Connector assembly for high-speed wireless communication between vehicles

Abstract

A wireless communication system for communication between a truck and a trailer includes a connector assembly coupled between the truck and the trailer. The connector assembly includes a connector assembly housing. The wireless communication system further includes a first wireless communication module coupled to electronic circuitry in the truck. The wireless communication system further includes a second wireless communication module coupled to electronic circuitry in the trailer. The first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are disposed within the connector assembly housing. The first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are configured to establish a wireless communication link therebetween.

1 . A wireless communication system for communication between a truck and a trailer, the system comprising:
 a connector assembly coupled between the truck and the trailer, the connector assembly comprising a connector assembly housing;   a first wireless communication module coupled to electronic circuitry in the truck; and   a second wireless communication module coupled to electronic circuitry in the trailer,   wherein the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are disposed within the connector assembly housing, and   wherein the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are configured to establish a wireless communication link therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly housing is configured to fully enclose the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module to isolate the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module from an environment outside the connector assembly housing. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly housing comprises electromagnetic shielding to electromagnetically isolate the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module from an environment outside the connector assembly housing. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are separated within the connector assembly by a distance less than 5 centimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication link has a data transfer bandwidth of at least 5 Gigabits per second (Gb/s). 
     
     
         6 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly further comprises:
 a first connector comprising the first wireless communication module; and   a second connector comprising the second wireless communication module,   wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured to be selectively mechanically coupled to each other to form the connector assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The wireless communication system of  claim 6 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are further configured to be selectively mechanically decoupled from each other. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first wired connection coupling the first wireless communication module to the electronic circuitry in the truck. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless communication system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second wired connection coupling the second wireless communication module to the electronic circuitry in the trailer. 
     
     
         10 . A connector assembly for communication between a truck and a trailer, the system comprising:
 a first connector configured to be coupled to the truck, the first connector comprising a first wireless communication module configured to be coupled to electronic circuitry in the truck; and   a second connector configured to be coupled to the trailer, the second connector comprising a second wireless communication module configured to be coupled to electronic circuitry in the trailer,   wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured to mechanically couple to each other to form the connector assembly, and   wherein the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are configured to establish, within the connection assembly, a wireless communication link therebetween.   
     
     
         11 . The wireless communication system of  claim 10 , wherein the connector assembly comprises a connector assembly housing, and
 wherein the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are disposed within the connector assembly housing.   
     
     
         12 . The wireless communication system of  claim 11 , wherein the connector assembly housing is configured to fully enclose the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module to isolate the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module from an environment outside the connector assembly housing. 
     
     
         13 . The wireless communication system of  claim 11 , wherein the connector assembly housing comprises electromagnetic shielding to electromagnetically isolate the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module from an environment outside the connector assembly housing. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless communication system of  claim 10 , wherein the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are separated within the connector assembly by a distance less than 5 centimeters. 
     
     
         15 . The wireless communication system of  claim 10 , wherein the wireless communication link has a data transfer bandwidth of at least 5 Gigabits per second (Gb/s). 
     
     
         16 . The wireless communication system of  claim 10 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are further configured to be selectively mechanically decoupled from each other. 
     
     
         17 . A method of wireless communication between a truck and a trailer comprising:
 connecting a first connector of the truck to a second connector of the trailer to position a first wireless communication module of the first connector within a first distance of a second wireless communication module of the second connector,   wherein the first wireless communication module is coupled to electronic circuitry in the truck, and   wherein the second wireless communication module coupled to electronic circuitry in the trailer;   establishing a wireless communication link between the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module; and   transferring data at a first transfer speed between the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first distance is less than 5 cm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first transfer speed is greater than 5 Gigabits per second (Gb/s). 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein connecting the first connector to the second connector further comprises forming a connector assembly comprising a connector assembly housing that fully encloses the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module, to isolate the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module from an environment outside the connector assembly housing.