Dual path acoustic data coupling system and method

• US 20070171002A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Unkrich, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,586,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/189
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/02 using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48137 the bodies being arranged next to each other, e.g. on a common substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48227 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• 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 2924/01078 Platinum [Pt]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/15311 being a ball array, e.g. BGA
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19041 being a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/584 Coupled Resonator Filters [CFR]
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/587 Air-gaps
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/60 Electric coupling means therefor H03H9/0095 takes precedence

Abstract

A data coupler includes first and second acoustic isolation transformers that develop first and second isolated output signals in response to first and second modulated input signals. A first and a second transmitter is coupled to the first and second acoustic isolation transformers to receive a first and a second data input signal and generate the first and second modulated input signal in response to the first and second data input signals. A first and a second receiver is coupled to the first and second acoustic isolation transformers to receive the first and a second isolated output signals and generate first and second demodulated signals responsive to the first and second isolated output signals. An output decision circuit is coupled to the first and second receivers to receive the first and second data output signals and generates a data output signal responsive to the first and second demodulated signals.

Claims

1. A data coupler, comprising:

a first acoustic isolation transformer operable to develop a first isolated output signal in response to a first modulated input signal;

a second acoustic isolation transformer operable to develop a second isolated output signal in response to a second modulated input signal;

a first transmitter coupled to the first acoustic isolation transformer and adapted to receive a first data input signal, the first transmitter operable to generate the first modulated input signal in response to the first data input signal;

a second transmitter coupled to the second acoustic isolation transformer and adapted to receive a second data input signal that is the complement of the first data input signal, the second transmitter operable to generate the second modulated input signal in response to the second data input signal;

a first receiver coupled to the first acoustic isolation transformer to receive the first isolated output signal and operable to generate a first demodulated signal responsive to the first isolated output signal; and

a second receiver coupled to the second acoustic isolation transformer to receive the second isolated output signal and operable to generate a second demodulated signal responsive to the second isolated output signal; and

an output decision circuit coupled to the first and second receivers to receive the first and second data output signals, the output decision circuit operable to generate a data output signal responsive to the first and second demodulated signals.

2. The data coupler of claim 1 wherein the first and second modulated signals generated by the transmitter each comprise a continuous periodic signal.

3. The data coupler of claim 2 wherein each continuous periodic signal comprises one of an On/Off Keying, Frequency Shift Keying, and Amplitude Shift Keying modulated signal.

4. The data coupler of claim 2 wherein each periodic signal comprises a burst periodic signal.

5. The data coupler of claim 2 wherein each periodic signal comprises a burst nonperiodic signal.

6. The data coupler of claim 2 wherein each burst nonperiodic signal comprises one of a Burst Nonperiodic Frequency Envelope On/Off Keying signal, Burst Nonperiodic Amplitude Envelope On/Off Keying signal, and Burst Nonperiodic Bit Sequence On/Off Keying signal.

7. The data coupler of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second acoustic isolation transformers comprises two stacked film bulk acoustic resonators.

8. The data coupler of claim 7 wherein each of the stacked film bulk acoustic resonators comprises a stacked pair of film bulk acoustic resonators having an acoustic coupling layer positioned between them.

9. The data coupler of claim 8 wherein a first one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in a first one of the pair is coupled in antiparallel with a first one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in a second one of the pair, and wherein a second one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in the first one of the pair is coupled in series with a second one of the film bulk acoustic resonators in the second one of the pair.

10. The data coupler of claim 1 wherein the data input signal comprises a digital signal.

11. The data coupler of claim 1 wherein the data coupler further comprises a substrate on which the first and second acoustic isolation transformers, transmitters, and receivers are carried.

12. The data coupler of claim 11 wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board.

13. An electronic system, comprising:

a first electronic subsystem;

a second electronic subsystem;

a substrate containing at least one data coupling device, each data coupling device being coupled to the first and second electronic subsystems and each data coupling device including,

a first acoustic isolation transformer operable to develop a first isolated output signal in response to a first modulated input signal;

a second acoustic isolation transformer operable to develop a second isolated output signal in response to a second modulated input signal;

a first transmitter coupled to the first acoustic isolation transformer and adapted to receive a first data input signal, the first transmitter operable to generate the first modulated input signal in response to the first data input signal;

a second transmitter coupled to the second acoustic isolation transformer and adapted to receive a second data input signal that is the complement of the first data input signal, the second transmitter operable to generate the second modulated input signal in response to the second data input signal;

a first receiver coupled to the first acoustic isolation transformer to receive the first isolated output signal and operable to generate a first demodulated signal responsive to the first isolated output signal; and

a second receiver coupled to the second acoustic isolation transformer to receive the second isolated output signal and operable to generate a second demodulated signal responsive to the second isolated output signal; and

an output decision circuit coupled to the first and second receivers to receive the first and second data output signals, the output decision circuit operable to generate a data output signal responsive to the first and second demodulated signals.

14. The electronic system of claim 13 wherein the first and second electronic subsystems comprise computer subsystems.

15. The electronic system of claim 13 wherein the modulated signal generated by the transmitter comprises a periodic signal.

16. The electronic system of claim 15 wherein the periodic signal comprises a burst periodic signal.

17. The electronic system of claim 13 wherein the modulated signal generated by the transmitter comprises a nonperiodic signal.

18. The electronic system of claim 17 wherein the nonperiodic signal comprises one of a Burst Nonperiodic Frequency Envelope On/Off Keying (BNPFE-OOK), Burst Nonperiodic Amplitude Envelope On/Off Keying (BNPAE-OOK), and Burst Nonperiodic Bit Sequence On/Off Keying (BNPBS-OOK) signal.

19. The electronic system of claim 13 wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board.

20. A method of generating a data output signal in response to a data input signal, the output signal being electrically isolated from the input signal and the method comprising:

generating first and second control input signals responsive to the data input signal;

generating a first acoustic signal responsive to the first control input signal;

generating a second acoustic signal responsive to the second control input signal;

generating a first isolated output signal in response to the first acoustic signal;

generating a second isolated output signal in response to the second acoustic signal;

generating the data output signal in response to the first and second isolated output signals.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the data input signal comprises a digital signal and wherein the first and second control input signals comprise complementary digital signals.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein each of the first and second control input signals comprises a periodic signal.

23. The method of claim 22 each of the periodic signals comprises a burst periodic signal.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein each of the first and second control input signals comprises a nonperiodic signal.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein each nonperiodic signal comprises one of a Burst Nonperiodic Frequency Envelope On/Off Keying (BNPFE-OOK), Burst Nonperiodic Amplitude Envelope On/Off Keying (BNPAE-OOK), and Burst Nonperiodic Bit Sequence On/Off Keying (BNPBS-OOK) signal.