Methods of operating electronic devices, and methods of providing electronic devices

• US 8,554,166 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Tandy, Patrick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, PABLO N
• Application Number:
  US13/269,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20120028582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 455/333, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 455/90.2, 455/575.8, 455/334, 455/351, 455/73, 455/80, 455/83, 455/88, 455/41.2, 455347-348, 455/343.6, 455/344, 455/90.1, 455/2, 455 92-292, 455/41.1, 455/127.1, 455/127.5, 455/343.1, 257723-725, 257/700, 257/712, 257/728, 257/778, 257/679, 257/924, 340/825.32, 342 42- 44, 343701-703, 320101-102, 320/124, 320/127, 320137-138
• US Class Current: 455/333
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2223/6677 for antenna, e.g. antenna included within housing of semiconductor device antennas per se H01Q
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/05599 Material
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32245 the item being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45015 being circular
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45099 Material
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48257 connecting the wire to a die pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73265 Layer and wire connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/85399 Material
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/48 Arrangements for conducting electric current to or from the solid state body in operation, e.g. leads, terminal arrangements ; Selection of materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/66 High-frequency adaptations
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/48 of an individual wire connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/73 Means for bonding being of different types provided for in two or more of groups H01L24/10, H01L24/18, H01L24/26, H01L24/34, H01L24/42, H01L24/50, H01L24/63, H01L24/71
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0655 the devices being arranged next to each other
• 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 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/14 Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/207 : Diameter ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2283 : mounted in or on the surface of a semiconductor substrate as a chip-type antenna or integrated with other components into an IC package
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 : Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 : Hand-held transceivers

Abstract

Some embodiments include a method disposing an integrated circuit die within a housing, the integrated circuit die having integrated circuitry formed thereon, the integrated circuitry including first transponder circuitry configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals, wherein the integrated circuit die is void of external electrical connections for anything except power supply external connections; and disposing second transponder circuitry, discrete from the first transponder circuitry, within the housing, the second transponder circuitry being configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals, wherein the first and second transponder circuitry are configured to establish wireless communication between one another within the housing, the second transponder circuitry being disposed within 24 inches of the first transponder circuitry within the housing.

Claims

1. A packaged microelectronic device comprising:

a first die received with the package, the first die having first transmit and receive circuitry configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals via a first antenna;

a second die received within the package, the second die discrete from the first die and having second transmit and receive circuitry configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals via a second antenna;

wherein at least one of the first die and the second die are void of electrical interconnects that carry communication signals between each other;

wherein the first transmit and receive circuitry and the second transmit and receive circuitry are configured to establish a wireless communications link between the first and second die, and wherein there is no communication between the first and second die other than via a wireless communications link; and

wherein power or ground connections are the only physical electrical connections to at least one of the first and second die.

2. The packaged microelectronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first processor formed on the first die, the first processor coupled to the first transmit and receive circuitry wherein the first transmit and receive circuitry provides data received via the wireless communication link to the first processor.

3. The packaged microelectronic device of claim 2, further comprising:

a second processor formed on the second die, the second processor coupled to the second transmit and receive circuitry wherein the second transmit and receive circuitry provides data received via the wireless communication link to the second processor.

4. The packaged microelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the first die is held in the package within twenty-four inches of the second die.

5. The packaged microelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the first die is held in the package within one inch of the second die.

6. The packaged microelectronic of claim 1, wherein the first die is held in the package within one-half inch of the second die.

7. The packaged microelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the microelectronic package is hand-transportable.

8. The packaged microelectronic device of claim 1 wherein the package is plastic.

9. The packaged microelectronic device of claim 1 wherein the microelectronic device is selected from a cell phone and a hand-held electronic device.

10. A packaged electronic device, comprising:

a microelectronic package;

a plurality of die mounted within the microelectronic package, each of the plurality of die having a processor and transceiver circuitry coupled to the processor, wherein an antenna is coupled to the transceiver circuitry; and

physical connections to each of the plurality of die, wherein the physical connections provide only power connections to the die;

wherein the transceiver circuitry on each of the die is configured to establish wireless communications links among individual ones of the die, and wherein there is no communication among the plurality of die other than via the wireless communications links.

11. The packaged electronic device of claim 10, wherein the transceiver circuitry on one or more of the plurality of die is configured to either transmit or receive radio frequency signals via the antenna.

12. The packaged electronic device of claim 10, wherein the transceiver circuitry on one or more of the plurality of die is configured to both transmit and receive radio frequency signals via the antenna.

13. The packaged electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to receive data provided by the transceiver circuitry, and wherein the processor operates in a designed manner in response to the data provided by the transceiver circuitry.

14. The packaged electronic device of claim 10, wherein the power connections include ground connections.

15. The packaged electronic device of claim 10, wherein the wireless communications links permit operating instructions for at least one of the processors to be transmitted and received.

16. The packaged electronic device of claim 10, wherein the electronic device package is hand-transportable.

17. The packaged electronic device of claim 10 wherein the package is plastic.

18. The packaged electronic device of claim 10 wherein the electronic device is selected from a cell phone and a hand-held electronic device.