Wireless power and data connector

摘要

An apparatus for non-galvanic connection between two electrical circuits is described. A base-unit has an RF power source, a data link and an authentication controller. A contactless unit for communication with a base unit has an RF power receiver, a data link and an authentication controller. The base unit and contactless unit can form a non-galvanic connection to replace conventional connectors, for example in a USB wired bus connection.

主权项

1. A base-unit for non-galvanic coupling to a contactless-unit, the base-unit comprising:
an antenna coupled to an RF power source, at least one data-link, an authentication controller coupled to the at least one data-link, and a data interface for coupling at least one of a data source and data sink to the base unit, the data interface being coupled to the at least one data-link wherein the base-unit is operable to
transmit and/or receive payload data via the data interface,wirelessly transmit RF power from the RF power source to a contactless-unit in physical proximity to the base-unit,transmit and/or receive authentication data via the at least one data-link to authenticate a non-galvanic connection to a contactless-unit only when the contactless-unit is in physical proximity to the base-unit, andtransmit and/or receive payload data via the at least one data link following the authentication of the non-galvanic connection to a contactless unit; and wherein the authentication controller further comprises a watchdog timer and wherein the base-unit is operable to periodically re-authenticate a non galvanic connection to a contactless-unit, the re-authentication period being determined by the watchdog timer, and to disable further payload data transmission and/or reception if the re-authentication of the non-galvanic connection fails.