High-speed digital distribution system

• US 6,449,308 B1
• Filed: 05/25/1999
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Knight, Thomas F. Jr., Marketkar, Nandu J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ha, Dac V.
• Application Number:
  US09/318,287
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 375/212, 375/220, 375/221, 375/257, 375/258, 370/437, 370/438, 710/110, 710/119, 710/124, 710/129, 710/131
• US Class Current: 375/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4086 Bus impedance matching, e.g. termination
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0266 Arrangements for providing Galvanic isolation, e.g. by means of magnetic or capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0268 with modulation and subsequent demodulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/12 Compensating for variations in line impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0237 High frequency adaptations H05K1/0216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0239 Signal transmission by AC coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/361 Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits

Abstract

A high-speed digital distribution system is presented that includes a transmission line bus that carries modulated digital signals and reference signals. The transmission line bus has a first end electrically connected to a bus interface that modulates digital data onto said transmission line bus and demodulates modulated digital data signals that it receives from the transmission line bus. The bus interface can transmit and receive a reference signal. At least one digital component interface is in electromagnetic communication with the transmission line bus, and each digital component interface can also modulate digital data onto the transmission line bus and can demodulate modulated digital data signals received from the transmission line bus, and can transmit and receive a reference signal. The transmission line bus communicates modulated digital data in association with the reference signal between and among an external device connected to the bus interface and the at least one digital component interface. In one embodiment, the digital data is quadrature amplitude modulated with an encoding that uses one to five bits for the phase component and zero to three bits for the amplitude component. In another embodiment the transmission line bus has characteristic impedance and has matched terminations at its first and second ends.

Claims

1. A high speed digital distribution system comprising:

a transmission line bus that carries modulated digital signals and reference signals, said transmission line bus comprising a first end;

a bus interface electrically connected to said first end of said transmission line bus, said bus interface modulating digital data onto said transmission line bus and demodulating modulated digital data signals received from said transmission line bus, and being adapted to transmit and to receive a reference signal; and

at least one digital component interface in electromagnetic communication with said transmission line bus, said digital component interface modulating digital data onto said transmission line bus and demodulating modulated digital data signals received from said transmission line bus, and being adapted to transmit and to receive a reference signal;

wherein said transmission line bus communicates modulated digital data in association with said reference signal between and among an external device connected to said bus interface and said at least one digital component interface.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a reference source adapted to provide a reference signal to at least one of said bus interface and said at least one digital component interface.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a digital component electrically connected to one of said at least one digital component interface, said component being adapted to transmit and to receive said digital data in conjunction with said reference signal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said reference signal comprises a phase component and an amplitude component.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said digital data is quadrature amplitude modulated with said reference signal.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said digital data is encoded using one to five bits for the phase component and zero to three bits for the amplitude component.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital data is frequency modulated with said reference signal.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital data is spread spectrum encoded with said reference signal.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital data is amplitude modulation encoded with said reference signal.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital data is single sideband encoded with said reference signal.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said bus further comprises a second end, a characteristic impedance, and a matched termination attached to one of said first end and said second end of said transmission line bus.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of matched terminations wherein said matched terminations comprise a series termination impedance substantially equal to said characteristic impedance, said series termination connected between said first end of said transmission line bus and said bus interface, said bus interface representing a voltage source, and a parallel termination impedance substantially equal to said characteristic impedance, said parallel termination connected between said second end of said transmission line bus and ground.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of matched terminations wherein said match terminations comprise a parallel termination impedance substantially equal to said characteristic impedance, said parallel termination connected between said first end of said transmission line bus and ground, said bus interface representing a current source, and a parallel termination impedance substantially equal to said characteristic impedance, said parallel termination connected between said second end of said transmission line bus and ground.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital component interface further comprises an interface transmission line that couples electromagnetic radiation to and from the transmission line bus.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said interface transmission line further comprises a characteristic impedance termination at a first end.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said digital component interface further comprises a directional coupler in communication with said transmission line bus, said directional coupler coupling electromagnetic radiation to and from the transmission line bus.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said digital component interface is removably attached to said system.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said digital component interface is adapted to be attached or detached from said system while said system is in operation.

19. The system according to claim 1 wherein the digital component interface further comprises an electrical connection to a power supply.

20. The high-speed digital distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a reference signal wherein said reference signal is multiplexed onto the same conductor of said transmission line bus as the modulated data signal.

21. An apparatus for distributing digital signals, the apparatus comprising:

a transmission line bus having a first end;

a first interface, said interface being electrically connected to said first end of said transmission line bus;

a second interface, said interface being electromagnetically coupled to said transmission line bus;

a reference signal source that provides a reference signal including a phase component and an amplitude component;

a first digital device electrically connected to said first interface; and

a second digital device electrically connected to said second interface;

wherein one of said first interface and said second interface modulates digital data provided by said digital data device connected thereto with said reference signal to encode the digital data in a quadrature amplitude modulated signal and transmits said modulated data onto said transmission line bus, and another of said first interface and said second interface receives and demodulates said modulated digital data and provides said demodulated data to said digital device connected thereto.

22. A method of distributing digital signals, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a reference signal;

providing a transmission line bus;

providing a first interface and a second interface, at least one interface being electrically connected to said transmission line bus, and at least one interface being electromagnetically coupled to said transmission line bus, both interfaces adapted to receive and to transmit said reference signal;

providing digital data to said first interface;

causing said first interface to modulate said digital data in conjunction with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal; and

causing said second interface to receive and demodulate said modulated digital data in conjunction with said reference signal.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the step of causing said first interface to modulate said digital data with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said bus in conjunction with said reference signal comprises the step of causing said first interface to quadrature amplitude modulate said digital data with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the digital data is encoded using one to five bits for a phase component and zero to three bits for an amplitude component.

25. The method according to claim 22 wherein the step of causing said first interface to modulate said digital data with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal comprises the step of causing said first interface to frequency modulate said digital data with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal.

26. The method according to claim 22 wherein the step of causing said first interface to modulate said digital data with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal comprises the step of causing said first interface to spread spectrum modulate said digital data with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal.

27. The method according to claim 22 wherein the step of causing said first interface to modulate said digital data with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal comprises the step of causing said first interface to amplitude modulate said digital data with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal.

28. The method according to claim 22 wherein the step of causing said first interface to modulate said digital data with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal comprises the step of causing said first interface to single sideband modulate said digital data with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal.

29. The method according to claim 22 further comprising the steps of providing an additional electromagnetically coupled interface to said transmission line bus while the transmission line bus is in operation;

and when a plurality of electromagnetically coupled interfaces are present, removing an electromagnetically coupled interface while the transmission line bus is in operation.

30. The method according to claim 22 further comprising the step of transmitting modulated data between and a plurality of electromagnetically coupled interfaces.

31. A high-speed digital distribution system comprising:

a transmission line bus that carries modulated digital signals and reference signals, said transmission line bus comprising a first end;

a bus interface electrically connected to said first end of said transmission line bus, said bus interface modulating digital data onto said transmission line bus and demodulating modulated digital data signals received from said transmission line bus, and being adapted to transmit and to receive a reference signal; and

at least one digital component in electromagnetic communication with said transmission line bus, said digital component modulating digital data onto said transmission line bus and demodulating modulated digital data signals received from said transmission line bus, and being adapted to transmit and to receive a reference signal;

wherein said transmission line bus communicates modulated digital data in association with said reference signal between and among an external device connected to said bus interface and said at least one digital component.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising a reference source adapted to provide a reference signal to at least one of said bus interface and said at least one digital component.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein said reference signal comprises a phase component and an amplitude component.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said digital data is quadrature amplitude modulated with said reference signal.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said digital data is encoded using one to five bits for the phase component and zero to three bits for the amplitude component.

36. The system of claim 31 wherein the digital data is frequency modulated with said reference signal.

37. The system of claim 31 wherein the digital data is spread spectrum encoded with said reference signal.

38. The system of claim 31 wherein the digital data is amplitude modulation encoded with said reference signal.

39. The system of claim 31 wherein the digital data is single sideband encoded with said reference signal.

40. The system of claim 31 wherein said bus further comprises a second end, a characteristic impedance, and a matched termination attached to one of said first end and said second end of said transmission line bus.

41. The system of claim 40 further comprising a plurality of matched terminations wherein said matched terminations comprise a series termination impedance substantially equal to said characteristic impedance, said series termination connected between said first end of said transmission line bus and said bus interface, said bus interface representing a voltage source, and a parallel termination impedance substantially equal to said characteristic impedance, said parallel termination connected between said second end of said transmission line bus and ground.

42. The system of claim 40 further comprising a plurality of matched terminations wherein said matched terminations comprise a parallel termination impedance substantially equal to said characteristic impedance, said parallel termination connected between said first end of said transmission line bus and ground, said bus interface representing a current source, and a parallel termination impedance substantially equal to said characteristic impedance, said parallel termination connected between said second end of said transmission line bus and ground.

43. The system of claim 31 wherein said digital component further comprises a directional coupler in communication with said transmission line bus, said directional coupler coupling electromagnetic radiation to and from the transmission line bus.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein said digital component is removably attached to said system.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein said digital component is adapted to be attached or detached from said system while said system is in operation.

46. The system according to claim 31 wherein the digital component further comprises an electrical connection to a power supply.

47. A high-speed digital distribution system comprising:

a reference signal source that provides reference signals;

a transmission line bus that carries modulated digital signals and reference signals, said transmission line bus comprising a first end;

a first interface and a second interface, each of said interfaces being electromagnetically coupled to said transmission line bus, both interfaces adapted to transmit and to receive a reference signal, said first interface being provided with digital data;

wherein said first interface modulates digital data in conjunction with said reference signal and impresses said modulated digital data onto said transmission line bus, and said second interface receives said modulated digital data and demodulates said modulated digital data received from said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal.

48. A method of distributing digital signals, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a reference signal;

providing a transmission line bus;

providing a first interface and a second interface, each of said interfaces being electromagnetically coupled to said transmission line bus, each interface adapted to receive and to transmit said reference signal;

providing digital data to said first interface;

causing said first interface to modulate said digital data in conjunction with said reference signal and to impress said modulated data onto said transmission line bus in conjunction with said reference signal; and

causing said second interface to receive said modulated data in conjunction with said reference signal and to demodulate said modulated data in conjunction with said reference signal.