Acoustic data coupling system and method

• US 20070170815A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies Wireless IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Unkrich, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,514,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/318
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48227 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01078 Platinum [Pt]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/15311 being a ball array, e.g. BGA
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19041 being a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/584 Coupled Resonator Filters [CFR]
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/587 Air-gaps
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/60 Electric coupling means therefor H03H9/0095 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/04 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/103 Chirp modulation for spread spectrum techniques H04B1/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/12 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits

Abstract

A data coupler includes an acoustic isolation transformer operable to develop an isolated output signal in response to an input signal. A transmitter is coupled to the acoustic isolation transformer and generates the input signal responsive to a data input signal. A receiver is coupled to the acoustic isolation transformer to receive the isolated output signal and generates a data output signal responsive to the isolated output signal.

Claims

1. A data coupler, comprising:

an acoustic isolation transformer operable to develop an isolated output signal in response to an input signal;

a transmitter adapted to receive a data input signal and coupled to the acoustic isolation transformer, the transmitter operable to generate the input signal responsive to the data input signal; and

a receiver coupled to the acoustic isolation transformer to receive the isolated output signal and operable to generate a data output signal responsive to the isolated output signal.

2. The data coupler of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate a continuous periodic input signal for the input signal responsive to the data input signal.

3. The data coupler of claim 2 wherein the transmitter utilizes On/Off Keying to generate the periodic input signal, the transmitter being operable to start generating the periodic input signal responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state and to terminate generating the periodic input signal responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

4. The data coupler of claim 2 wherein the transmitter utilizes frequency modulation to generate the periodic input signal.

5. The data coupler of claim 4 wherein the transmitter utilizes Frequency Shift Keying to generate the periodic input signal, the transmitter being operable to start generating the periodic input signal having a first frequency responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state and to start generating the periodic input signal having a second frequency responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

6. The data coupler of claim 2 wherein the transmitter utilizes amplitude modulation to generate the periodic input signal.

7. The data coupler of claim 6 wherein the transmitter utilizes Amplitude Shift Keying to generate the periodic input signal, the transmitter being operable to start generating the periodic input signal having a first amplitude responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state and to start generating the periodic input signal having a second amplitude responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

8. The data coupler of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate a burst periodic input signal for the input signal responsive to the data input signal.

9. The data coupler of claim 8 wherein the transmitter generates for the burst periodic input signal:

a first burst periodic signal having a first frequency responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state; and

a second burst periodic signal having a second frequency responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

10. The data coupler of claim 9 wherein the transmitter is further operable to periodically generate a refresh pulse for the input signal.

11. The data coupler of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate a nonperiodic burst signal for the input signal responsive to the data input signal.

12. The data coupler of claim 1 wherein the acoustic isolation transformer includes components formed to operate in one of a thickness expansion, flexural, length, area expansion, thickness shear, surface acoustic wave, and contour-expansion vibration modes of operation.

13. The data coupler of claim 1 wherein the acoustic isolation transformer comprises a differential acoustic isolation transformer.

14. The data coupler of claim 13 wherein the differential acoustic isolation transformer comprises a first and a second input transducer and a first and a second output transducer, the first input and output transducers forming a first acoustic transformer and the second input and output transducers forming a second acoustic transformer.

15. The data coupler of claim 14 wherein each of the first and second acoustic transformers comprises input and output transducers formed on a common piezoelectric layer that functions as an acoustic coupling layer.

16. The data coupler of claim 13 wherein the differential acoustic isolation transformer comprises two stacked film bulk acoustic resonators operable in the thickness expansion mode of operation.

17. The data coupler of claim 15 wherein each stacked film bulk acoustic resonators comprises a stacked pair of film bulk acoustic resonators having an acoustic coupling layer positioned between them.

18. The data coupler of claim 16 wherein a first one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in a first one of the pair is coupled in antiparallel with a first one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in a second one of the pair, and wherein a second one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in the first one of the pair is coupled in series with a second one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in the second one of the pair.

19. The data coupler of claim 1 wherein the data input signal comprises a digital signal.

20. A data coupler, comprising:

a substrate on which an acoustic isolation transformer, transmitter circuit, and receiver circuit are formed;

the acoustic isolation transformer being operable to develop an isolated output signal in response to an input signal;

the transmitter being adapted to receive a data input signal and being coupled to the acoustic isolation transformer, the transmitter being operable to apply the input signal to the acoustic isolation transformer responsive to the data input signal; and

the receiver being coupled to the acoustic isolation transformer to receive the isolated output signal and being operable to generate a data output signal responsive to the isolated output signal.

21. The data coupler of claim 20 wherein the substrate includes a semiconductor substrate.

22. The data coupler of claim 20 wherein the substrate includes a printed circuit board.

23. The data coupler of claim 20 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate a continuous periodic input signal for the input signal responsive to the data input signal.

24. The data coupler of claim 23 wherein the transmitter utilizes On/Off Keying to generate the periodic input signal, the transmitter being operable to start generating the periodic input signal responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state and to terminate generating the periodic input signal responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

25. The data coupler of claim 23 wherein the transmitter utilizes frequency modulation to generate the periodic input signal.

26. The data coupler of claim 25 wherein the transmitter utilizes Frequency Shift Keying to generate the periodic input signal, the transmitter being operable to start generating the periodic input signal having a first frequency responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state and to start generating the periodic input signal having a second frequency responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

27. The data coupler of claim 23 wherein the transmitter utilizes amplitude modulation to generate the periodic input signal.

28. The data coupler of claim 27 wherein the transmitter utilizes Amplitude Shift Keying to generate the periodic input signal, the transmitter being operable to start generating the periodic input signal having a first amplitude responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state and to start generating the periodic input signal having a second amplitude responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

29. The data coupler of claim 20 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate a burst periodic input signal for the input signal responsive to the data input signal.

30. The data coupler of claim 29 wherein the transmitter generates for the burst periodic input signal:

a first burst periodic signal having a first frequency responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state; and

a second burst periodic signal having a second frequency responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

31. The data coupler of claim 30 wherein the transmitter is further operable to periodically generate a refresh pulse for the input signal.

32. The data coupler of claim 20 wherein the transmitter is operable to generate a nonperiodic burst signal for the input signal responsive to the data input signal.

33. The data coupler of claim 20 wherein the acoustic isolation transformer includes components formed to operate in one of a thickness expansion, flexural, length, area expansion, thickness shear, surface acoustic wave, and contour-expansion vibration modes of operation.

34. The data coupler of claim 20 wherein the acoustic isolation transformer comprises a differential acoustic isolation transformer.

35. The data coupler of claim 34 wherein the differential acoustic isolation transformer comprises a first and a second input transducer and a first and a second output transducer, the first input and output transducers forming a first acoustic transformer and the second input and output transducers forming a second acoustic transformer.

36. The data coupler of claim 35 wherein each of the first and second acoustic transformers comprises input and output transducers formed on a common piezoelectric layer that functions as an acoustic coupling layer.

37. The data coupler of claim 34 wherein the differential acoustic isolation transformer comprises two stacked film bulk acoustic resonators operable in the thickness expansion mode of operation.

38. The data coupler of claim 37 wherein each stacked film bulk acoustic resonators comprises a stacked pair of film bulk acoustic resonators having an acoustic coupling layer positioned between them.

39. The data coupler of claim 38 wherein a first one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in a first one of the pair is coupled in antiparallel with a first one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in a second one of the pair, and wherein a second one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in the first one of the pair is coupled in series with a second one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in the second one of the pair.

40. The data coupler of claim 20 wherein the data input signal comprises a digital signal.

41. An electronic system, comprising:

a first electronic subsystem;

a second electronic subsystem;

a substrate containing at least one data coupling device, each data coupling device being coupled to the first and second electronic subsystems and each data coupling device including,

an acoustic isolation transformer having an input and an output, the isolation transformer operable to develop an isolated output signal on the output in response to an input signal on the input;

a transmitter coupled to the input of the isolation transformer and adapted to receive a data input signal, the transmitter operable to generate a modulated signal in response to the data input signal and to apply the modulated signal to the input of the isolation transformer; and

a receiver coupled to the output of the isolation transformer to receive the isolated output signal and operable to generate a data output signal responsive to the isolated output signal.

42. The electronic system of claim 41 wherein the first and second electronic subsystems comprise computer subsystems.

43. The electronic system of claim 41 wherein the modulated signal generated by the transmitter comprises a periodic signal.

44. The electronic system of claim 43 wherein the periodic signal comprises a burst periodic signal.

45. The electronic system of claim 41 wherein the modulated signal generated by the transmitter comprises a nonperiodic signal.

46. The electronic system of claim 45 wherein the nonperiodic signal comprises one of a Burst Nonperiodic Frequency Envelope On/Off Keying (BNPFE-OOK), Burst Nonperiodic Amplitude Envelope On/Off Keying (BNPAE-OOK), and Burst Nonperiodic Bit Sequence On/Off Keying (BNPBS-OOK) signal.

47. The electronic system of claim 41 wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board.

48. A method of generating a data output signal in response to a data input signal, the data output signal being electrically isolated from the data input signal and the method comprising:

forming an acoustic data coupler on a substrate;

applying the data input signal to the acoustic data coupler;

generating in the acoustic data coupler an acoustic wave in response to the applied data input signal; and

providing the data output signal from the acoustic isolation device responsive to the acoustic wave.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein generating the acoustic wave in response to the applied data input signal comprises:

generating a continuous periodic input signal responsive to the data input signal; and

generating the acoustic wave responsive to the continuous periodic signal.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein generating the continuous periodic input signal responsive to the data input signal further comprises:

applying On/Off Keying to generate the continuous periodic signal responsive to the data input signal, the On/Off Keying including,

starting generation of the periodic input signal responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state; and

terminating generation of the periodic input signal responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein generating the continuous periodic input signal responsive to the data input signal comprises frequency modulating a carrier signal responsive to the periodic input signal.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein frequency modulating a carrier signal responsive to the periodic input signal comprises:

applying Frequency Shift Keying to generate the periodic input signal responsive to the data input signal, the Frequency Shift Keying including,

starting generation of the periodic input signal having a first frequency responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state; and

starting generation of the periodic input signal having a second frequency responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

53. The method of claim 49 wherein generating the continuous periodic input signal responsive to the data input signal comprises amplitude modulating the data input signal to generate the periodic input signal.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein amplitude modulating the data input signal to generate the periodic input signal comprises:

applying Amplitude Shift Keying to generate the periodic input signal, the Amplitude Shift Keying including,

starting generation of the periodic input signal having a first amplitude responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state; and

starting generation of the periodic input signal having a second amplitude responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

55. The method of claim 48 wherein generating an acoustic wave in response to the applied data input signal comprises:

generating a burst periodic input signal responsive to the data input signal; and

generating the acoustic wave responsive to the burst periodic input signal.

56. The method of claim 49 wherein generating the burst periodic input signal comprises:

generating a first burst periodic signal having a first frequency responsive to a first transition of the data input signal from a first logic state to a second logic state; and

generating a second burst periodic signal having a second frequency responsive to a second transition of the data input signal from the second logic state to the first logic state.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising periodically generating a refresh pulse for the input signal.

58. The method of claim 48 wherein generating the acoustic wave in response to the applied data input signal comprises:

generating a nonperiodic burst signal responsive to the data input signal; and

generating the acoustic wave responsive to the nonperiodic burst signal.

59. The method of claim 48 wherein the data input signal comprises a digital signal.