Chip to dielectric waveguide interface for sub-millimeter wave communications link
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a receptacle formed therein, wherein the receptacle is adapted to receive at least a portion of a dielectric waveguide; and
an integrated circuit (IC) secured within the housing, wherein the IC includes;
a substrate;
a directional antenna that is adapted to provide a communication link with the directional dielectric waveguide; and
a beam steering circuit that is coupled to the directional antenna, wherein the beam steering circuit is adapted to adjust the directional antenna to couple the IC with the directional dielectric waveguide, wherein the beam steering circuit changes an electric propagation characteristic of the directional antenna itself, and wherein the beam steering circuit is contained on or in the IC;
wherein the communication link is sub-millimeter wave RF link that is produced by a high frequency oscillator built on the substrate, wherein the oscillator is constructed by a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process technology.
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Abstract
In some developing interconnect technologies, such as chip-to-chip optical interconnect or metal waveguide interconnects, misalignment can be a serious issue. Here, however, a interconnect that uses an on-chip directional antenna (which operates in the sub-millimeter range) to form a radio frequency (RF) interconnect through a dielectric waveguide is provided. This system allows for misalignment while providing the increased communication bandwidth.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a receptacle formed therein, wherein the receptacle is adapted to receive at least a portion of a dielectric waveguide; and an integrated circuit (IC) secured within the housing, wherein the IC includes; a substrate; a directional antenna that is adapted to provide a communication link with the directional dielectric waveguide; and a beam steering circuit that is coupled to the directional antenna, wherein the beam steering circuit is adapted to adjust the directional antenna to couple the IC with the directional dielectric waveguide, wherein the beam steering circuit changes an electric propagation characteristic of the directional antenna itself, and wherein the beam steering circuit is contained on or in the IC; wherein the communication link is sub-millimeter wave RF link that is produced by a high frequency oscillator built on the substrate, wherein the oscillator is constructed by a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process technology. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a plastic housing having a receptacle therein, wherein the receptacle is adapted to receive at least a portion of a directional dielectric waveguide; an IC encapsulated within the plastic housing, wherein the IC includes; a substrate; a directional antenna that is adapted to provide a communication link with the directional dielectric waveguide; and a beam steering circuit that is coupled to directional antenna, wherein the beam steering circuit is adapted to adjust the directional antenna to couple the IC with the directional dielectric waveguide;
wherein the beam steering circuit changes an electric propagation characteristic of the directional antenna itself, and wherein the beam steering circuit is contained on or in the IC;a leadframe that is at least partially encapsulated within the plastic housing; and a plurality of wire bonds to secured to the IC and to the leadframe, wherein each bond wire is encapsulated within the plastic housing, wherein the communication link is sub-millimeter wave RF link that is produced by a high frequency oscillator built on the substrate, wherein the oscillator is constructed by a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process technology. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus compris ing:
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a plastic housing having a receptacle therein, wherein the receptacle is adapted to receive at least a portion of a directional dielectric waveguide; an IC encapsulated within the plastic housing, wherein the IC includes; a substrate; communication circuitry; a directional antenna that is coupled to the communication circuitry and that is adapted to provide a communication link with the dielectric waveguide; and a beam steering circuit that is coupled to directional antenna, wherein the beam steering circuit is adapted to adjust the directional antenna to couple the IC with the directional dielectric waveguide;
wherein the beam steering circuit changes an electric propagation characteristic of the directional antenna itself, and wherein the beam steering circuit is contained on or in the IC;a leadframe that is at least partially encapsulated within the plastic housing; and a plurality of wire bonds to secured to the IC and to the leadframe, wherein each bond wire is encapsulated within the plastic housing, wherein the communication link is sub-millimeter wave RF link that is produced by a high frequency oscillator built on the substrate, wherein the oscillator is constructed by a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process technology. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification