System and method for wireless communication in a backplane fabric architecture

• US 8,422,414 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2011
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vubiq Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vubiq, Inc.
• Inventors: Pettus, Michael Gregory, Bardeen, James Robert Amos
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US13/084,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20110188417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 455/41.2, 361/788
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2223/6677 for antenna, e.g. antenna included within housing of semiconductor device
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/66 High-frequency adaptations
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/162 the devices being mounted on two or more different substrates
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/165 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A wireless millimeter wave backplane network and method comprises a first circuit board that has a first module thereon, wherein the first circuit board is coupled to a high speed backplane. The network includes a first communication node that is coupled to the first module and which is disposed on the first circuit board. The network includes a second circuit board that has a second module thereon, wherein the second circuit board is coupled to the high speed backplane. The network includes a second communication node that is coupled to the second module and disposed on the second circuit board, wherein the first and second modules wirelessly communicate using millimeter wave electromagnetic radiation with one another via the first and second communication nodes.

Claims

1. A wireless millimeter wave mesh network comprising:

a first network communication device associated with a first housing, wherein the first network communication device is coupled to a communication network;

a first stationary communication node coupled to the first network communication device and located at the first housing, the first communication node configured to emit millimeter wave electromagnetic radiation to wirelessly communicate data;

a second network communication device associated with a second housing located separate and remote from the first housing, wherein the second network communication device is coupled to the communication network; and

a second stationary communication node coupled to the second network communication device and located at the second housing, wherein the second communication node is configured to emit millimeter wave electromagnetic radiation to wirelessly communicate data with the first communication node of the first network communication device.

2. The network of claim 1 wherein the first communication node further comprises:

a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface configured to interface the chip package to a circuit board being made of a first dielectric material;

a second substrate disposed on the first surface of the first substrate, the second substrate being made of a second dielectric material;

a communication element disposed on the second substrate, wherein the communication element includes an antenna and a communication device coupled to the antenna;

a lid coupled to the first substrate and configured to encapsulate the communication element, the lid having a lens configured to allow radiation from the antenna to be emitted therethrough.

3. The network of claim 2, wherein the communication element further comprises a plurality of transmitters coupled to respective transmitting antennas, wherein the transmitters and transmitting antennas are all disposed on the second substrate.

4. The network of claim 2, wherein the communication element further comprises a plurality of receivers coupled to respective receiving antennas, wherein the receivers and receiving antennas are all disposed on the second substrate.

5. The network of claim 1 further comprising a data source disposed on the first circuit board and coupled to the first communication node, wherein the data source provides at least operational information to the first communication node.

6. The network of claim 1 wherein the first communication node and the second communication node wirelessly communicate to perform a switching function between the first and second modules without using a central switch.

7. The network of claim 1 wherein the first communication node and the second communication node communicate using time division multiplexing access and frequency division multiplexing access.

8. The network of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate communication node having a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna, wherein the intermediate communication node receives the communication from the first communication transmits the data packet to the second communication node.

9. A method for wirelessly communicating between a plurality of network communication devices in a communication network, the method comprising:

sending a data packet from a first network communication device to a second network communication device, wherein the first network communication device is within a first housing and the second network communication device is within a second housing separate from the first housing, the first network communication device including a first stationary communication node coupled to a first stationary antenna and the second network communication device including a second stationary communication node coupled to a second stationary antenna, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are configured to emit millimeter wave electromagnetic radiation to allow transfer of data packets with the one another.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising identifying an operating parameter for the data packet, wherein the operating parameter at least includes an address of the destination node.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating parameter further includes a frequency hopping sequence and a time counter for the frequency hopping sequence.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating parameter includes information identifying a node other than the destination node which is capable of receiving the data packet.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first communication node operates a selected power setting and the second communication node operates a selected sensitivity setting to allow successful transmission of the data packet therebetween.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving the data packet at the second communication node, wherein the received data packet is transmitted to a data sink coupled to the second communication node.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the first communication node autonomously selects and transmits to the second communication node without using a central switching module.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the first communication node and second communication node communicate the data packet using MIMO technology.