Integrated voltage controlled oscillator-based transmitter

• US 8,811,923 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza, Rofougaran, Maryam
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US13/896,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20130252566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 455/129, 455/562.1, 455/232.1, 455/121
• US Class Current: 455/129
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73204 the bump connector being embedded into the layer connector
• 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 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• 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: H01Q 13/20 Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/22 Longitudinal slot in boundary wall of waveguide or transmission line H01Q13/203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/006 Selective devices having photonic band gap materials or materials of which the material properties are frequency dependent, e.g. perforated substrates, high-impedance surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0066 said selective devices being reconfigurable, tunable or controllable, e.g. using switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/23 Combinations of reflecting surfaces with refracting or diffracting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/06 using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens radome H01Q1/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

Methods and systems for an integrated voltage controlled oscillator (VCO)-based transmitter and on-chip power distribution network are disclosed and may include supplying bias voltages and/or ground to a chip utilizing conductive lines. One or more VCOs and low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) may each be coupled to a leaky wave antenna (LWA) integrated in the bias voltage and/or ground lines. One or more clock signals may be generated utilizing the VCOs, which may be transmitted from the LWAs coupled to the VCOs, to the LWAs coupled to the LNAs. RF signals may be transmitted via the LWAs, and may include 60 GHz signals. The LWAs may include microstrip and/or coplanar waveguides, where a cavity length of the LWAs may be dependent on a spacing between conductive lines in the waveguides. The LWAs may be dynamically configured to transmit the clock signals at a desired angle from a surface of the chip.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

a wireless device comprising a voltage-controlled oscillator and a low-noise amplifiers in a chip, wherein said voltage-controlled oscillator is communicatively coupled to a first leaky wave antenna, and wherein said low-noise amplifiers is communicatively coupled to a second leaky wave antenna, said first and second leaky wave antennas being integrated in a ground line to said chip, said wireless device being operable to;

supply a ground for said chip utilizing said ground line;

generate a clock signal utilizing said voltage-controlled oscillator;

transmit said clock signal from said first leaky wave antenna to said second leaky wave antenna.

2. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said wireless device is operable to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals via said first and second leaky wave antennas.

3. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said first and second leaky wave antennas comprise microstrip waveguides.

4. The communications system of claim 3, wherein a cavity length of said first and second leaky wave antennas is dependent on a spacing between conductive lines in said microstrip waveguides.

5. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said first and second leaky wave antennas comprise coplanar waveguides.

6. The communications system of claim 5, wherein a cavity length of said leaky wave antennas is dependent on a spacing between conductive lines in said coplanar waveguides.

7. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said wireless device is operable to configure said first and second leaky wave antennas to transmit said clock signal at a desired angle.

8. The communications system of claim 7, wherein said wireless device is operable to dynamically configure said desired angle.

9. The communications system of claim 1, wherein a gain of said low-noise amplifier is configured for receiving said clock signal.

10. A wireless device comprising:

a voltage-controlled oscillator and a low-noise amplifiers in a chip, wherein said voltage-controlled oscillator is communicatively coupled to a first leaky wave antenna, and wherein said low-noise amplifiers is communicatively coupled to a second leaky wave antenna, said first and second leaky wave antennas being integrated in a bias voltage line to said chip, said wireless device being operable to;

supply a bias voltage for said chip utilizing said bias voltage line;

generate a clock signal utilizing said voltage-controlled oscillator;

transmit said clock signal from said first leaky wave antenna to said second leaky wave antenna.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein said wireless device is operable to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals via said first and second leaky wave antennas.

12. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein said first and second leaky wave antennas comprise microstrip waveguides.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein a cavity length of said first and second leaky wave antennas is dependent on a spacing between conductive lines in said microstrip waveguides.

14. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein said first and second leaky wave antennas comprise coplanar waveguides.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein a cavity length of said leaky wave antennas is dependent on a spacing between conductive lines in said coplanar waveguides.

16. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein said wireless device is operable to configure said first and second leaky wave antennas to transmit said clock signal at a desired angle.

17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein said wireless device is operable to dynamically configure said desired angle.

18. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein a gain of said low-noise amplifier is configured for receiving said clock signal.