Hybrid coupler having resistive coupling and electromagnetic coupling

• US 7,342,466 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Benham, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, BENNY T
• Application Number:
  US11/201,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20070035360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 333/24.R, 333/109, 333/117
• US Class Current: 333/24.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/187 Broadside coupled lines

Abstract

In some embodiments, a hybrid coupler is provided with a resistive coupler to conductively tap a transmission line and an electromagnetic coupler to be disposed next to the transmission line to electromagnetically tap it. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a resistive coupler to conductively contact a transmission line having a signal to provide a portion of the signal;

an electromagnetic coupler to be disposed proximal to the transmission line to provide a different portion of the signal; and

an integrating driver coupled to the electromagnetic coupler to integrate the different portion of the signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the resistance of the resistive coupler is in excess of about 600 ohms.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the signal portions from the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are to be combined to provide a resultant signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the resistive coupler, electromagnetic coupler and transmission line are mounted in a common printed circuit board.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are coupled to one another.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the transmission line is to carry a gigabit logic signal with lower frequency components of interest.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are housed in a common probe housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the common probe housing comprises a flexible circuit.

9. A hybrid coupler, comprising:

at least one resistive coupler to conductively tap a transmission line;

at least one electromagnetic coupler to be disposed next to the transmission line to electromagnetically tap said transmission line, and

an integrating driver coupled to the electromagnetic coupler to integrate a signal output therefrom.

10. The hybrid coupler of claim 9, in which the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are housed in a common probe housing.

11. The hybrid coupler of claim 10, in which the common probe housing comprises a flexible circuit.

12. The hybrid coupler of claim 9, in which the outputs from the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are coupled to provide a resultant signal.

13. The hybrid coupler of claim 9, in which the resistance of the resistive coupler is in excess of about 600 ohms.

14. The hybrid coupler of claim 9, in which the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are coupled to one another.

15. The hybrid coupler of claim 9, in which the transmission line is to carry a gigabit logic signal with lower frequency components.

16. The hybrid coupler of claim 9, in which the resistive coupler, electromagnetic coupler and transmission line are mounted with a common printed circuit board.

17. A system comprising:

a hybrid coupler comprising a resistive coupler to conductively tap a transmission line in a circuit board and an electromagnetic coupler to be disposed next to the transmission line to electromagnetically tap said transmission line; and

a receiver coupled to the hybrid coupler to receive a signal tapped from the transmission line, the receiver comprising an integrating driver coupled to the electromagnetic coupler to integrate a signal output therefrom.

18. The system of claim 17, in which the resistive coupler has a resistance in excess of about 600 ohms.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a resistive coupler to conductively contact a transmission line having a signal to provide a portion of the signal; and

an electromagnetic coupler to be disposed proximal to the transmission line to provide a different portion of the signal, wherein the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are housed in a common probe housing comprising a flexible circuit.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, in which the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are coupled to one another.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, in which the transmission line is to carry a gigabit logic signal with lower frequency components of interest.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, in which the resistive coupler, electromagnetic coupler and transmission line are mounted in a common printed circuit board.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, in which the resistance of the resistive coupler is in excess of about 600 ohms.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, in which the signal portions from the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are to be combined to provide a resultant signal.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, comprising an integrating driver coupled to the electromagnetic coupler to integrate the different portion of the signal.

26. A hybrid coupler, comprising:

at least one resistive coupler to conductively tap a transmission line; and

at least one electromagnetic coupler to be disposed next to the transmission line to electromagnetically tap said transmission line, wherein the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are housed in a common probe housing comprising a flexible circuit.

27. The hybrid coupler of claim 26, in which the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are coupled to one another.

28. The hybrid coupler of claim 26, in which the transmission line is to carry a gigabit logic signal with lower frequency components.

29. The hybrid coupler of claim 26, in which the resistive coupler, electromagnetic coupler and transmission line are mounted with a common printed circuit board.

30. The hybrid coupler of claim 26, in which the resistance of the resistive coupler is in excess of about 600 ohms.

31. The hybrid coupler of claim 26, in which the outputs from the resistive and electromagnetic couplers are coupled to provide a resultant signal.

32. The hybrid coupler of claim 26, comprising an integrating driver coupled to the electromagnetic coupler to integrate a signal output therefrom.