Skew-resistant multi-wire channel

• US 10,153,591 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kandou Labs, SA
• Original Assignee: Kandou Labs, SA
• Inventors: Shokrollahi, Amin, Wang Johnston, Margaret
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu, Janice N
• Application Number:
  US15/499,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20170317449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/04 Fixed joints
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/00 Waveguides; Transmission lines of the waveguide type
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/02 with invariable factor of coupling H01P5/12 takes precedence choke joints H01P1/04, H01P1/06
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/73 connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/405 Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/504 different pieces being moulded, cemented, welded, e.g. ultrasonic, or swaged together
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6461 Means for preventing cross-talk
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4917 using multilevel codes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0248 Skew reduction or using delay lines
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/025 Impedance arrangements, e.g. impedance matching, reduction of parasitic impedance H05K1/024 and H05K1/0243 take precedence; for semiconductor devices H01L23/66
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0253 Impedance adaptations of transmission lines by special lay-out of power planes, e.g. providing openings H05K1/0251 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems described include a first dielectric material having a plurality of embedded conductors of a multi-wire channel, the plurality of embedded conductors comprising at least a first, second and third conductor, wherein a first distance between the first and second conductors is less than a second distance between the first and third conductors, wherein the first dielectric material has a first dielectric constant ε₁ and a second dielectric material embedded in the first dielectric material, the second dielectric material embedded in between the first and third conductors, the second dielectric material having a second dielectric constant ε₂, wherein ε₂>ε₁.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first dielectric material having a plurality of embedded conductors of a multi-wire channel, the plurality of embedded conductors comprising at least a first, second and third conductor, the plurality of embedded conductors for transmitting signals representing symbols of a multi-level vector signaling codeword, wherein a first distance between the first and second conductors is less than a second distance between the first and third conductors, wherein the first dielectric material has a first dielectric constant ε

₁; and

a second dielectric material embedded in the first dielectric material, the second dielectric material embedded in between the first and third conductors, the second dielectric material having a second dielectric constant ε

₂, wherein ε

₂>

ε

₁.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second dielectric materials is one of:

a gas, a solid, and a liquid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multi-wire channel has a length l and a width w.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein l »

w.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein l ≈

w.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of embedded conductors are pins on a connector.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of embedded conductors are wires embedded in the first dielectric material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first dielectric material is embedded in an outer casing.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least a fourth conductor having a third distance between the first and fourth conductors, the third distance greater than the second distance;

and

a third dielectric material embedded in the second dielectric material in between the first and fourth conductor, the third dielectric material has a dielectric constant ε

₃, wherein ε

₃>

ε

₂>

ε

₁ .

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver configured to:

receive a set of information signals;

generate the signals representing the symbols of the multi-level vector signaling codeword, the multi-level vector signaling codeword representing a sum of a plurality of orthogonal sub-channel vectors, each sub-channel vector having an associated weight determined by a corresponding information signal; and

provide the signals representing the symbols of the multi-level vector signaling codeword to the plurality of embedded conductors.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of conductors of a multi-wire channel configured to transmit a plurality of symbols of a multi-level vector signaling codeword, the plurality of conductors comprising at least a first, a second and a third conductor;

a first dielectric material housing the plurality of conductors, the first dielectric material having a first dielectric constant ε

₁, the first dielectric material disposed in between the first, second, and third conductors, wherein a first distance between the first and second conductors of the plurality of conductors is less than a second distance between the first and third conductors of the plurality of conductors; and

a second dielectric material embedded in the first dielectric material in between the first and third conductors, the second dielectric material having a second dielectric constant ε

₂, wherein ε

₂>

ε

₁, the second dielectric material configured to offset a coupling mismatch associated with the first and second distances.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second dielectric materials is one of:

a gas, a solid, and a liquid.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the multi-wire channel has a length l and a width w.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein l »

w.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein l ≈

w.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of conductors are pins on a connector.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second dielectric material equalizes signal propagation speed of signals on the plurality of conductors by offsetting the coupling mismatch, the signals representing the plurality of symbols of the multi-level vector signaling code.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first dielectric material is embedded in an outer casing.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising at least a fourth conductor having a third distance between the first and fourth conductors, the third distance greater than the second distance;

and

a third dielectric material embedded in the second dielectric material in between the first and fourth conductor, the third dielectric material having a dielectric constant ε

₃, wherein ε

₃>

ε

₂>

ε

₁.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a transceiver configured to:

receive a set of information signals;

generate signals representing the plurality of symbols of the multi-level vector signaling codeword, the multi-level vector signaling codeword representing a sum of a plurality of orthogonal sub-channel vectors, each sub-channel vector having an associated weight determined by a corresponding information signal; and

provide the signals representing the symbols of the multi-level vector signaling codeword to the plurality of conductors.