Signal transmission apparatus and interconnection structure
US7446567B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 2004 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 5, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L5/1461
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for transmitting a digital signal within, for example, an integrated circuit includes a signal transmission line with a directional coupler at one or both ends. The directional coupler blocks the direct-current component of the digital signal while transmitting the alternating-current component, including enough higher harmonics to transmit a well-defined pulse waveform. A suitable directional coupler consists of two adjacent line pairs in materials with different dielectric constants. The apparatus may also include a driver of the inverter type, a receiver of the differential amplifier type, a terminating resistor, and a power-ground transmission line pair for supplying power to the driver. An all-metallic transmission-line structure is preferably maintained from the output interconnections in the driver to the input interconnections in the receiver.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.