Wireless Bus for Intra-Chip and Inter-Chip Communication, Including Wireless-Enabled Component (WEC) Embodiments

• US 20110183630A1
• Filed: 09/08/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Behzad, Arya Reza, ROFOUGARAN, Ahmadreza (Reza), Castaneda, Jesus Alfonso, Zhao, Sam Ziqun, Boers, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/50 Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a wireless-enabled component (WEC) for enabling a wireless bus for intra-chip and inter-chip communication. A WEC encompasses a functional block of an IC (such as, for example, a processing core of a processing unit), an entire IC (such as, for example, a processing unit), or a device that includes a plurality of ICs (such as, for example, a handheld device). According to embodiments, a WEC may be associated with one or more sub-blocks of an IC, a single IC, or a plurality of ICs.

Claims

1. A wireless-enabled component (WEC), comprising:

a core module that performs one or more functions of the WEC;

a wireless transceiver, coupled via an interface to the core module, that allows the core module to communicate wirelessly over a wireless bus; and

a power interface that receives power from an external source and that provides power to the core module and the wireless transceiver.

2. The WEC of claim 1, wherein the core module comprises one or more of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic circuit, memory, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an analog to digital to converter (ADC), a digital to analog converter (DAC), and digital logic circuitry.

3. The WEC of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver includes one or more of a free-space RF transceiver, a waveguide RF transceiver, and an optical transceiver.

4. The WEC of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a wired connection.

5. The WEC of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a proximity coupling.

6. The WEC of claim 5, wherein the proximity coupling is an inductive coupling or a capacitive coupling.

7. The WEC of claim 1, wherein the power interface includes a wireless power interface that receives power wirelessly from the external source.

8. The WEC of claim 7, wherein the power interface includes one or more of an inductive coupler and a capacitive coupler.

9. The WEC of claim 8, wherein the power interface includes a coil.

10. The WEC of claim 1, further comprising:

a demodulator, coupled to the power interface, that demodulates the power received by the power interface to generate configuration information, and that provides the generated configuration information to the wireless transceiver or the core module.

11. The WEC of claim 10, wherein the power received by the power interface is amplitude modulated to convey the configuration information.

12. The WEC of claim 1, further comprising:

an AC to DC converter, coupled to the power interface, that converts the power received by the power interface from AC to DC, and that provides DC power to the core module and the wireless transceiver.

13. The WEC of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless antenna, coupled to the wireless transceiver, that wirelessly transmits and receives communication over the wireless bus.

14. The WEC of claim 13, wherein the wireless antenna includes one or more of an electromagnetic wave antenna and an optical antenna.

15. The WEC of claim 14, wherein the wireless antenna includes one or more of a free-space RF antenna and a waveguide coupler.

16. The WEC of claim 13, wherein the wireless antenna is configurable to enable beamforming and directional communication.

17. The WEC of claim 1, wherein the core module and the wireless transceiver are configurable in real time upon power up.

18. The WEC of claim 1, wherein the core module and the wireless transceiver are pre-configured at manufacture time.

19. The WEC of claim 1, wherein the core module includes one or more blocks of an integrated circuit (IC).

20. The WEC of claim 1, wherein the core module includes a single integrated circuit (IC).

21. The WEC of claim 1, wherein the core module includes a plurality of integrated circuits (ICs).