PERIODIC NEAR FIELD DIRECTORS (PNFD) FOR SHORT-RANGE MILLI-METER-WAVE-WIRELESS-INTERCONNECT (M2W2-INTERCONNECT)

• US 20130266048A1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Chang, Mau-Chung Frank, Tam, Sai-Wang
• Granted Patent: US 9,634,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/02 Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

Periodic near field directors (PNFD) are coupled to a transmitter and a receiver for a short-range millimeter wave wireless (M2W2) interconnect for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals at millimeter-wave frequencies for short-range communication with high data rate capability between the transmitter and receiver. Each of the periodic near field directors is comprised of one or more periodic coupling structures (PSCs), wherein the periodic coupling structures are comprised of metallic strips positioned such that their lengthwise dimension is substantially perpendicular to a propagation direction of the radio frequency signals between the transmitter and receiver. Each of the periodic coupling structures is positioned parallel to adjacent periodic coupling structures with a separation distance between each periodic coupling structure being within one wavelength of the radio frequency signal. The periodic near field directors may include first and second periodic near field directors that are coupled to each other for transmitting and receiving the radio frequency signals between the first and second periodic near field directors, wherein there is an air gap between the first and second periodic near field directors.

Claims

1. A wireless interconnect for transmitting and receiving signals at specified frequencies for short-range communication with high data rate capability, comprising:

one or more periodic near field directors (PNFDs) coupled to a transmitter and a receiver for a short-range millimeter wave wireless (M2W2) interconnect for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals at millimeter-wave frequencies for short-range communication with high data rate capability between the transmitter and receiver.

2. The wireless interconnect of claim 1, wherein each of the periodic near field directors is comprised of one or more periodic coupling structures (PSCs).

3. The wireless interconnect of claim 2, wherein the periodic coupling structures are comprised of metallic strips positioned such that their lengthwise dimension is substantially perpendicular to a propagation direction of the radio frequency signals between the transmitter and receiver.

4. The wireless interconnect of claim 2, wherein each of the periodic coupling structures is positioned parallel to adjacent periodic coupling structures with a separation distance between each periodic coupling structure being within one wavelength of the radio frequency signal.

5. The wireless interconnect of claim 1, wherein the periodic near field directors include first and second periodic near field directors that are coupled to each other for transmitting and receiving the radio frequency signals between the first and second periodic near field directors.

6. The wireless interconnect of claim 5, wherein there is an air gap between the first and second periodic near field directors.

7. The wireless interconnect of claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter modulates a carrier signal with an input data stream, wherein the modulated carrier signal is then fed to a transmitter antenna that radiates the modulated carrier signal;

the receiver receives the radiated carrier signal at a receiver antenna and converts the received carrier signal to a full swing digital signal as an output data stream; and

the transmitter and receiver use asynchronous modulation and differential signaling for communicating between integrated circuit chips or printed circuit boards.

8. The wireless interconnect of claim 7, wherein the transmitter or receiver antenna comprises an on-chip differential dipole antenna.

9. A method for transmitting and receiving signals at specified frequencies for short-range communication with high data rate capability using a wireless interconnect, comprising:

coupling one or more periodic near field directors (PNFDs) to a transmitter and a receiver for a short-range millimeter wave wireless (M2W2) interconnect for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals at millimeter-wave frequencies for short-range communication with high data rate capability between the transmitter and receiver.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the periodic near field directors is comprised of one or more periodic coupling structures (PSCs).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the periodic coupling structures are comprised of metallic strips positioned such that their lengthwise dimension is substantially perpendicular to a propagation direction of the radio frequency signals between the transmitter and receiver.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the periodic coupling structures is positioned parallel to adjacent periodic coupling structures with a separation distance between each periodic coupling structure being within one wavelength of the radio frequency signal.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the periodic near field directors include first and second periodic near field directors that are coupled to each other for transmitting and receiving the radio frequency signals between the first and second periodic near field directors.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein there is an air gap between the first and second periodic near field directors.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the transmitter modulates a carrier signal with an input data stream, wherein the modulated carrier signal is then fed to a transmitter antenna that radiates the modulated carrier signal;

the receiver receives the radiated carrier signal at a receiver antenna and converts the received carrier signal to a full swing digital signal as an output data stream; and

the transmitter and receiver use asynchronous modulation and differential signaling for communicating between integrated circuit chips or printed circuit boards.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitter or receiver antenna comprises an on-chip differential dipole antenna.