data shall be transmitted, to allow so called “graceful degradation” of the transmitted signals if the bandwidth is not sufficient to transmit all data. Accordingly, it is for example possible to lower the image rate and/or image resolution in the signals. The specific application of the first external unit determines which signals are most critical to transmit. Thus each application will be associated to its own algorithms to enable optimization of the graceful degradation.
The reception unit 22 is arranged to put together packages received via the connector line to the at least one signal in accordance with the position information associated to each package. The re-constructed signal is then transmitted to the first external unit 1 via the first user data communication line 11.
The first processing unit 7 may be built up by clusters of processors. The processors may be provided with parallel and/or separate connections to the conductive areas to improve bandwidth and redundancy. The units 20, 22, 23 and 24 may be implemented as software programs in one or more physical processor units.
In
In an alternative example (not shown), a plurality of conducting areas are formed in the surface of the first plate while a smaller number of conducting areas are formed in the second plate. In one example, the conducting areas of the second plate are enlarged in relation to the conducting areas of the first plate so as to cover more than one conducting area of the first plate. For example, one large conducting areas can be formed on the surface of the second plate.
The example presented above with reference to
In one one-way communication example, the external unit connected to the connector part arranged to perform transmission is a camera or a video camera while the receiving connector part for example is a computer or an eye display. In one application the connector device 3 is used in transmission between a weapon and a soldier. In one example, wherein the weapon is a pistol, the surface 16 with transmitting conducting areas 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is arranged on the pistol grip while the surface with the receiving conducting areas is arranged on the glove of the soldier. When the soldier grabs the pistol grip, information is transmitted from the sensors of the pistol to the computer and displays of the soldier via the connector device 3. The connector device 3 can also be used for user control. In this case, user identity information is transmitted in the opposite direction from the glove to the weapon. The weapon can then be arranged so as to function only upon reception of correct identity information.
Another application for the connector device 3 is in communication between a vehicle and its driver. In one example, the vehicle is a motorbike. The connector device 3 is then for example used for communicating sensor data from the motorbike to the driver or for providing a start lock. The information can be communicated for example via the throttle twist-grip or the seat. In another example the vehicle is an aircraft and in another example the vehicle is a four wheeled vehicle such as a car or a truck.
Yet another application for the connector device 3 is as a key. The connector device can then be used for transmission of code keys between a user and a door lock.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06120880.7 | Sep 2006 | EP | regional |
