Receiving device and communication system

Abstract

To provide a technique that can improve the characteristics of a reception signal received on a receiving device side.SOLUTION: A receiving device 200 has a plurality of receiving electrodes 210 arranged at a position opposite one transmitting transmission line 130 of a transmitting device 100, and a connection path 240 connecting between the receiving electrodes in the plurality of receiving electrodes 210, and the connection path 240 includes at least one passive element 241 in series between the receiving electrodes in the plurality of receiving electrodes 210.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a receiving device and a communication system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, devices that communicate large amounts of data, such as cameras, have been attached to production systems, robotic devices, etc., and communication systems that transmit data at high speed between mechanical moving parts and fixed parts are on the rise. Patent Document 1 describes a wireless communication system that transmits data contactlessly by using an electromagnetic near field between a ring-shaped differential transmission line, which is a transmission transmission line on the transmitting device side, and a near-field probe on the receiving device side. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6304906 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is insufficient in improving the characteristics of the signal received by the receiving device.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such problems, and aims to provide a technique capable of improving the characteristics of a signal received by a receiving device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The receiving device of the present disclosure includes: A receiving device, of the transmitting device Stretch in a specific direction Located opposite the transmission line In the predetermined direction and a connection path connecting the plurality of receiving electrodes, the connection path being a path between the receiving electrodes. be placed At least one passive element include . The present disclosure also relates to the above-mentioned receiving device and other and a transmitting device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the characteristics of a signal received at a receiving device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 2 is a timing chart of each signal in each component of the communication system shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a communication system according to a comparative example. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram qualitatively showing the relationship between the length of the receiving electrodes and the performance of the receiving device in the communication system according to the comparative example shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a schematic configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 6 is a diagram qualitatively showing the relationship between the total length of the receiving electrodes and the performance of the receiving device in the communication system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a diagram showing the results of analyzing the performance of the receiving device of the communication system according to the comparative example shown in FIG. 3 using an electromagnetic field simulator. FIG. [Figure 8] 6 is a diagram showing the results of analyzing the performance of the receiving device of the communication system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 5 using an electromagnetic field simulator. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a schematic configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, modes (embodiments) for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a communication system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication system 10 is a wireless communication system in which a transmitting device 100 and a receiving device 200 communicate with each other wirelessly.

[0011] The transmitting device 100 includes a signal source 110, a transmitting circuit 120, a transmitting transmission line 130, a termination resistor 140, and a reference potential plane (ground plane) 150.

[0012] The signal source 110 outputs a data signal. In other words, the signal source 110 is an input signal source for the transmission circuit 120. The transmission circuit 120 amplifies the data signal from the signal source 110 and outputs it to the transmission transmission line 130. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the transmission transmission line 130 is configured as a differential transmission line, which is a differential microstrip line formed on the upper surface of the reference potential plane 150. Note that in the present disclosure, the transmission transmission line 130 is not limited to a differential transmission line and may be another transmission transmission line (for example, a single transmission transmission line). The termination resistor 140 is disposed at the end of the transmission transmission line 130 and has a resistance substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of the transmission transmission line 130 (differential transmission line). The reference potential plane 150 is a ground plane that serves as a reference potential for the transmission transmission line 130, and is generally formed on the opposite surface of a substrate (not shown) on which the transmission transmission line 130 is formed.

[0013] The receiving device 200 has a receiving electrode 210, a substrate 220, and a receiving circuit 230. The receiving device 200 moves relatively along the transmission transmission line 130 while maintaining a fixed distance therebetween. The movement is realized by a movement control means (not shown) such as a motor (for example, a movement control means for moving the receiving device 200 relative to the transmission transmission line 130).

[0014] The receiving electrode 210 is an electrode on the receiving device 200 side that is arranged at a position facing the transmission transmission line 130 of the transmitting device 100. The receiving electrode 210 is formed on a substrate 220 and moves along the transmission transmission line 130 in the space above the transmission transmission line 130 while maintaining a fixed distance. Note that the example shown in FIG. 1 does not show the detailed configuration of the receiving electrode 210. Furthermore, in the present disclosure, the receiving electrode 210 may also be referred to as a receiving coupler. The substrate 220 is a dielectric substrate on which the receiving electrode 210 is provided. The receiving circuit 230 processes the signal detected by the receiving electrode 210 to generate an output signal.

[0015] The receiving electrode 210 of the receiving device 200 performs wireless communication by coupling with the transmission transmission line 130 of the transmitting device 100 by an electric field, a magnetic field, or both (electromagnetic field coupling), and detects a signal transmitted through the transmission transmission line 130. The signal detected by the receiving electrode 210 is waveform-shaped by the receiving circuit 230 and then generated as a received signal.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a timing chart of each signal in each component of the communication system 10 shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, FIG. 2(a) shows an example of an output signal from the signal source 110. FIG. 2(b) shows an example of a signal near the receiving electrode 210 of the transmission line 130. FIG. 2(c) shows an example of an output signal from the receiving electrode 210 when the input impedance of the receiving circuit 230 is low. FIG. 2(d) shows an example of an output signal from the receiving electrode 210 when the input impedance of the receiving circuit 230 is high. FIG. 2(e) shows an example of an output signal from the receiving circuit 230.

[0017] When the input impedance of the receiving circuit 230 is low, the output of the receiving electrode 210 becomes an edge signal as shown in Fig. 2(c), and is waveform-shaped and demodulated as shown in Fig. 2(e) by a waveform shaping circuit such as a comparator having a hysteresis voltage of ±Vth. On the other hand, when the input impedance of the receiving circuit 230 is high, the output of the receiving electrode 210 becomes a waveform with a small amplitude similar to the input waveform as shown in Fig. 2(d). For this reason, the receiving circuit 230 may be, for example, an amplifier, which amplifies the signal to a level that allows digital signal processing.

[0018] Here, when the receiving electrode 210 moves (with a gap) on the transmission transmission line 130, the impedance of the transmission transmission line 130 is disturbed by the influence of the receiving electrode 210. In order to increase the strength of the signal transmitted from the transmission transmission line 130 to the receiving electrode 210, it is necessary to reduce the distance between the transmission transmission line 130 and the receiving electrode 210, but the closer they are, the greater the impedance disturbance described above. When the impedance disturbance becomes large, the input characteristics of the transmission transmission line 130 deteriorate, and even if an attempt is made to input a normal signal from the transmission circuit 120, it becomes difficult to input frequency components with large reflections, distorting the waveform of the input signal. Using FIG. 1(b), the principle of how the signal transmitted to the transmission transmission line 130 by the receiving electrode 210 is disturbed will be explained.

[0019] In the transmission transmission line 130 shown in FIG. 1(b), the area where the receiving electrode 210 is not present is free space above the transmission transmission line 130. At end A of the receiving electrode 210, the upper part of the transmission transmission line 130 is blocked by the electrode of the receiving electrode 210 or the dielectric that constitutes the substrate 220, so a change in transmission mode occurs in the signal input from the input end of the transmission transmission line 130, causing reflection. At end B of the receiving electrode 210, the upper part of the transmission transmission line 130 changes from a blocked state to free space, causing a change in transmission mode and causing reflection, just as at end A. In FIG. 1(b), reflected wave 131A represents a signal transmitted through the transmission transmission line 130 that is reflected at end A of the receiving electrode 210, and reflected wave 131B represents a signal transmitted through the transmission transmission line 130 that is reflected at end B of the receiving electrode 210. In this way, if there is a large reflection of the signal transmitted through the transmission line 130, it will appear in the input characteristics, and the gain of the output characteristics of the receiving electrode 210 will also decrease in the frequency band where the reflection is large in the input characteristics, which may cause a reception error because the correct signal cannot be received. The strength of the reflection described above tends to increase as the length and area of ​​the receiving electrode 210 increase. In order to increase the strength of the signal received by the receiving electrode 210, it is necessary to increase the length and area of ​​the receiving electrode 210, but there is a trade-off with the increase in reflection described above.

[0020] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a communication system 1010 according to a comparative example. A transmitting device 1100 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a transmitting transmission line 1130 corresponding to the transmitting transmission line 130 illustrated in FIG. 1, and may also include components corresponding to the signal source 110, the transmitting circuit 120, the termination resistor 140, and the reference potential plane 150 illustrated in FIG. 1. A receiving device 1200 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 corresponding to the receiving electrode 210 illustrated in FIG. 1, a substrate 1220 corresponding to the substrate 220 illustrated in FIG. 1, and a receiving circuit 1230 corresponding to the receiving circuit 230 illustrated in FIG. 1. A position 1201 illustrated in FIG. 3 is approximately the center position of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212, and is the position of the connection point with the receiving circuit 1230. The receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 are disposed opposite the corresponding transmitting transmission line 1130.

[0021] The differential transmission line used as the transmitting transmission line 1130 transmits a high-frequency differential signal. The receiving circuit 1230 generates a receiving signal as a potential difference excited between the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 by the high-frequency differential signal transmitting through the transmitting transmission line 1130. Figure 3 shows the length L of the long sides of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212. This length L is a major parameter that determines the performance of the receiving device. The performance of the receiving device will be explained in detail below. The performance of a receiving device can be broadly classified into the following three items. [1] Impact on transmission lines [2] High frequency band received signal strength [3] Low-frequency band received signal strength

[0022] First, regarding "[1] Degree of influence on the transmission transmission line," this can be rephrased as the degree to which the presence of the receiving electrode causes disturbance in the high-frequency signal transmitting through the transmission transmission line. In other words, the smaller the degree of influence on the transmission transmission line, the more likely it is that the performance of the receiving electrode will be superior. As the length L increases, the length over which the transmission transmission line and the receiving electrode are parallel increases, which tends to increase the degree of influence on the transmission transmission line.

[0023] Next, regarding "[2] High-frequency band received signal strength," an increase in the high-frequency band received signal strength means that signals with higher data rates can be transmitted. In other words, the greater the high-frequency band received signal strength, the better the performance of the receiving electrodes. As the length L increases, the self-resonant frequency of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 decreases. At frequencies above the self-resonant frequency, the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 behave inductively (behave as inductors). In other words, as the frequency increases, the impedance of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 increases, resulting in a decrease in the received signal strength. Therefore, the length L of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 is limited to a length at which the self-resonant frequency of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 can transmit a desired data rate.

[0024] For example, if the desired data rate is 10 Gbps, it is desirable that the self-resonant frequency of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 be sufficiently higher than 5 GHz, which is the dominant frequency of the signal. A specific length is calculated assuming that the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 are formed on an FR4 substrate (relative dielectric constant: 4.3). A condition for self-resonance is assumed to be a state in which a standing wave is generated with the end of the receiving electrode 1211 or 1212 as a voltage antinode in the long side direction at the target frequency. In this case, the length L at which self-resonance occurs at 5 GHz is approximately 14.5 mm. Therefore, to enable the receiving device 1200 shown in FIG. 3 to transmit a data rate of 10 Gbps, it is desirable that the length L of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 be 14.5 mm or less.

[0025] Next, regarding "[3] Received Signal Strength in the Low-Frequency Band," increasing the received signal strength in the low-frequency band means that signals closer to DC (0 Hz) can be transmitted. This means that the average voltage (DC component) of the received signal can be accurately transmitted wirelessly, which is expected to reduce jitter (fluctuations) that occur near the zero crossings of the signal. Therefore, the higher the received signal strength in the low-frequency band, the better the performance of the receiving electrode. Here, we consider the conditions for increasing the received signal strength in the low-frequency band. Following the example above, for a 10 Gbps data rate transmission, the frequency band referred to as the low-frequency band is defined as a frequency band below 500 MHz. That is, this is a frequency band that is one-tenth of the signal's dominant frequency, 5 GHz. The electrical length in free space at 500 MHz is approximately 600 mm. Therefore, if the length L of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 is sufficiently shorter (smaller) than 600 mm, the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 can be treated as lumped constants. That is, the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 can be treated as capacitors that are electrostatically coupled with the transmission line 1130. When considering increasing the received signal strength in the low frequency band under these conditions, it is clear from the general properties of capacitors that the area of ​​the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 should be increased. That is, the length L of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 should be increased.

[0026] Fig. 4 is a diagram qualitatively showing the relationship between the length L of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 and the performance of the receiving device 1200 in the communication system 1010 according to the comparative example shown in Fig. 3. Specifically, in Fig. 4, the horizontal direction indicates the length L of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212, and the vertical direction indicates the performance of the receiving device 1200.

[0027] As can be seen from FIG. 4 , there is a trade-off between the length L of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 and the performance of the receiving device 1200. If priority is given to increasing the “[2] received signal strength in the high-frequency band,” it becomes necessary to sacrifice the performance of “[3] received signal strength in the low-frequency band.” The data rates of communication systems are increasing year by year, and there is an increasing need for wireless transmission at data rates of 10 Gbps or higher. As the data rate increases, as described above, it becomes necessary to shorten the length L of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212. This satisfies the need to increase the “[2] received signal strength in the high-frequency band.” On the other hand, it reduces the “[3] received signal strength in the low-frequency band.” To improve communication quality, it is ideal to increase both the “[2] received signal strength in the high-frequency band” and the “[3] received signal strength in the low-frequency band.” However, this is difficult to achieve with the receiving device 1200 according to the comparative example shown in FIG. 3 .

[0028] Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a schematic configuration of a communication system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In Fig. 5, the same components as those shown in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] The transmitting device 100 shown in FIG. 5 includes a transmitting transmission line 130, but also includes the signal source 110, transmitting circuit 120, termination resistor 140, and reference potential plane 150 shown in FIG.

[0030] 5 includes a plurality of receiving electrodes 210-1 to 210-10 corresponding to the receiving electrode 210 shown in Fig. 1, a substrate 220, a receiving circuit 230, and a connection path 240. In the receiving device 200 shown in Fig. 5, a plurality of receiving electrodes 210-1, 210-3, 210-5, 210-7, and 210-9 are arranged at positions facing one (first transmission transmission line) of the two differential transmission lines that make up the transmission transmission line 130. In the receiving device 200 shown in Fig. 5, a plurality of receiving electrodes 210-2, 210-4, 210-6, 210-8, and 210-10 are arranged at positions facing the other (second transmission transmission line) of the two differential transmission lines that make up the transmission transmission line 130.

[0031] In the receiving device 200 shown in Fig. 5, the receiving electrodes 210-1 and 210-2 have a length L in the long side direction and correspond to, for example, the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 shown in Fig. 3. In the receiving device 200 shown in Fig. 5, in addition to the receiving electrodes 210-1 and 210-2, a plurality of receiving electrodes 210-3 to 210-10 are further formed on the substrate 220, which is a dielectric substrate.

[0032] Furthermore, the receiving device 200 shown in Fig. 5 is provided with connection paths 240 that electrically connect the receiving electrodes of the adjacent receiving electrodes 210. Specifically, in Fig. 5, a connection path 240-1 is provided that connects the receiving electrodes of the adjacent receiving electrodes 210-2 and 210-4, and a connection path 240-2 is provided that connects the receiving electrodes of the adjacent receiving electrodes 210-4 and 210-6. Also, in Fig. 5, a connection path 240-3 is provided that connects the receiving electrodes of the adjacent receiving electrodes 210-2 and 210-8, and a connection path 240-4 is provided that connects the receiving electrodes of the adjacent receiving electrodes 210-8 and 210-10. Although not indicated by reference numerals in FIG. 5 , connection paths 240 are also provided between adjacent receiving electrodes 210-1 and 210-3, between receiving electrodes 210-3 and 210-5, between receiving electrodes 210-1 and 210-7, and between receiving electrodes 210-7 and 210-9. Furthermore, the connection paths 240 are provided at a different height from the receiving electrodes 210 relative to the substrate 220, which is a dielectric substrate. Specifically, the connection paths 240 are provided above the receiving electrodes 210 on the substrate 220. More specifically, in this embodiment, through-hole vias 221 are formed in the substrate 220 as shown in FIG. 5 , and the connection paths 240 connect the receiving electrodes of adjacent receiving electrodes 210 via the through-hole vias 221 formed in the substrate 220.

[0033] Each connection path 240 also includes at least one passive element 241 connected in series between adjacent receiving electrodes. Specifically, the connection path 240 is made of a conductor, and a slit region is present in a portion thereof. The at least one passive element 241 described above is disposed in the slit region, thereby electrically connecting the slits. The slit region is present in the connection path 240 because, for example, it is assumed that a commercially available passive element 241 can be mounted. In this embodiment, the passive element 241 may also be realized by a substrate pattern (conductor shape). Here, the at least one passive element 241 disposed in the connection path 240 includes at least one of a resistor, an inductor, and a ferrite bead (or may include a plurality of these). Of the resistors, inductors, and ferrite beads that may be included as the passive element 241, it is preferable to use a resistor in consideration of the phase characteristics of the received signal in the receiving device 200. When resistors are used as the passive elements 241, the resistance values ​​of the resistors mounted on the respective connection paths 240 may be different or may all be the same.

[0034] Next, the reason why the receiver 200 shown in Fig. 5 solves the trade-off problem between the length L of the receiving electrode and the performance of the receiver, which was explained using Fig. 4, will be explained below. Here, in accordance with the above-mentioned example, consider performing communication at a data rate of 10 Gbps using the receiver 200 shown in Fig. 5.

[0035] In FIG. 5, the length L of the receiving electrodes 210-1 and 210-2 corresponds to the length L of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 shown in FIG. 3. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, length L1 is the length of the receiving electrodes 210-3 and 210-4, and length L2 is the length of the receiving electrodes 210-5 and 210-6. Here, attention is focused on the receiving electrodes 210-1, 210-3, and 210-5. As previously explained, to enable transmission at a data rate of 10 Gbps, it is desirable that the length of the receiving electrodes be 14.5 mm or less. Therefore, it is assumed here that the lengths L, L1, and L2 are all 14.5 mm or less. In other words, the self-resonant frequencies of the receiving electrodes 210-1, 210-3, and 210-5 are sufficiently higher than 5 GHz, which is the dominant frequency of the signal. When a 0Ω resistor is implemented on the connection path 240 connecting adjacent receiving electrodes 210-1, 210-3, and 210-5, the receiving electrodes 210-1, 210-3, and 210-5 are considered to operate electrically equivalent to a single electrode. That is, they operate as receiving electrodes with a maximum length of 14.5 mm × 3 = 43.5 mm. This 43.5 mm length does not satisfy the condition that the self-resonant frequency of the receiving electrode must be sufficiently higher than 5 GHz, which is the dominant frequency of the signal, and it is highly likely that 10 Gbps data transmission cannot be achieved. On the other hand, when a 1 MΩ resistor is implemented on the connection path 240 connecting adjacent receiving electrodes, the receiving electrodes 210-1, 210-3, and 210-5 are considered to operate electrically as independent electrodes. Considering the operation of the entire receiving device 200 of this embodiment, this is approximately equivalent to the operation in a configuration in which only the receiving electrodes 210-1 and 210-2 are connected to the receiving circuit 230 (although the degree of influence on the transmitting transmission line 130 is different).

[0036] Assume that resistors of several tens of ohms to several thousands of ohms are implemented as passive elements 241-1, 241-2, 241-3, and 241-4 on connection paths 240-1, 240-2, 240-3, and 240-4. Receiving electrodes 210-1, 210-3, and 210-5 are electrically connected to each other, with losses corresponding to the resistance values ​​of the resistors implemented as passive elements 241. Even if self-resonance occurs at a frequency corresponding to the resonant frequency of a receiving electrode having a length of 14.5 mm × 2 = 29.0 mm, the electrical energy associated with the resonance is quickly converted into thermal energy and eliminated due to the losses in the resistors implemented on connection paths 240. This phenomenon also has a similar effect on the self-resonance phenomenon corresponding to the resonant frequency of a receiving electrode having a length of 14.5 mm × 3 = 43.5 mm. A larger effect can be expected as the number of resistors mounted on the connection path 240 increases. Similarly, a similar effect can be expected for a receiving device 200 in which n receiving electrodes 210 are connected to (n-1) connection paths 240 via resistors with appropriate resistance values. From an electrical circuit perspective, this effect can be explained as the resistors mounted on the connection paths 240 reducing the quality factor (Q factor) of self-resonance that occurs depending on the length of the receiving electrode 210. Due to the above-described effect, the receiving device 200 of this embodiment can, in principle, extend the physical length of the receiving electrode 210 without limit while maintaining the self-resonant frequency of the receiving electrode 210 sufficiently higher than 5 GHz, which is the dominant frequency of the signal. This suggests that the coupling capacitance of the receiving electrode 210, which can be treated as a capacitor electrostatically coupled with the transmission line 130, can be increased without limit in the low-frequency band of 500 MHz or less. That is, the receiving device 200 of this embodiment can increase the strength of the received signal in both the high frequency band and the low frequency band, thereby improving the communication quality.

[0037] Fig. 6 is a diagram qualitatively showing the relationship between the total length of the receiving electrodes 210 and the performance of the receiving device 200 in the communication system 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in Fig. 5. Specifically, in Fig. 6, the horizontal direction indicates the total length of the receiving electrodes 210, and the vertical direction indicates the performance of the receiving device 200.

[0038] 6, there is a relationship between the total length of the receiving electrodes 210 and the performance of the receiving device 200, in which the performance of the receiving device 200 improves as the total length of the receiving electrodes 210 increases. That is, as the total length of the receiving electrodes 210 increases, it is possible to increase the "[2] high-frequency band received signal strength" while keeping the "[1] degree of influence on the transmission line" small, and increase the "[3] low-frequency band received signal strength."

[0039] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the results of analyzing the performance of the receiving device 1200 of the communication system 1010 according to the comparative example shown in Fig. 3 using an electromagnetic field simulator. Here, the length L of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 was set to 14 mm. The length of the transmitting transmission line 1130 was set to 100 mm. The input impedance of the receiving circuit 1230 was set to 10 kΩ.

[0040] FIG. 7(a) is a diagram showing the insertion loss (Sdd21) from the power feed point to the termination point when the receiving device 1200 according to the comparative example shown in FIG. 3 is placed close to the transmission transmission line 1130. Note that the propagation loss of the transmission transmission line 1130 was within −1.5 dB in a frequency band of 20 GHz or less when the receiving device 1200 was not placed close to the transmission transmission line 1130. In FIG. 7(a), the deterioration in insertion loss shown in region 711 indicates that the transmission transmission line 1130 is affected by the first-order self-resonance of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212, each with an L of 14 mm. Furthermore, in FIG. 7(a), the deterioration in insertion loss shown in region 712 indicates that the transmission transmission line 1130 is affected by the second-order self-resonance of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212. When the length L of the receiving electrodes 1211 and 1212 is increased from 14 mm, the frequency bands in which the transmitting transmission line 1130 is affected by the receiving device 1200, indicated by the regions 711 and 712, both shift to the lower frequency band side.

[0041] FIG. 7(b) is a diagram showing the insertion loss (Sdd21) from the power feed of the transmission line 1130 to the input of the receiving circuit 1230 according to the comparative example shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 7(b), attention is focused on the received signal strength in the low frequency band indicated by region 721. The received signal strength in the low frequency band indicated by region 721 begins to gradually decrease from around 50 MHz relative to the received signal strength (approximate average value of received signal strength) around 1 GHz, and decreases by approximately -5 dB at 10 MHz. In FIG. 7(b), region 722 shows the received signal strength (received signal strength in the high frequency band) around a dominant frequency of 5 GHz assuming a data rate of 10 Gbps. The received signal strength around region 722 shows almost no change compared to the received signal strength around 1 GHz.

[0042] Fig. 7(c) is a diagram showing the eye pattern of a signal observed at the input section of the receiving circuit 1230 according to the comparative example shown in Fig. 3. The data rate of the signal transmitted through the transmission line 1130 was set to 10 Gbps. In this case, the eye aperture ratio was 83.2%.

[0043] 8 is a diagram showing the results of analyzing the performance of the receiving device 200 of the communication system 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 5 using an electromagnetic field simulator. Here, the length of the receiving electrodes 210-1 to 210-10 was set to 7 mm. Also, 10Ω resistors were implemented as passive elements 241 on the connection paths 240-1 and 240-3 and the connection path 240 facing them (differential pair). Also, 100Ω resistors were implemented as passive elements 241 on the connection paths 240-2 and 240-4 and the connection path 240 facing them (differential pair). Also, the length of the transmission transmission line 130 was set to 100 mm. The input impedance of the receiving circuit 230 was set to 10 kΩ.

[0044] 8(a) is a diagram showing the insertion loss (Sdd21) from the power supply unit to the termination unit when the receiving device 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 5 is disposed adjacent to the transmission transmission line 130. In FIG. 8(a), the self-resonance of the receiving electrode 210 does not affect the transmission transmission line 130 in the regions 711 and 712 shown in FIG. 7(a). On the other hand, the first-order self-resonance of the receiving electrodes 210-1 and 210-2 affects the transmission transmission line 130 in the region 811. Even assuming a data rate transmission of 10 Gbps, 16 GHz is approximately three times the dominant frequency of 5 GHz, and the effect on communication quality is considered to be minimal.

[0045] FIG. 8(b) is a diagram illustrating the insertion loss (Sdd21) from the power feed of the transmission line 130 to the input of the receiving circuit 230 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 5 . In FIG. 8(b), attention is focused on the received signal strength in the low-frequency band indicated by region 821. The received signal strength in the low-frequency band indicated by region 821 begins to gradually decrease from around 20 MHz relative to the received signal strength (approximate average value of received signal strength) around 1 GHz, and at 10 MHz, it decreases by approximately -1.5 dB. In FIG. 8(b), region 822 represents the received signal strength (received signal strength in the high-frequency band) around a dominant frequency of 5 GHz assuming a data rate of 10 Gbps. The received signal strength around region 822 shows almost no change compared to the received signal strength around 1 GHz.

[0046] Fig. 8(c) is a diagram showing the eye pattern of the signal observed at the input section of the receiving circuit 230 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in Fig. 5. The data rate of the signal transmitted through the transmission line 130 was set to 10 Gbps. In this case, the eye aperture ratio was 90.2%.

[0047] Below, we consider the results of an electromagnetic field simulation of the performance of the receiving device 1200 according to a comparative example shown in FIG. 7 and the results of an electromagnetic field simulation of the performance of the receiving device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 8. From the results shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it was confirmed that the receiving device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has the effect of increasing the “received signal strength in the low-frequency band [3]” by 3.5 dB by extending the total length of the physical receiving electrode 210 to approximately 7 (mm) × 5 = approximately 35 (mm). Furthermore, from the results shown in FIG. 8, it was also confirmed that the receiving device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure does not affect the transmission transmission line 130 in a dominant frequency band of 5 GHz or less assuming a data rate of 10 Gbps. Furthermore, from the results shown in FIG. 8, it was confirmed that the receiving device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure did not exhibit a decrease in the received signal strength (received signal strength in the high-frequency band) around a dominant frequency of 5 GHz. As a result of the performance improvement of the receiving device 200 according to the present embodiment described above, it has been confirmed that when the data rate of the signal transmitted through the transmission line 130 is set to 10 Gbps, the aperture ratio of the eye pattern of the signal observed at the input section of the receiving circuit 230 can be improved by approximately 7.0%.

[0048] Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a schematic configuration of a communication system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In Fig. 9, the same components as those illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0049] In a first example communication system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 5, the receiving electrodes 210-1 to 210-10 of the receiving device 200 have a rectangular electrode shape. In this regard, the effect of the receiving device 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is not impaired by the shape of the receiving electrodes 210. Specifically, a second example communication system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 9 is provided with a plurality of irregularly shaped receiving electrodes 210-11 to 210-26. In addition, in the second example communication system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 9, adjacent receiving electrodes 210 of irregular shapes are connected to each other via a connection path 240 including at least one passive element 241.

[0050] The effects of the receiving device 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be achieved regardless of the form of the opposing transmission transmission line 130. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, two differential transmission lines are assumed as the transmission transmission line 130 of the receiving device 200, but in the present disclosure, a single transmission transmission line may also be applied. Also, in the present disclosure, the transmission transmission line 130 of the transmitting device 100 is assumed to include a group of electrodes excited by a data signal.

[0051] The receiving device 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure described above includes a plurality of receiving electrodes 210 arranged at positions facing one transmission transmission line 130 of the transmitting device 100, and a connection path 240 connecting the receiving electrodes of the plurality of receiving electrodes 210. In the receiving device 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the connection path 240 includes at least one passive element 241 arranged in series between the receiving electrodes of the plurality of receiving electrodes 210. According to this configuration, at least one passive element 241 is provided in the connection path 240 that connects the receiving electrodes 210 together, so that each of the receiving electrodes 210 can operate as an electrically independent receiving electrode 210. This makes it possible to improve the characteristics of the received signal received on the receiving device 200 side compared to when the connection path 240 does not include the passive element 241.

[0052] 5 and 9, the plurality of receiving electrodes 210 and the connection paths 240 are arranged at positions facing each of the two differential transmission lines used as the transmission transmission line 130, but the present disclosure is not limited to this form. The present disclosure also includes a form in which the plurality of receiving electrodes 210 and the connection paths 240 are arranged at positions facing at least one of the two differential transmission lines used as the transmission transmission line 130.

[0053] 5, five receiving electrodes 210 are arranged as the plurality of receiving electrodes 210 arranged at positions facing one transmission transmission line 130. In a second example receiving device 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 9, eight receiving electrodes 210 are arranged as the plurality of receiving electrodes 210 arranged at positions facing one transmission transmission line 130. In this regard, in consideration of the effect of increasing the overall length of the physical receiving electrodes 210 described with reference to FIG. 8, it is preferable to arrange three or more receiving electrodes 210 as the plurality of receiving electrodes 210 arranged at positions facing one transmission transmission line 130.

[0054] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure, and the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited by these embodiments. In other words, the present disclosure can be carried out in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features.

[0055] Embodiments of the present disclosure include the following configurations. [Configuration 1] a plurality of receiving electrodes arranged at positions facing one transmitting transmission line of the transmitting device; a connection path connecting the receiving electrodes among the plurality of receiving electrodes; and The connection path includes at least one passive element in series between the receiving electrodes. A receiving device characterized by: [Configuration 2] the transmitting device has a plurality of the transmitting transmission lines, The plurality of receiving electrodes and the connection path are disposed at a position facing at least one of the plurality of transmitting transmission lines. 2. The receiving device according to configuration 1, [Configuration 3] The plurality of receiving electrodes and the connection paths are disposed at positions facing the respective transmission transmission lines of the plurality of transmission transmission lines. 3. The receiving device according to configuration 2. [Configuration 4] The plurality of receiving electrodes arranged at a position facing the one transmitting transmission line are three or more receiving electrodes. 4. The receiving device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3. [Configuration 5] The plurality of receiving electrodes are provided on a dielectric substrate. 5. The receiving device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4. [Configuration 6] The connection path connects the receiving electrodes among the plurality of receiving electrodes via through-hole vias formed in the dielectric substrate. 6. The receiving device according to configuration 5. [Configuration 7] The at least one passive element includes a resistor. 7. The receiving device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6. [Configuration 8] The at least one passive element includes an inductor. 7. The receiving device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6. [Configuration 9] The at least one passive element includes a ferrite bead. 7. The receiving device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6. [Configuration 10] A receiving device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9; the transmitting device; A communication system comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10: communication system, 100: transmitter, 110: signal source, 120: transmitter circuit, 130: transmission transmission line, 140: termination resistor, 150: reference potential surface, 200: receiver, 210: receiver electrode, 220: substrate, 230: receiver circuit, 240: connection path, 241: passive element

Claims

1. A receiving device, a plurality of receiving electrodes arranged in a predetermined direction at positions facing a transmitting transmission line extending in the predetermined direction of another transmitting device; a connection path connecting the receiving electrodes among the plurality of receiving electrodes; and The connection path includes at least one passive element disposed between the receiving electrodes. A receiving device characterized by:

2. the other transmitting device has a plurality of the transmitting transmission lines, 2. The receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of receiving electrodes and the connection path are arranged at a position facing at least one of the plurality of transmitting transmission lines.

3. a first of the plurality of receiving electrodes and a first of the connection paths, the first of the plurality of receiving electrodes being arranged at a position facing one of the plurality of transmitting transmission lines; 3. The receiving device according to claim 2, further comprising: a second of the plurality of receiving electrodes and a second of the connection paths, the second of the plurality of receiving electrodes being arranged at a position facing another of the plurality of transmitting transmission lines.

4. 2. The receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of receiving electrodes arranged at positions facing the transmission line are three or more receiving electrodes.

5. 2. The receiving device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of receiving electrodes are provided on a dielectric substrate.

6. 6. The receiving device according to claim 5, wherein the connection path connects the receiving electrodes of the plurality of receiving electrodes via through-hole vias formed in the dielectric substrate.

7. 2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one passive element includes a resistor.

8. 2. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein the at least one passive element includes an inductor.

9. 2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one passive element comprises a ferrite bead.

10. 10. The receiving device according to claim 1, and the other transmitting device; A communication system comprising:

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