METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR 60 GHZ WIRELESS CLOCK DISTRIBUTION

• US 20090316846A1
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza
• Granted Patent: US 8,494,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/359
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0008 Synchronisation information channels, e.g. clock distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for 60 GHz wireless clock distribution may include configuring a microwave communication link established between a first chip and a second chip via a wireline communication bus. The configuration may comprise adjusting beamforming parameters of a first antenna array communicatively coupled to the first chip, and of a second antenna array communicatively coupled to the second chip. The first chip and the second chip may communicate a clock signal via said microwave communication link. The microwave communication link may be routed via one or more relay chips, when the first chip and the second chip cannot directly communicate. Control data may be transferred between the first chip, the second chip, and/or the one or more relay chips, which may comprise one or more antennas. The relay chips may be dedicated relay ICs or multi-purpose transmitter/receivers.

Claims

1. A method for processing communication signals, the method comprising:

configuring a microwave communication link established between a first chip and a second chip via a wireline communication bus; and

communicating a clock signal between said first chip and said second chip via said microwave communication link.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising routing said microwave communication link via one or more relay chips, when said first chip and said second chip cannot directly communicate.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising transferring control data between said first chip, said second chip, and/or said one or more relay chips.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said one or more relay chips comprise one or more antennas.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said relay chips are dedicated relay ICs.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein said relay chips are multi-purpose transmitter/receivers.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first chip and said second chip receive and transmit in the 60 GHz frequency band.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said initializing comprises adjusting beamforming parameters of a first antenna array communicatively coupled to said first chip, and of a second antenna array communicatively coupled to said second chip.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said first antenna array is on an integrated circuit package, or on an integrated circuit of said first chip.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said second antenna array is on an integrated circuit package, or on an integrated circuit of said second chip.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein said first antenna array and said second antenna array comprise one or more antennas.

12. The method according to claim 8, comprising adjusting said beamforming parameters to optimize a wireless clock distribution performance metric.

13. A system for processing communication signals, the system comprising:

a first chip and a second chip communicatively coupled via a wireline communication bus, wherein one or both of said first chip and said second chip enable configuration of a microwave communication link established between said first chip and said second chip; and

one or both of said first chip and said second chip enables communication of a clock signal between said first chip and said second chip via said microwave communication link.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein one or both of said first chip and said second chip route said microwave communication link via one or more relay chips, when said first chip and said second chip cannot directly communicate.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein one or both of said first chip and said second chip transfer control data between said first chip, said second chip, and/or said one or more relay chips.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said one or more relay chips comprise one or more antennas.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said relay chips are dedicated relay chips.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein said relay chips are multi-purpose transmitter/receivers.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein said first chip and said second chip receive and transmit in the 60 GHz frequency band.

20. The system according to claim 13, wherein said initialization comprises adjustment of beamforming parameters of a first antenna array communicatively coupled to said first chip, and of a second antenna array communicatively coupled to said second chip.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said first antenna array is on an integrated circuit package, or on an integrated circuit of said first chip.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein said second antenna array is on an integrated circuit package, or on an integrated circuit of said second chip.

23. The system according to claim 20, wherein said first antenna array and said second antenna array comprise one or more antennas.

24. The system according to claim 20, wherein said one or more chips adjust said beamforming parameters to optimize a wireless clock distribution performance metric.