PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11118939-B2
Application Number: US-201916290440-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Conductive cladding for waveguides

Abstract:
A waveguide structure to allow device to determine its orientation are disclosed. The waveguide may be formed of a dielectric core and a cladding. The dielectric core may be formed of a solid dielectric material that conducts radio waves at millimeter wave frequencies and above. The cladding may encapsulate the core, and may include at least two conductive portions. Each conductive portion may be disposed around less than the entire core. The conductive portions allow electrical signals to flow between two devices to determine an orientation of the waveguide.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A waveguide comprising:
 a dielectric core having a circular cross-sectional shape and being formed of a material that conducts radio waves; and 
 a cladding having an annular cross-sectional shape and encapsulating the dielectric core, the cladding comprising a plurality of conductive portions formed as segments of the cladding that are equally spaced apart from one another and separated by a plurality of insulation portions, 
 wherein the plurality of insulation portions are formed of a conductive material coated with a layer of non-conductive material. 
 
     
     
       2. The waveguide of  claim 1 , wherein each insulation portion in the plurality of insulation portions is disposed between adjacent conductive portions of the plurality of conductive portions and electrically isolate adjacent conductive portions from one another. 
     
     
       3. The waveguide of  claim 1 , wherein each conductive portion is in direct contact with and disposed around less than the entire dielectric core. 
     
     
       4. The waveguide of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric core is a solid core that conducts radio waves at and above millimeter wave frequencies. 
     
     
       5. The waveguide of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insulation portions have a dielectric constant different than a dielectric constant of the dielectric core. 
     
     
       6. The waveguide of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric core is formed from a plastic. 
     
     
       7. The waveguide of  claim 1 , wherein a first conductive portion in the plurality of conductive portions is configured to provide power. 
     
     
       8. The waveguide of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric core is concentric to the cladding. 
     
     
       9. The waveguide of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of magnetic alignment structures configured to preferentially attach to a corresponding magnetic receptacle to orient the waveguide in a predetermined position. 
     
     
       10. The waveguide of  claim 9 , wherein each magnetic alignment structure of the plurality of magnetic alignment structures are positioned adjacent to a respective conductive portion of the plurality of conductive portions. 
     
     
       11. The waveguide of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of insulation portions are formed of a conductive material having an oxide layer. 
     
     
       12. The waveguide of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of conductive portions comprise titanium and the plurality of insulation portions comprise titanium coated with a layer of oxide. 
     
     
       13. The waveguide of  claim 7  wherein a second conductive portion in the plurality of conductive portions is configured to convey data. 
     
     
       14. A waveguide comprising:
 a dielectric core having a circular cross-sectional shape and being formed of a material that conducts radio waves; and 
 a cladding having an annular cross-sectional shape and encapsulating the dielectric core, the cladding comprising a plurality of conductive portions formed as segments of the cladding that are equally spaced apart from one another and separated by a plurality of insulation portions, 
 wherein a first conductive portion radially overlaps a second conductive portion and less than an entire region of the first conductive portion radially overlaps less than an entire region of the second conductive portion. 
 
     
     
       15. The waveguide of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of insulation portions have a dielectric constant different than a dielectric constant of the dielectric core. 
     
     
       16. A waveguide system comprising:
 a waveguide comprising a dielectric core having a circular cross-sectional shape encapsulated by a cladding, the cladding having an annular cross-sectional shape and comprising a plurality of conductive portions that are formed as segments of the cladding that are equally spaced apart from one another and separated by a plurality of insulation portions, wherein the plurality of insulation portions are formed of a conductive material coated with a layer of non-conductive material; 
 a processor configured to interact with the waveguide; 
 an antenna coupled to the processor, the antenna configured to send data through the dielectric core of the waveguide; and 
 a sensor corresponding to the antenna and coupled to the processor, the sensor configured to couple with the plurality of conductive portions of the waveguide cladding to determine an orientation of the dielectric core. 
 
     
     
       17. The waveguide system of  claim 16 , wherein the antenna is disposed on a separate microchip. 
     
     
       18. The waveguide system of  claim 16  wherein the antenna is one in a plurality of antennas, wherein each antenna in the plurality of antennas is disposed on a same microchip. 
     
     
       19. The waveguide system of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect magnetic fields from the waveguide cladding. 
     
     
       20. A method comprising:
 receiving, by a sensor, a first electrical signal sent through a cladding of a transmitting waveguide when the transmitting waveguide is mated with a receiving waveguide, the cladding having an annular cross-sectional shape and encapsulating a dielectric core of the transmitting waveguide, the dielectric core having a circular cross-sectional shape and being formed of a material that conducts radio waves, wherein the cladding comprises a plurality of conductive portions that are formed as segments of the cladding that are equally spaced apart from one another and separated by a plurality of insulation portions, wherein a first conductive portion radially overlaps a second conductive portion and less than an entire region of the first conductive portion radially overlaps less than an entire region of the second conductive portion; 
 determining a location of the sensor; and 
 determining an orientation of the transmitting waveguide by referencing the location of the sensor. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first electrical signal is sent through a conductive portion of the plurality of conductive portions of the cladding of the transmitting waveguide. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 sending a second electrical signal through the cladding of the transmitting waveguide indicating the orientation of the transmitting waveguide with respect to the receiving waveguide; and 
 receiving transmission waves through a core of the receiving waveguide.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/834,039, filed on Aug. 24, 2015 and titled “Conductive Cladding for Waveguides,” the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Modern mobile devices, such as smart phones, smart watches, tablets, laptops, and the like, will occasionally be connected to another device. For instance, smart phones may be connected to a computer to receive and/or send data. Similarly, smart watches may be connected to a docking station to receive and/or send data. Accessories may be used to connect the devices to one another. For example, a cable can be used to connect the smart phone to the computer. 
     Presently, cables containing conductive wires are generally used for data transmission. Such cables transmit data by allowing voltages to be applied through the conductive wires at a predetermined frequency. The maximum frequency at which data can be transferred through the conductive wire may be limited, however, due to limitations of conductive materials, such as the resistance of the conductive material. Furthermore, utilizing conductive wires to transmit data requires the use of receptacles on the receiving side, which may often create openings within which moisture and/or debris may enter. Utilizing conductive wires may also suffer from capacitive coupling between wires running high frequency signals which can impede signal transmission. To avoid capacitive coupling, shielding solutions may be implemented to shield signal lines; however, such shielding solutions can be bulky in size. 
     One way to overcome such limitations is to utilize waveguides for sending a wave, e.g., electromagnetic waves for data transmission instead of conductive wires. Waveguides are structures that enable wave signals to propagate with minimal loss of energy. Waveguides are particularly useful for transmitting waves that are not normally capable of efficient transmission in the atmosphere. As an example, very high frequency waves (e.g., millimeter waves) that easily disperse in the atmosphere can be contained within a waveguide to prevent dispersion of transmitted signals. By enabling the transmission of millimeter waves, transmissions performed at frequencies substantially higher than that of conductive wires (e.g., tens or even hundreds of gigahertz (GHz)) can be achieved. 
     In order for successful transmission with waveguides, however, the orientation of millimeter waves transmitted from the sending device needs to match the orientation of the waveguide in the receiving device. That is, the orientation of the waveguide of the sending device should match the orientation of the waveguide in the receiving device. If the orientation of the waveguides are different, then the transmission signals received by the receiving device may be interpreted incorrectly. Improvements to such waveguides are desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments provide improved devices and methods for determining waveguide orientation. As an example, a waveguide may be formed of a core encapsulated by a cladding. The core may be a solid dielectric material that conducts radio waves at millimeter wave frequencies and above. The cladding may include conductive portions within which electrical signals may be sent for determining the orientation of the waveguide. Determining the orientation of the waveguide is important for data transfer because successful data transmission may be highly dependent upon the orientation of the waves. Having conductive portions in the waveguide cladding allows data to be successfully transmitted through the core when the waveguides are mated in any orientation. 
     In some embodiments, a waveguide is formed of a dielectric core encapsulated by a cladding. The core may be formed of a dielectric material that conducts radio waves at millimeter wave frequencies and above, and the cladding may include at least two conductive portions. Each conductive portion may be disposed around less than the entire core. The conductive portions may enable devices to communicate with one another to properly transmit data at the correct orientation. 
     In certain embodiments, a waveguide system may include a waveguide having a dielectric core encapsulated by a cladding. The cladding may include at least two conductive portions electrically isolated from each other by insulation portions. The waveguide system may further include processor configured to interact with the waveguide, and at least one antenna coupled to the processor. The antenna may be configured to send data through the dielectric core of the waveguide. The waveguide system may further include at least one sensor corresponding to the at least one antenna. The sensor may be coupled to the processor and configured to couple with at least two conductive portions of the waveguide cladding to determine an orientation of the dielectric core. 
     In some embodiments, a method of determining waveguide orientation includes receiving, by at least one sensor, an electrical signal sent through a cladding of a transmitting waveguide when the transmitting waveguide is mated with a receiving waveguide. The method may include determining a location of the at least one sensor. In embodiments, the method may further include determining an orientation of the transmitting waveguide by referencing the location of the at least one sensor. 
     A better understanding of the nature and advantages of embodiments of the present invention may be gained with reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a simplified diagram of a waveguide mating with a device, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a simplified diagram of a docking station having an embedded waveguide mating with a device, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a simplified diagram of a cross-sectional view of a rectangular waveguide, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a simplified diagram of a cross-sectional view of a rectangular waveguide, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2C  is a simplified diagram of a cross-sectional view of a rectangular waveguide having modified ends, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified diagram of a cross-sectional view of a rectangular waveguide having more than two conductive portions for determining waveguide orientation, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified diagram of a cross-sectional view of a circular waveguide, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a simplified diagram illustrating a matching orientation for rectangular waveguide-to-waveguide interfaces, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a simplified diagram illustrating an offset orientation for rectangular waveguide-to-waveguide interfaces, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a simplified diagram illustrating a matching orientation for circular waveguide-to-waveguide interfaces, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6B  is a simplified diagram illustrating an offset orientation for circular waveguide-to-waveguide interfaces, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a simplified diagram of interfaces of rectangular waveguides having magnets, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a simplified diagram of interfaces of circular waveguides having magnets, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9A  is a block diagram illustrating a waveguide system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9B  is a block diagram illustrating a waveguide system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating a method of determining waveguide orientation, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating a method of determining waveguide orientation, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments describe a waveguide having a dielectric core and a conductive cladding surrounding at least a portion of the dielectric core. The core may be formed from a solid dielectric material that conducts radio waves at millimeter wave frequencies and above. The cladding may include conductive portions through which electrical signals may be sent for the purpose of determining waveguide orientation. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 1A , a waveguide  102  that is part of a cable  100  can be used to transmit data between a first electronic device  110  and a second electronic device (not shown). Cable  100  can be connected between the first and second devices in at least two different orientations, rotated 180 degrees from each other. For data transmitted through wave  102  to be interpreted properly, device  110  may need to determine which of the two orientations waveguide  102  has been connected to it in. Towards this end, waveguide  102  may have a cladding  103 . Cladding  103  may encapsulate a core (not shown) and may include conductive portions  115  and  117 . 
     Electrical signals may be sent through conductive portions  115  and  117  to determine the orientation of the waveguide as will be described herein. In embodiments, if it is determined that the orientation of waveguide  102  is offset by 180 degrees, transmission waves sent through the core may be compensated accordingly, for example by altering a phase of the transmission waves, resulting in a matching orientation. This allows waveguide  102  to be coupled to device  110  without having to be cognizant of its orientation, thereby increasing user friendliness and enhancing user experience. 
     Although  FIG. 1A  illustrates waveguide  102  as a separate cable, embodiments are not intended to be limited to such implementations. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 1B , a waveguide  101  with conductive cladding may be embedded in a docking station  120 . Sensors or conductive portions of the cladding may be exposed in regions  118  around window  116 . To couple device  108  to docking station  120 , device  108  may simply be placed on a respective area of docking station  120  such that window  114  of device  108  is aligned with window  116 . Windows  114  and  116  may be radio frequency (RF) transparent windows through which transmission waves transmitted through the dielectric core of waveguide  101  are capable of propagating. Similar to the cable  100 , the conductive cladding of the embedded waveguide in docking station  120  may be used to determine its orientation with respect to window  114  of device  108 . 
     I. Waveguide with Conductive Cladding 
       FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate cross-sectional views of exemplary waveguides with conductive cladding according to embodiments of the present invention. Specifically,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate cross-sectional views of waveguides having two conductive regions in different arrangements.  FIG. 2C  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a waveguide having more than two conductive regions. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2A , waveguide  200  includes a solid dielectric core  204  disposed at the center of waveguide  200 . Core  204  may be a region of the waveguide  200  within which transmission waves, e.g., electromagnetic waves, may propagate. In embodiments, core  204  may have a cross-sectional profile in the form of any geometric shape. For instance, core  204  may be rectangular, circular, oval, square, and the like. In certain embodiments, core  204  is shaped according to properties of the transmission wave propagating inside of it. As an example, core  204  may be shaped as a rectangle for transmission of high-frequency millimeter waves. High-frequency millimeter waves may have a wave length of 1 to 10 millimeters and can transmit at a frequency of tens of GHz, e.g., 40 to 90 GHz. Any suitable material conducive to wave propagation may be used to form the core  204 , such as, but not limited to, plastics and glass. In an embodiment, core  204  is formed of extruded plastic. 
     Core  204  may be encapsulated by a cladding  206 . Cladding  206  may include conductive portions  208 . In some embodiments, cladding  206  includes two conductive portions: a first conductive portion  208 A and a second conductive portion  208 B. Each conductive portion may be disposed directly adjacent to core  204 . Conductive portions  208 A and  208 B may be utilized to determine an orientation of waveguide  200 , as discussed herein. The number of conductive portions used for purposes of determining waveguide orientation may be determined based upon the number of different orientations that could occur when the waveguide is mated (i.e., when core  204  is aligned with a receiving core to enable data transmission). For instance, when waveguide  200  has a rectangular cross-section in which the width (W) of the cross-section is different than the thickness (T), only two orientations can occur when mated: 0 degrees, or 180 degrees. Thus, waveguide  200  may be structured to have two conductive portions  208 A and  208 B. For waveguides that have more than two orientations, then more than two conductive portions may be used for determining waveguide orientation, as will be discussed further herein. 
     Conductive portions  208 A and  208 B may have ends  211 A and  211 B, respectively, that are substantially perpendicular to an adjacent surface of core  204 . Additionally, conductive portions  208  may be symmetrically placed about core  204 . For instance, as shown in  FIG. 2A , portions  208 A and  208 B are symmetrically placed about core  204  such that portions  208 A and  208 B are equally spaced apart around cladding  206 . In embodiments, portion  208 A is a mirror image of portion  208 B across a vertical center of waveguide  200 . Additionally, each conductive portion may conform to at least a portion of core  204 . In such embodiments, each conductive portion  208 A and  208 B may wrap around two corners of core  204  such that each conductive portion appears to be the letter “u” tipped on its side. Although  FIG. 2A  illustrates portions  208 A and  208 B arranged as mirror images across a vertical center of waveguide  200 , embodiments are not so limited. For instance, portions  208 A and  208 B may be arranged as mirror images across a horizontal center of waveguide  201 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2B . It is to be appreciated that any symmetrical arrangement of conductive portions  208 A and  208 B about core  204  is in line with the spirit and scope of the present invention. The number of conductive portions  208 A and  208 B may vary, however, as will be discussed further herein. 
     Conductive portions  208 A and  208 B may be utilized by devices to determine an orientation of waveguide  200 . Thus, it is important for electrical signals that are sent through the conductive portions  208 A and  208 B to be undisturbed. Accordingly, in embodiments, insulation portions  210  may be disposed between conductive portions  208 A and  208 B. Insulation portions  210  may prevent shorting between conductive portions  208 A and  208 B by electrically isolating conductive portions  208 A and  208 B from one another. Insulation portions  210  may be included as a part of cladding  206 . 
     Cladding  206  may help contain transmission waves within core  204 . Thus, it may be beneficial for cladding  206  to be constructed with materials that reflect waves back into core  204 . To achieve this functionality, cladding  206  may be formed of materials that have dielectric constants that are different than the dielectric constant of the material forming core  204 . For instance, cladding  206  may have dielectric constants that are less than core  204 . 
     It is to be noted that, as aforementioned herein, conductive portions  208 A and  208 B allow electrical signals in the form of voltage and/or current to be applied through waveguide  200 , while insulation portions  210  electrically isolate conductive portions  208 A and  208 B from one another. Thus, while their dielectric constants may be similar, their electrical properties may be different. As a result, conductive regions  208 A and  208 B may be formed of a metal while insulation portions  210  are formed of an anodized metal. For instance, conductive portions  208 A and  208 B may be formed of copper and insulation portions  210  may be formed of anodized aluminum. Alternatively, in some embodiments, conductive regions  208 A and  208 B may be formed of a metal while insulation portions  210  may be formed of a metal coated with a thick layer of oxide. As an example, conductive regions  208 A and  208 B may be formed of copper while insulation portions  210  are formed of titanium or a titanium alloy coated with a thick layer of oxide. 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates an alternative cladding configuration where conductive portions  208 A and  208 B have modified ends  212 A and  212 B. Modified ends  212 A and  212 B may taper and overlap one another such that an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the surface of core  204  crosses both ends  212 A and  212 B. In such embodiments, insulation portion  210  does not need to be formed of a material that reflects waves back into core  204 . This is because the overlapping arrangement of modified ends  212 A and  212 B may already make it very difficult for waves to leak out of core  204 . Thus, insulation portion  210  may not need to be formed of a material having a dielectric constant similar to that of the conductive portions  208 A and  208 B. Rather, insulation portions  210  may be formed of an insulating material having a different dielectric constant than the conductive portions  208 A and  208 B. For instance, insulation portion  210  may be formed of a non-conductive plastic while conductive portions  208 A and  208 B are formed of copper and core  204  is formed of extruded plastic. In embodiments, only a part of conductive portion  208 A overlaps with a part of conductive portion  208 B. The overlapping conductive portions may be implemented in any embodiments discussed hereinafter. 
     In embodiments, conductive portions  208 A and  208 B may cover a majority of the surface area of core  204 . For example, conductive regions  208  may cover at least 75% of the surface area of core  204 . In embodiments, conductive regions  208  may cover 90% of the surface area of core  204 . 
     It is to be appreciated that the various structures, e.g., conductive portions  208 A and  208 B, and insulation portions  210 , may be separate structures that are attached to one another. For instance, the structures may be adhered to one another with an adhesive or a curing process, or mechanically attached to one another with a fastener. Alternatively, the various structures may be all part of one monolithic structure. In such instances, conductive portions  208 A and  208 B, and insulation portions  210  may be formed by altering the monolithic structure. As an example, corresponding parts of the monolithic structure may be treated (e.g., by chemical treatment and/or doping) to acquire the desired characteristics as discussed herein. 
     The size of waveguide  200  may be any size suitable for transmission of waves. For example, waveguide  200  may have a thickness T and a width W suitable for transmission of millimeter waves. Thickness T may be approximately half of the wavelength of the transmission waves. Additionally, width W may be dependent on the dielectric constant of core  204 . In some embodiments, waveguide  200  may have thickness T ranging between 0.15 and 0.5 mm, and width W ranging between 2 to 6 mm. In certain embodiments, waveguide  200  has thickness T of 0.25 mm and width W of 4 mm. 
     Embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2C  have two conductive portions. However, embodiments are not limited to such configurations. For instance, claddings in other embodiments may have more than two conductive portions. 
     A. More than Two Conductive Portions 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a waveguide  300  having four conductive portions: first conductive portion  308 A, second conductive portion  308 B, third conductive portion  308 C, and fourth conductive portion  308 D. Insulation portions  310  may be disposed between conductive portions  308 A- 308 D to electrically isolate conductive portions  308 A- 308 D from one another and to prevent electrical short circuiting between them. Given that waveguide  300  is rectangular, two of the four conductive portions may be used for determining an orientation of waveguide  300 . As discussed with respect to  FIG. 2A , the conductive portions for determining an orientation of a waveguide are arranged symmetrically about the core. Thus, the two conductive portions for determining orientation may be  308 A and  308 B, or  308 C and  308 D. Conductive portions that are not used for determining an orientation of waveguide  300  may be used for various other purposes. For instance, if  308 A and  308 B are used for determining orientation, conductive portions  308 C and  308 D may be used for providing power. 
     Transmission waves generally cannot send power between devices. Waves traveling through the dielectric core of waveguides primarily transmit data. In order to supply power, some embodiments of the invention supply power through a conductive material surrounding the dielectric core that allows transmission of power through current flow. In some embodiments, cladding  306  may be used for providing power by utilizing conductive portions  308 C and  308 D for supplying current to a connected device. That way, only one cable and/or connection is needed for purposes of data transfer and device charging/powering, thereby increasing simplicity/user friendliness, and decreasing cost. 
     In some embodiments, conductive portions that are not being used for determining orientation, e.g.,  308 C and  308 D, can be used for transmission of data at a low rate, i.e., at a frequency lower than that of waves, e.g., millimeter waves, sent through core  304 . Transmitting data in the form of high frequency millimeter waves through core  304 , although particularly useful for transmission of large data quantities, can consume a significant amount of power. Everyday use of a device, however, may not need to transfer large quantities of data all the time, such as when a device identification, synchronizing command, handshaking signal, etc. is being sent to/from the device. It may therefore be a waste of power to utilize high-frequency millimeter waves for all transmissions without considering the quantity of data being transferred. Accordingly, it may be desirable to send lower quantities of data via a transmission method that requires less power. In embodiments, conductive portions  308 C and  308 D may be utilized for such purposes. Specifically, conductive portions  308 C and  308 D may be utilized as conductive wires for transmitting data at a lower frequency than that of core  304 . That way, waveguide  300  may save power by selectively utilizing high-frequency data transfer for large quantities of data (e.g., quantities of data greater than a threshold quantity) and low-frequency data transfer for smaller quantities of data. 
     The materials used to form insulation portions  310  and conductive portions  308 A- 308 D may be the same materials discussed herein with respect to  FIGS. 2A-2C . 
     In other embodiments, conductive portions utilized for determining waveguide orientation can also be used for providing power and/or transmitting data at a low rate. For instance, conductive portions  208 A and  208 B of waveguide  200  discussed in  FIGS. 2A-2C  may be used for determining waveguide orientation, providing power, and transmitting data at a low rate. In such embodiments, a single waveguide having two conductive portions can be used to provide multiple functionalities. 
     B. Circular Structure 
       FIGS. 2A-2C and 3  illustrate rectangular waveguides; however, as mentioned herein, a waveguide does not have to be rectangular, but can have any geometric shape, such as circular, oval, triangular, square, etc.  FIG. 4  illustrates a circular waveguide  400  according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     Waveguide  400  is formed of a solid dielectric core  404  encapsulated by a cladding  406 . Cladding  406  includes a series of conductive portions  408 A- 408 H and isolation portions  410  disposed between adjacent conductive portions  408 A- 408 H. Purposes, arrangements, and material compositions of conductive portions  408 A- 408 H and isolation portions  410  may be similar to corresponding parts of waveguides already discussed herein. In embodiments, additional conductive portions may be included in cladding  406  for purposes other than determining orientation, such as providing power and low frequency data transmission, as discussed herein with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
     In contrast to rectangular waveguides, which may mate in two different orientations, circular waveguides are geometrically structured such that they can mate in an infinite number of orientations. That is, the circular shape can be rotated in an infinite number of angles. Thus, to determine an orientation of circular waveguides, larger numbers of conductive portions may increase the ability of the cladding to determine the orientation of circular waveguides. For instance, a circular cladding may include at least two, preferably at least four or eight conductive portions as shown in  FIG. 4 . When waveguides mate, a waveguide-to-waveguide interface is formed, the details of which are discussed herein. 
     II. Waveguide-to-Waveguide Interface 
     A waveguide-to-waveguide interface is a point in space where two waveguides mate such that signals may transmit from one waveguide into the other. When mated, the conductive cladding can be used to determine their orientation with respect to one another to ensure proper data transmission through their respective cores. 
       FIGS. 5A-5B and 6A-6B  illustrate exemplary waveguide-to-waveguide interfaces for two waveguides. One waveguide may be emitting a transmission wave and the other waveguide may be receiving the transmission wave. As illustrated, a substantial amount of space exists between the two waveguides for ease of illustration and explanation. One skilled in the art understands that when two waveguides are mated, a very small or no air gap may exist between the two waveguides. Further, even though the two waveguides are illustrated as cables, embodiments are not so limited. For instance, one or both waveguides may be embedded within a device. When a waveguide is embedded, an RF-transparent window (not shown) may be formed on the device to allow waves to enter in and exit out of the device. That way, waves may transmit into and out of the embedded waveguide while providing a hermetic seal to prevent moisture and/or debris from entering into the device. The RF-transparent window may be disposed between the two waveguides illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5B and 6A-6B . 
     In  FIGS. 5A and 5B , different mating arrangements of a waveguide-to-waveguide interface for rectangular waveguides are illustrated, according to embodiments of the present invention. Specifically,  FIG. 5A  illustrates an aligned waveguide-to-waveguide interface where both waveguides are arranged in the same orientation, and  FIG. 5B  illustrates a misaligned waveguide-to-waveguide interface where both waveguides are arranged in different orientations. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5A , a receiving waveguide  500  may be mated with a transmitting waveguide  510 . When mated, a dielectric core  504  of waveguide  500  may be aligned with a dielectric core  514  of waveguide  510 . Additionally, conductive portions  508 A and  508 B of waveguide  500  may be aligned with conductive portions  518 A and  518 B of waveguide  510 . Proper orientation of waveguide  500  and  510  may be when conductive portions  508 A and  518 A are mated with one another. Conductive portions  508 A and  518 A are shaded to better illustrate their respective positions. Because waveguides  500  and  510  are oriented properly with one another, a transmission wave  520  sent from core  514  to core  504  may be properly received by waveguide  500 . 
     However, if waveguides  500  and  510  are not oriented properly, then transmission wave  520  may need to be altered depending on the orientation offset.  FIG. 5B  illustrates such an embodiment. As shown, conductive portion  508 A is mated with conductive portion  518 B, and conductive portion  508 B is mated with conductive portion  518 A. Thus, the orientation of waveguides  500  and  510  may be offset by 180 degrees, e.g., a phase offset of 180 degrees. If unaltered, the transmission wave  520  received by waveguide  500  will be offset by 180 degrees, resulting in a failure of transmission or a reception of faulty data. To compensate for such an offset, transmission wave  520  may be altered (e.g., by altering its phase by 180 degrees) to form transmission wave  522 . Transmission wave  522  may thus match the orientation of waveguide  500  and be properly received. 
     In some embodiments, rather than altering the transmission wave  520  when a difference in orientation is detected, altering an interpretation of transmission wave  520  may occur instead. For instance, unaltered transmission wave  520  may be sent in  FIG. 5B . Once the unaltered transmission wave  520  is received, the received transmission wave may be offset by 180 degrees by a receiving device. 
     A similar operation may be performed for circular waveguides, as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , which show different mating arrangements of a waveguide-to-waveguide interface for circular waveguides. Specifically,  FIG. 6A  illustrates an aligned waveguide-to-waveguide interface where both waveguides are arranged in the same orientation, and  FIG. 6B  illustrates a misaligned waveguide-to-waveguide interface where both waveguides are arranged in different orientations. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6A , circular waveguide  600  may be properly oriented with circular waveguide  610 . Proper orientation of waveguide  600  with waveguide  610  may be when conductive portions  608 A and  618 A are mated with one another. Because waveguides  600  and  610  are oriented properly with one another, transmission wave  620  sent through dielectric core  514  may be properly received. However, transmission wave  620  may be altered when waveguide  600  and waveguide  610  are mated in different orientations, as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
     In  FIG. 6B , conductive portion  608 A is mated with conductive portion  618 B, and conductive portion  608 B is mated with conductive portion  618 A. Thus, the orientation of waveguides  600  and  610  may be offset by 45 degrees, and transmission wave  620  may not be properly received. To compensate for such an offset, transmission wave  620  may be altered to form transmission wave  622 . Transmission wave  622  may be a 45 degree offset of transmission wave  620  such that the orientation of the wave received by waveguide  620  is oriented properly. In certain embodiments, instead of sending transmission wave  622 , unaltered transmission wave  620  may be sent instead and subsequently interpreted with a corresponding offset by a receiving device. 
     The offset of 45 degrees may be determined based upon the number of conductive portions. As shown in  FIG. 6B , there are eight conductive portions (see also  FIG. 4 ). Because there are eight conductive portions, there are eight distinctive orientations that could be arranged. Thus, given the circular structure of waveguides  600  and  610 , 360 degrees is divided by eight, thereby resulting in an offset increment of 45 degrees between each orientation. Similar calculations may apply to arrangements with more or less conductive portions. 
     Larger numbers of conductive portions result in more accurate alignment between waveguides because of the higher sampling size. However, larger numbers of conductive portions may result in a higher number of offset increments. Having a large number of offset increments increases device complexity because the receiving device and/or transmitting device may need to be configured to be capable of altering the received or transmitted waves according to the different offset increments. At some point, the cost of having a certain number of conductive portions may outweigh the benefits achieved by having more accurate alignment. In embodiments, waveguides having greater than 12 conductive portions may be cost prohibitive. 
     A. Determining Waveguide Orientation 
     In embodiments, determining an orientation of a waveguide may be performed by sending electrical signals through conductive portions of a cladding. The electrical signals may correspond with the orientation of the transmitting waveguide. For instance, in rectangular waveguide implementations, a first electrical signal may correspond with a left side of the waveguide and a second electrical signal that is different than the first electrical signal may correspond with a right side of the waveguide. Thus, the arrangement of the different electrical signals may indicate the orientation of the transmitting waveguide. 
     The electrical signals may be received by a receiving waveguide when mated with the transmitting waveguide. Conductive portions of the receiving waveguide may receive the electrical signals either directly through an electrical contact or indirectly from a separate sensor. Additionally, various forms of electrical signals can be used for determining waveguide orientation. Details of such configurations are discussed herein. 
     B. Electrical Signals and Corresponding Detection Techniques 
     Various electrical signals and detection techniques may be utilized by devices to determine waveguide orientation. The type of electrical signal and corresponding detection technique may be selected to complement one another. That way, the detection technique may be configured to sufficiently detect the electrical signal. If they are not selected to complement one another, then the emitted electrical signal may not be detected, and the devices will not be able to determine waveguide orientation. 
     1. Voltage/Current Sensors 
     One type of detection technique includes utilizing voltage/current sensors. In embodiments, voltage/current sensors may be a sensor that is capable of making direct contact to an external connection. For instance, voltage/current sensors can be electrical contacts. The contacts may be exposed at an end of a waveguide or device such that an external connection, e.g., an exposed contact of another waveguide, may be coupled to it. The number of contacts used for detecting electrical signals may be selected based upon the number of conductive portions of the waveguides. That is, a one-to-one ratio of conductive portions to contacts may be achieved. For instance, if receiving and transmitting waveguides each have eight conductive portions, then eight contacts may be utilized. The contacts may be a part of the conductive portions of the waveguide cladding, or a separate conductive pad that is coupled to respective conductive portions of the waveguide cladding. 
     Utilizing voltage/current contacts may be a simple way to detect electrical signals given their familiar structure and ease of manufacture. Thus, utilizing voltage/current contacts may save cost by lowering manufacturing complexity. 
     2. Electromagnetic Sensors 
     Another type of detection technique includes utilizing electromagnetic sensors. One or more electromagnetic sensors may be coupled to the conductive portions of the receiving waveguide cladding. In some embodiments, one or more electromagnetic sensors may be coupled to a processor in a receiving device. The electromagnetic sensors may be positioned at an end of the receiving waveguide such that electrical signals transmitted from the conductive portions of the transmission waveguide cladding can be received. 
     In embodiments, the electromagnetic sensors can be any type of sensor configured to detect magnetic fields, such as a Holofax sensor. In such instances, conductive portions of the transmitting waveguide cladding can generate magnetic fields at certain frequencies. Each conductive portion may generate a magnetic field at a different frequency such that each conductive portion is distinguishable from the other conductive portions in the transmitting waveguide cladding. Respective electromagnetic sensors may detect the different magnetic fields from corresponding conductive portions of the transmitting waveguide cladding and determine its orientation. 
     3. Capacitive Sensors 
     In some embodiments, the capacitive sensors can be electrical sensors for detecting electrical charge, such as in capacitive coupling. The conductive portions of the transmitting waveguide cladding can contain different amounts of charge. Thus, when mated, the respective capacitive sensors can detect the different charges and determine the orientation of the transmitting waveguide. 
     Such embodiments discussed herein allow devices to determine the orientation of waveguides. However, in some embodiments, orientation of waveguides may not need to be determined to establish a successful data transmission. Instead, waveguides may include an alignment mechanism to assist the waveguides in aligning with one another in one or more orientations. 
     C. Magnetic Alignment 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate exemplary embodiments where waveguide interfaces may include magnets for alignment and connection purposes, according to embodiments of the present invention. Specifically,  FIG. 7  illustrates cross-sectional views of interfacing ends of receiving and transmitting rectangular waveguides with magnets, and  FIG. 8  illustrates cross-sectional views of interfacing ends of receiving and transmitting circular waveguides with magnets. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a receiving waveguide  700  and a transmitting waveguide  710  each have at least one magnet  709 . For example, receiving waveguide  700  may have two magnets: a first magnet  709 A and a second magnet  709 B. The two magnets may be positioned at any suitable location around the conductive portions. As an example, first magnet  709 A may be positioned proximate to first conductive portion  708 A, and second magnet  709 B may be positioned proximate to second conductive portion  708 B. Similarly, transmitting waveguide  700  may have two magnets: a first magnet  719 A and a second magnet  719 B. First magnet  719 A may be positioned proximate to first conductive portion  718 A, and second magnet  719 B may be positioned proximate to second conductive portion  718 B. 
     In embodiments, magnets  709 A,  709 B,  719 A, and  719 B may be configured attach receiving waveguide  700  to transmitting waveguide  710 . This may be particularly useful for implementations where the mating interfaces are flat surfaces without recesses or structural features to align waveguides  700  and  710  to one another. In such embodiments, magnets  709 A and  709 B can be configured to attract both magnets  719 A and  719 B, and vice versa. 
     In other embodiments, magnets  709 A,  709 B,  719 A, and  719 B may be configured to arrange receiving waveguide  700  and transmitting waveguide  710  into a specific orientation. For instance, the magnets may be arranged such that conductive portion  708 A can only be aligned with corresponding conductive portion  718 A. In such embodiments, only magnets  709 A and  719 A are attracted to one another, and magnets  709 B and  719 B are attracted to one another. If the waveguides are oriented such that conductive portion  708 A is aligned with conductive portion  718 B, then magnets  709 A and  719 A, and magnets  709 B and  719 B may repel one another. 
     Although  FIG. 7  illustrates magnets  709 A and  709 B disposed proximate to left and right sides of waveguide  700 , embodiments are not so limited. For instance, magnets  709 A and  709 B may be disposed proximate to top and bottom sides of waveguide  700 . It is to be appreciated that any arrangement of magnets  709 A and  709 B suitable to attach and orient waveguide  700  to waveguide  710  are envisioned herein to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , receiving waveguide  800  and transmitting waveguide  810  each have at least one magnet  809 . For example, receiving waveguide  800  and transmitting waveguide  810  may each have eight magnets  809 A- 809 H, and  819 A- 819 H, respectively. The magnets may be positioned at any suitable location around the conductive portions. As an example, each magnet may be positioned proximate to respective conductive portions as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     In embodiments, magnets  809  and  819  may be configured to help attach receiving waveguide  800  to transmitting waveguide  810 . This may be particularly useful for circular waveguides given their infinite number of mating orientations. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , magnets  809  and  819  can be configured to lock the waveguides in one of eight orientations. For instance, each magnet  809  may be attracted to any one of magnets  819 . Thus, the waveguides  800  and  810  can be locked in any one of the eight orientations. 
     In other embodiments, magnets  809  and  819  may be configured to help arrange receiving waveguide  700  and transmitting waveguide  710  into a specific orientation. For instance, the magnets may be arranged such that conductive portion  808 A can only be aligned with corresponding conductive portion  818 A. In such embodiments, magnets  809 A- 809 D may be attracted to magnets  819 A- 809 D and opposed to magnets  819 E- 819 H. Additionally, magnets  809 E- 809 H may be attracted to magnets  819 E- 819 H and opposed to magnets  819 A- 819 D. That way, waveguides  800  and  810  can only be mated in one orientation. Although eight magnets are shown to achieve this functionality, more or less magnets may be used. For instance, two magnets may be used to attach the circular waveguides in one specific orientation. 
     The interfaces of waveguides illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  may be structurally fixed to respective devices, or independently rotatable from the respective devices. For instance, a structurally fixed waveguide interface may be a configuration where the waveguide interface is designed as a window on a surface of a device. The window is integrated into the device and cannot move independently of the device. On the other hand, a rotatable interface may be a configuration where the waveguide interface is part of a mechanical contraption that is attached and electrically coupled to a respective device. The mechanical contraption may be able to rotate independently of the device itself so that the device does not have to rotate in order for the waveguide interface to orient itself to another waveguide interface when mating. The waveguide interface may be electrically coupled to a respective waveguide such that the signals and waves traveling between the waveguides are still transmitted to respective devices. 
     Any suitable attachment technique may be utilized for positioning the magnets proximate to the waveguide interfaces of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . For instance, the magnets may be attached to waveguide interfaces via an adhesive or a mechanical fastener. Alternatively, the magnets may be formed to be part of the cladding. As an example, the magnets may be encased in respective claddings during manufacturing. 
     III. Waveguide System 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary waveguide system  900 , according to embodiments of the present invention. Specifically,  FIG. 9A  illustrates an exemplary waveguide system  900  having one antenna capable of emitting waves at different phases, and  FIG. 9B  illustrates an exemplary waveguide system  901  having multiple antennas where each antenna is configured to emit waves at different phases. Waveguide systems  900  and  901  may be implemented in an electronic device. The electronic device may be any suitable device capable of receiving and/or sending data. For instance, the electronic device within which waveguide systems  900  and  901  are implemented may be a device containing a computing system such as a smart phone, music player, tablet, laptop, desktop, server computer, and the like, or an accessory such as a docking station, high-definition (HD) camera/camcorder, speaker, monitor, projector, and the like. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9A , a waveguide system  900  includes a processor  902 . Processor  902  may be a standalone processor for performing functions relating to waveguide operations, or a part of a larger processor for performing a variety of functions other than those relating to waveguide operations. For instance, processor  902  may be a microcontroller, field-programmable logic array (FPGA), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the like. 
     Processor  902  may be coupled to an antenna  908 . Antenna  908  may be a separate microchip or a part of processor  902 . In embodiments, antenna  908  may be an antenna that can output transmission waves  916  at high frequencies, e.g., millimeter waves having 1 to 10 millimeters in wave length and at a frequency of 60-90 GHz. Transmission waves  916 , e.g., electromagnetic waves, may be outputted through a waveguide  914  to another device through a window  920 . Specifically, transmission waves  916  may be outputted through a core  922  of waveguide  914 . Accordingly, processor  902  may be configured to interact with waveguide  914 . In embodiments, window  920  is an RF-transparent window through which transmission waves  916  may propagate from antenna  908  to outside of the electronic device. In embodiments, antenna  908  may be capable of emitting electromagnetic waves at different phases to compensate for any offsets in waveguide orientations. For instance, in a waveguide system  900  having a rectangular waveguide  914 , antenna  908  may be configured to output a transmission wave  916  at 0 degrees offset and a transmission wave  916  at 180 degrees offset. 
     In other embodiments, more than one antenna  908  may be utilized in a waveguide system, such as waveguide system  901  illustrated in  FIG. 9B . As shown in  FIG. 9B , an N number of antennas ranging from antenna  908 - 1  to  908 -N may be included in waveguide system  901 . Each antenna  908  may be configured to output a single wave at a different phase than the other antennas  908 . For instance, in a waveguide system  901  having a rectangular waveguide  914 , two antennas  908 - 1  and  908 - 2  may be utilized. Antenna  908 - 1  may output a wave at an offset of 0 degrees and antenna  908 - 2  may output the same wave but at an offset of 180 degrees. Each antenna  908 - 1  through  908 -N may be located on the same microchip, or each may be located on a different microchip. Processor  902  may determine whether transmission wave  916  is outputted with an offset. This determination may depend on whether waveguide  914  is oriented properly with another waveguide (not shown, but having a system identical, if not substantially similar, to system  900 ). 
     In order to determine whether waveguide  914  is oriented properly, processor  902  may be coupled to contacts/sensors  912 , as shown in  FIG. 9A . Contacts/sensors  912  may send and/or receive electrical signals for determining waveguide orientation according to embodiments discussed herein. Contacts/sensors  912  may be exposed contacts or separate sensors, such as sensors for detecting magnetic fields. Electrical signals  918  may be emitted/received through conductive portions  922  in cladding  924 . Although  FIG. 9A  illustrates contacts/sensors  912  configured to receive signals from waveguide  914 , embodiments are not limited to such configurations. For instance, contacts/sensors  912  may be located at the edge of the device by window  920 . Thus, contacts/sensors  912  may receive electrical signals immediately from window  920 , instead of receiving electrical signals from waveguide  914 . 
     In embodiments, a mated waveguide (not shown) in the form of a cable or an embedded waveguide may be coupled to window  920 . In embodiments where the mated waveguide is in the form of a cable, the mated waveguide may simply be an extension cable that helps a waveguide in a remote system couple with the system  900 . The mated waveguide may be an embedded waveguide in a device or an accessory as aforementioned herein. Core  922  and conductive portions  922  may align with respective parts of the external waveguide for determining orientation and transmitting waves. Methods of determining orientation according to embodiments of the present invention will be discussed further herein. 
     IV. Method of Determining Waveguide Orientation 
       FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating a method of determining an orientation of a waveguide by a receiving device, according to embodiments of the present invention. The receiving device may be coupled to a transmitting device by having respective waveguides mate with one another. For instance, a receiving waveguide of the receiving device may be mated with a transmitting waveguide of the transmitting device. 
     At block  1002 , an electrical signal sent through a cladding of the transmitting waveguide may be received by at least one sensor of the receiving waveguide. The electrical signal may be in the form of a voltage, current, or magnetic field. The configuration of the electrical signal may correspond to an orientation of the transmitting waveguide. As an example, for a transmitting waveguide having only first and second conductive portions, an electrical signal sent through the first conductive portion may be associated with the location of the first conductive portion. 
     At block  1004 , the receiving device may determine a location of the at least one sensor that received the electrical signal. The receiving device may then determine the orientation of the transmitting waveguide by referencing the location of the at least one sensor that received the electrical signal at block  1006 . Continuing with the aforementioned example, the receiving device may know that the electrical signal corresponds to the location of the first conductive portion of the transmitting waveguide. Thus, by receiving the electrical signal at a specific location, the receiving device may be able to determine the transmitting waveguide&#39;s orientation. 
     In embodiments, the electrical signal may be a handshaking signal. In such embodiments, the handshaking signal may indicate to the receiving device that it should output the determined orientation to the transmitting device. Accordingly, the receiving device may output a signal indicating an offset amount to the transmitting device through the conductive portions. As a result, the transmitting device may now be aware of the orientation of the receiving waveguide. 
       FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating a method of determining an orientation of a waveguide by a transmitting device, according to embodiments of the present invention. The receiving device may be coupled to a transmitting device by having respective waveguides mate with one another. For instance, a receiving waveguide of the receiving device may be mated with a transmitting waveguide of the transmitting device. 
     At block  1102 , an electrical signal may be sent through a conductive portion of the transmitting waveguide by at least one emitter. The electrical signal may be used by the transmitting device to determine an orientation of the waveguide, or the electrical signal may be a handshaking signal that receives data indicating the orientation of the receiving waveguide from the receiving device. In embodiments where the electrical signal is used by the transmitting device to determine waveguide orientation, the electrical signal may be a voltage and/or current signal. The electrical signal may be received by a sensor of the receiving waveguide. 
     At block  1104 , the transmitting device may determine a location of a sensor that received the electrical signal. In embodiments, the sensor may be part of a sensing circuit that responds to changes in current. For instance, the sensor may be an incomplete circuit that includes a circuit component, such as a resistor. When a current is applied (i.e., when the electrical signal is applied), a corresponding voltage may be generated across the resistor. The transmitting device may detect the corresponding voltage and determine the location of the sensor that received the electrical signal. 
     Similar to the electrical signal in the example discussed with respect to  FIG. 10 , the resistor location may be associated with a waveguide orientation. When the transmitting device detects the voltage, the transmitting device may determine an orientation of the receiving waveguide by referencing the location of the detected voltage at block  1106 . 
     Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20190301
Publication Date: 20210914
Grant Date: 20210914
Priority Date: 20150824
Inventors: KALLMAN, BENJAMIN J.
WAGMAN, Daniel C.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01P3/16", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6205", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01P5/087", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6205", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01P3/165", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01P5/087", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01P3/165", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01P3/16", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01D5/12", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01P3/16", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01P5/087", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01D5/12", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/6205", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01P3/165", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 56555765