摘要:
One embodiment of the present invention provides a capacitively-coupled receiver amplifier that has an input with no DC coupling. A DC voltage is programmed on the input. During programming, a transmitter is held at a voltage at a midpoint between a voltage that represents a logical “1” and a voltage that represents a logical “0” and the input voltage of the receiver amplifier is programmed to be substantially the switching-threshold voltage for the receiver amplifier. Then, during normal data communication, the transmitter drives high and low electrical signals that are coupled to the receiver amplifier. Since the input of the receiver amplifier has been substantially set to the DC voltage, the receiver amplifier need not control the DC voltage of the input for each transition in the electrical signals.
摘要:
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates capacitive inter-chip communication. During operation, the system first determines an alignment between a first semiconductor die and a second semiconductor die. Next, electrical signals are selectively routed to at least one interconnect pad in a plurality of interconnect pads based on the alignment thereby facilitating communication between the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die. The plurality of interconnect pads can include transmitting pads, receiving pads, and transmitting and receiving pads. The alignment may be determined continuously or at times separated by an interval, where the interval is fixed or variable. Several variations on this embodiment are provided.
摘要:
One embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic circuit and method for measuring a capacitance. A signal generating mechanism generates a signal having a predefined frequency and predefined low and high voltage levels on one terminal of the capacitance. The other terminal of the capacitance is coupled to a switching mechanism. The switching mechanism is set to couple the other terminal of the capacitance to a first amplifier or a second amplifier for a portion of each signal cycle thereby full-wave rectifying a transient current flowing between the two terminals in the capacitance. Outputs of the first amplifier and the second amplifier are coupled to a current measurement mechanism for measuring the current. The capacitance is determined from the measured current. Several variations on this embodiment are provided.
摘要:
One embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic circuit and method for measuring a capacitance. A signal generating mechanism generates a signal having a predefined frequency and predefined low and high voltage levels on one terminal of the capacitance. The other terminal of the capacitance is coupled to a switching mechanism. The switching mechanism is set to couple the other terminal of the capacitance to a first amplifier or a second amplifier for a portion of each signal cycle thereby full-wave rectifying a transient current flowing between the two terminals in the capacitance. Outputs of the first amplifier and the second amplifier are coupled to a current measurement mechanism for measuring the current. The capacitance is determined from the measured current. Several variations on this embodiment are provided.
摘要:
A semiconductor die is described. This semiconductor die includes a driver, and a spatial alignment transducer that is electrically coupled to the driver and which is proximate to a surface of the semiconductor die. The driver establishes a spatially varying electric charge distribution in at least one direction in the spatial alignment transducer, thereby facilitating determination of a spatial alignment in more than one direction between the semiconductor die and another semiconductor die. In particular, a spatial alignment sensor proximate to the surface of the other semiconductor die may detect an electrical field (or an associated electrostatic potential) associated with the spatially varying electric charge distribution. This detected electric field may allow the vertical spacing between the surfaces of the semiconductor dies and/or an angular alignment of the semiconductor dies to be determined.
摘要:
A semiconductor die is described. This semiconductor die includes a driver, and a spatial alignment transducer that is electrically coupled to the driver and which is proximate to a surface of the semiconductor die. The driver establishes a spatially varying electric charge distribution in at least one direction in the spatial alignment transducer, thereby facilitating determination of a spatial alignment in more than one direction between the semiconductor die and another semiconductor die. In particular, a spatial alignment sensor proximate to the surface of the other semiconductor die may detect an electrical field (or an associated electrostatic potential) associated with the spatially varying electric charge distribution. This detected electric field may allow the vertical spacing between the surfaces of the semiconductor dies and/or an angular alignment of the semiconductor dies to be determined.
摘要:
A memory module is formed of multiple memory chips and an optical interface chip fixed on a substrate. The chips are interconnected by proximity communication (PxC) in which each chip includes transmitting and receiving elements, such as electrical pads which form capacitively coupled links when the chips are placed together with their pads facing each other. The PxC links may be directly between the chips or through an intermediate passive bridge chip. The interface chip is coupled to an external optical channel and includes converters between optical and electrical signals, control circuitry, buffers, and PxC elements for communicating with the memory chips. The array of memories may be a linear or two-dimensional array around the interface chip forming a redundant PxC network, optionally with redundant PxC connections. Multiple rectangular memory chips may present their narrow sides to the interface chip to maximize bandwidth.
摘要:
A memory module is formed of multiple memory chips and an optical interface chip fixed on a substrate. The chips are interconnected by proximity communication (PxC) in which each chip includes transmitting and receiving elements, such as electrical pads which form capacitively coupled links when the chips are placed together with their pads facing each other. The PxC links may be directly between the chips or through an intermediate passive bridge chip. The interface chip is coupled to an external optical channel and includes converters between optical and electrical signals, control circuitry, buffers, and PxC elements for communicating with the memory chips. The array of memories may be a linear or two-dimensional array around the interface chip forming a redundant PxC network, optionally with redundant PxC connections. Multiple rectangular memory chips may present their narrow sides to the interface chip to maximize bandwidth.
摘要:
An integrated circuit containing a communication channel is described. This communication channel includes a transmit circuit configured to transmit signals using a voltage-mode driver, a receive circuit, and a capacitive link that couples the transmit circuit to the receive circuit. The communication channel includes a filter with a capacitive-summing junction to equalize signals communicated between the transmit circuit and the receive circuit.
摘要:
A method for calibrating an offset voltage of an amplifier used to amplify capacitively coupled communication signals is described. During this process, a common voltage is applied to one or more inputs to the amplifier. Next, an output of the amplifier is iteratively, measured, and charge is applied to the one or more inputs until the offset voltage is less than a pre-determined value. Note that applying the charge may involve applying a sequence of one or more charge pulses.