Patent US5754948A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5754948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Millimeter-wave wireless interconnection of electronic components
Assignee: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Filing: 1995-12-29
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Granted: 1998-05-19
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Expires: 2015-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A millimeter-wave wireless data transmission link is utilized to interconnect multiple electronic components within an enclosed electronic system. More specifically, an electronic apparatus includes a housing, a plurality of separated electronic components located within the housing, and a plurality of millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices, each coupled to a corresponding one of the separated electronic components. Data is transmitted between the plurality of separated electronic components via the millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit components, each of which includes one or more transmit/receive circuits preferably operating at frequencies above 35 GHz. The transmit and receiving frequencies of the transmit/receive integrated circuit devices can be dynamically set in memory to enable transmission links to be easily reconfigured.
Inventors
- 👤 George M. Metze
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus comprising: a housing; a plurality of separated electronic components located within the housing; and a plurality of millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices having transmission frequencies of at least 35 GHz; wherein each of the millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices is coupled to receive data from a corresponding one of the separated electronic components; and wherein data from at least one of the plurality of separated electronic components is transmitted to at least one other of the plurality of separated electronic components via the millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus comprising: a housing; a plurality of separated electronic components located within the housing; and a plurality of millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices having transmission frequencies of at least 35 GHz; wherein each of the millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices is coupled to receive data from a corresponding one of the separated electronic components; and wherein data from at least one of the plurality of separated electronic components is transmitted to at least one other of the plurality of separated electronic components via the millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each millimeter wave transmit/receive integrated circuit device includes at least one transmit/receive circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of a transmitting frequency and a receiving frequency of the transmit/receive circuit is adjustable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a transmitting frequency and a receiving frequency of the transmit/receive circuit are fixed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices operate at frequencies between 60 GHz and 94 GHz.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one electronic component is bonded to its corresponding millimeter wave transmit/receive integrated circuit device to form a modular device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one electronic component and its corresponding millimeter wave transmit/receive integrated circuit device are monolithically formed in a common substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transmit/receive circuit includes a voltage controlled oscillator that controls an operating frequency of the transmit/receive circuit based on a received tune signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the voltage controlled oscillator receives the tune signal from a frequency address register coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising adjustment means for dynamically adjusting at least one of a transmitting frequency and a receiving frequency of the transmit/receive circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the adjustment means includes a frequency address register.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus comprising a housing; a plurality of separated electronic components located within the housing; and a plurality of millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices, each coupled to received a data word comprising a plurality of data bits from a corresponding one of the separated electronic components and to transmit the data word to at least one other of the separated electronic components; and wherein at least one of said plurality of millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices transmits different bits of a common data word at different transmission frequencies.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus comprising a housing; a plurality of separated electronic components located within the housing; and a plurality of millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices, each coupled to received a data word comprising a plurality of data bits from a corresponding one of the separated electronic components and to transmit the data word to at least one other of the separated electronic components; and wherein at least one of said plurality of millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices transmits different bits of a common data word at different transmission frequencies.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality of millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices transmits a first group of bits of the common data word at a first frequency and a second group of bits of the common data word at a second frequency.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein each millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit device includes at least one transmit/received circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one of a transmitting frequency and a receiving frequency of the transmit/receive circuit is adjustable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein a transmitting frequency and a receiving frequency of the transmit/receive circuit are fixed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices operate at frequencies above 35 Ghz.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the millimeter-wave transmit/receive integrated circuit devices operate at frequencies between 60 Ghz and 94 Ghz.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the transmit/receive circuit includes a voltage controlled oscillator that controls an operating frequency of the transmit/receive circuit based on a received tune signal, and wherein the voltage controlled oscillator receives the tune signal from a frequency address register coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising adjustment means for dynamically adjusting at least one of a transmitting frequency and a receiving frequency of the transmit/receive circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-18 | 2001-11-17 | 2002-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-18 | 2005-11-17 | 2006-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-18 | 2009-11-17 | 2010-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |