Hybrid wired and wireless chip-to-chip communications
First Claim
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1. A method for wireless communications between a first node and a second node, comprising:
- delivering a timing reference signal via a wired interconnect structure to the first node and the second node;
transmitting a radio signal in response to the timing reference signal at the first node, the radio signal carrying data; and
receiving the radio signal in response to the timing reference signal at the second node.
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Abstract
A hybrid wireless and wired system distributes precise timing and synchronization information among the nodes over a wired interconnect structure while data is transmitted wirelessly using ultra-wideband radio over short distances. The timing information communicated over the wired interconnect structure is used to establish a baseline timing reference for the wireless transmitters, receivers and transceivers on the nodes of the communication network. Using a common timing reference, a mesochronous communication system is established for chip-to-chip wireless data transmission.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for wireless communications between a first node and a second node, comprising:
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delivering a timing reference signal via a wired interconnect structure to the first node and the second node;
transmitting a radio signal in response to the timing reference signal at the first node, the radio signal carrying data; and
receiving the radio signal in response to the timing reference signal at the second node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit;
a wired interconnect structure coupled to the first and second integrated circuits;
a clock circuit coupled to the wired interconnect structure, the clock circuit transmitting a timing reference signal on the wired interconnect structure;
the first integrated circuit including a data source;
a timing reference signal input adapted to receive the timing reference signal via the wired interconnect structure;
a transmit timing circuit which produces a transmit timing signal in response to the timing reference signal;
a radio transmitter coupled to the transmit timing circuit and the data source which transmits a radio signal carrying data from the data source in response to the transmit timing signal; and
the second integrated circuit including a timing reference signal input adapted to receive the timing reference signal via the wired interconnect structure;
a receive timing circuit which produces a receive timing signal in response to the timing reference signal;
a radio receiver coupled to the receive timing circuit, wherein the radio receiver receives the radio signal carrying data from the data source in response to the receive timing signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system comprising:
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a first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit mounted on a support structure and separated by a distance of less than 10 meters;
a wired interconnect structure coupled to the first and second integrated circuits;
a clock circuit coupled to the wired interconnect structure transmitting a timing reference signal on the wired interconnect structure;
the first integrated circuit including a data source;
a timing reference signal input adapted to receive the timing reference signal via the wired interconnect structure;
a transmit timing circuit which produces a transmit timing signal in response to the timing reference signal, including circuitry to adjust the timing of the transmit timing signal by amounts of 10 picoseconds or less to synchronize communication between the first and second integrated circuits;
logic coupled with the transmit timing circuit which executes a synchronization process to set the timing for the transmit timing signal for the radio transmitter, the synchronization process including communication of a control signal related to the synchronization process via the wired interconnect structure with the second integrated circuit. a radio transmitter coupled to the transmit timing circuit and the data source which transmits an ultra-wide band impulse radio signal carrying data from the data source in response to the transmit timing signal; and
the second integrated circuit including a timing reference signal input adapted to receive the timing reference signal via the wired interconnect structure;
a receive timing circuit which produces a transmit timing signal in response to the timing reference signal;
a radio receiver coupled to the receive timing circuit which receives the ultra-wide band impulse radio signal carrying data from the data source in response to the receive timing signal.
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Specification