Patent US6310951B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0508613A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0508613A1
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EP
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Multichip system and method of supplying clock signal therefor
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1992-03-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A light emitting unit (30) blinks based on a clock signal coming from a clock signal supply unit (4), whereby the clock signal (electric signal) is transformed into a light signal. The light signal is directed towards a plurality of semiconductor chips (10A) each of which has an internal circuit and a photodetector. The photodetectors receive the light signal, transform the light signal back into an electric signal, and supply the electric signal as a clock signal to the internal circuits. Thus, clock skew caused by the impedance of aluminium wires is eliminated, so that the periods of signal transmission time for supplying the clock signal to the respective semiconductor chips (10A) are substantially equal.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuo c/o Mitsubishi Denki K. K. Kitamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/80; H04B10/801; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/421; G02B6/4249; G02B6/43; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/04; G06F1/10; G06F1/105; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0274; H05K1/18; H05K1/181
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A multichip system, comprising; (a) a clock signal supply unit for generating a clock signal, said clock signal being an electric signal; (b) a light emitting unit blinking in response to said clock signal from said clock signal supply unit, to thereby transform said clock signal into a light signal corresponding to said clock signal; and (c) a plurality of semiconductor chips each of which includes (c-1) a semiconductor element having an internal circuit, (c-2) a photodetector for transforming said light signal back into an electric signal, said photodetector being electrically connected to said internal circuit such that said electric signal is supplied to said internal circuit, said electric signal serving as a clock signal for said internal circuit, and (c-3) a light transmission unit for receiving said light signal from said light emitting unit to transmit said light signal to said photodetector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A multichip system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said light transmission units comprises an optical device and a hollow, said optical elements of said semiconductor chips being fitted on the surfaces of said semiconductor chips, said hollows of said semiconductor chips being provided in internal portions of said semiconductor chips such that said light signal from said light emitting unit passes through said optical elements and impinges through said hollows upon said photodetectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A multichip system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said light transmission units comprises an optical element and a second optical fiber, said optical elements of said semiconductor chips being fitted on the surfaces of said semiconductor chips, said second optical fibers of said semiconductor chips being provided in internal portions of said semiconductor chips such that said light signal from said light emitting unit passes through said optical elements and impinges upon said photodetectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A multichip system in accordance with claim 2 or 3, wherein the surfaces are the top surfaces of said semiconductor chips.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A multichip system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said light emitting unit is located above said semiconductor chips.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A multichip system in accordance with claim 2 or 3, wherein the surfaces are the side faces of said semiconductor chips.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A multichip system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said semiconductor chips are provided radially around said light emitting unit such that said optical element faces said light emitting unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A multichip system in accordance with any of claims 2 to 7, further comprising (d) a circuit board provided with said semiconductor chips.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
A multichip system in accordance with claim 8, further comprising (e) a plurality of first optical fibers buried in said circuit board, inlet ends of said first optical fibers being directed to said light emitting unit, outlet ends of said first optical fiber being directed to the bottom surfaces of said semiconductor chips, and wherein said optical elements are fitted to the bottom faces of said semiconductor chips such that said light signals passing through said first optical fibers impinge upon said optical elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A multichip system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said photodetectors are formed on said semiconductor elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A multichip system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said photodetectors are separated from said semiconductor elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A multichip system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said semiconductor chips further comprises a lead terminal, said lead terminals electrically connected to said photodetectors such that said electric signals supplied to said internal circuits are output.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A multichip system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising (f) a plurality of third optical fibers between said light emitting unit and said semiconductor chips such that said light signal from said light emitting unit is transmitted through said third optical fibers to said semiconductor chips.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of supplying a clock signal for a multichip system, said multichip system including a plurality of semiconductor chips each of which has an internal circuit as function of said clock signal, said method comprising the steps of: generating said clock signal; transforming said clock signal into a light signal; transmitting said light signal to internal portions of said semiconductor chips to transform said light signal back into an electric signal; and supplying said electric signal to said internal circuits, whereby all of said internal circuits are synchronously operated based on said electric signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said clock signal is outputted outside from said semiconductor chips at the same time that said clock signal is supplied to said internal circuits.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the light signal from said light emitting unit is applied to said semiconductor chips through an optical fiber.
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