Integrated circuit for radio signal processing, related radio signal processing system and related motor vehicle
By integrating memory chips and processing chips onto a substrate in a motor vehicle, the space and noise issues of the radio signal processing system are solved, achieving miniaturization and noise reduction, improving signal quality and reducing power consumption.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FAURECIA CLARION ELECTRONICS EUROPE
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-24
AI Technical Summary
In motor vehicles, the limited available space and noisy environment make it very difficult to receive and play back high-quality radio signals. Traditional integrated circuits require a lot of signal transmission, which leads to digital noise, and the connection between remote memory cells and dedicated ASICs is complex.
The memory chip and processing chip are integrated on a substrate and connected by flip-chip technology or direct wire bonding to reduce digital noise and power consumption. They are integrated on the same substrate to reduce size and noise.
This technology enables the miniaturization and noise reduction of radio signal processing systems in motor vehicles, improves signal quality, reduces space requirements, and lowers power consumption.
Smart Images
Figure CN121925786A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an integrated circuit suitable for processing radio signals, to a radio signal processing system including such an integrated circuit, and to a motor vehicle including a radio receiving system comprising such a radio signal processing system.
[0002] This invention belongs to the field of radio receiving and playback systems (also known as tuners) and has specific applications in the automotive field.
[0003] Known radio signal processing systems incorporate software-defined radio (SDR), which specifically include radio signal receiving and demodulation devices implemented partly as hardware and partly as software using a microprocessor (or DSP) dedicated to digital signal processing. One advantage of such systems is that they allow for adaptation to changes in format or radio standards via software programming.
[0004] Advantageously, this radio signal processing system, which incorporates software-defined radio, can be integrated into motor vehicles to ensure the reception and playback of radio signals within the vehicle, such as in the vehicle's dashboard.
[0005] However, many problems and constraints have arisen in the context of integrating radio signal processing systems into motor vehicles.
[0006] On the one hand, due to the many functions envisioned, the available space in a motor vehicle's dashboard is limited and often very small. On the other hand, motor vehicles contain components that can increase noise (such as acoustic noise and electronic or digital noise), and the low level of radio signals makes high-quality reception and playback of radio signals particularly difficult.
[0007] Traditionally, it is known to integrate radio signal processing systems into motor vehicles via dedicated equipment connected to the dashboard or via electronic boards (or printed circuit boards) integrated into the vehicle's cab.
[0008] Typically, such electronic boards consist of two parts: on one hand, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) dedicated to processing radio signals; and on the other hand, electronic memory cells on the board called remote memory cells, such as RAM (random access memory) cells, which are relatively large, different from the ASIC, and located far from it. For specific software processing, the internal memory of the ASIC is insufficient, and remote electronic memory cells are used. This requires connections between the remote memory cells and the ASIC, and the transmission of a large number of signals, which leads to various drawbacks, particularly digital noise. In fact, the radiation caused by the signals (a dozen or so) all synchronized to the same clock signal (which makes it possible to add up the contribution of each signal since they occur at the same time) generates digital noise, the dominant frequency of which is the memory usage frequency (and its subharmonics). This noise is radiated both by the traces on the printed circuit board and conducted through the ground plane.
[0009] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.
[0010] Therefore, according to one aspect, the present invention provides an integrated circuit suitable for processing radio signals, the integrated circuit comprising a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being adapted to receive at least one chip, and the second surface including connection elements adapted to be connected to an electronic board. The first surface of the substrate (12) includes at least one processing chip configured to receive and demodulate radio signals, and a memory chip connected to the processing chip via the substrate.
[0011] Advantageously, the integration of the memory chip and at least one processing chip configured to receive and demodulate radio signals on a first surface of the integrated circuit substrate enables both size reduction and digital noise reduction. Therefore, this integrated circuit is particularly suitable for motor vehicle radio signal processing systems.
[0012] The integrated circuit according to the invention, suitable for processing radio signals, may also have one or more of the following features, either independently or in combination of all technically conceivable elements.
[0013] The memory chip is a dynamic memory chip with a capacity of 64 megabytes or more, preferably 128 megabytes or more.
[0014] The memory chip is connected to the substrate via flip-chip technology or via direct wire bonding or bridging.
[0015] The first surface of the substrate includes a first processing chip dedicated to receiving analog or digital radio signals and converting the radio signals into sampled digital signals, and a second processing chip dedicated to demodulating the sampled digital signals.
[0016] The circuit includes a single processing chip configured to receive and demodulate radio signals.
[0017] According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a radio signal processing system comprising an integrated circuit suitable for processing radio signals as briefly described above.
[0018] The radio signal processing system according to the invention may also have one or more of the following features, either independently or in combination of all technically conceivable elements.
[0019] The radio signal processing system includes at least one antenna adapted to receive radio signals.
[0020] The radio signal processing system includes two antennas adapted to receive radio signals.
[0021] According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a housing suitable for accommodating a radio signal processing system as briefly described above.
[0022] According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle including a radio signal processing system as briefly described above.
[0023] The invention will become clearer from the following description, given only by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] [ Figure 1 ] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle including a radio signal processing system according to an implementation scheme;
[0025] [ Figure 2 ] Figure 2 This is a block diagram of an integrated circuit used for processing radio signals in one implementation scheme.
[0026] Figure 1 The diagram schematically shows a motor vehicle 2 in which a radio signal processing system 4 is integrated into, for example, a dashboard (not shown).
[0027] The radio signal processing system 4 is configured to interact with the antenna 5 for receiving radio signals, and in the illustrated embodiment includes an electronics board 6 (or printed circuit board) on which various electronic components are connected via terminal pads, conductor traces and vias to create circuits suitable for various applications.
[0028] In one variant, the radio signal processing system 4 includes several antennas 5 for receiving radio signals.
[0029] In one embodiment, the radio signal processing system 4 includes two antennas 5 for receiving radio signals.
[0030] Specifically, the electronic board 6 includes an integrated circuit 10, also known as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which is suitable for processing radio signals.
[0031] In one embodiment, the radio signal processing system 4 is encapsulated in a suitably sized housing and forms discrete electronic components. Preferably, the encapsulation within the housing is achieved through a cooling system integrated into the housing, allowing heat generated by the internal chips when powered.
[0032] Integrated circuit 10 includes a substrate 12, wherein the substrate 12 includes Figure 1 The first surface 14 visible in the middle and the surface opposite to the first surface 14 in the middle Figure 1 The second surface 16 is invisible in the middle.
[0033] The substrate 12 is a housing substrate, for example, made in the same manner as a PCB substrate, but with specific constraints in terms of trace thickness, etching, and vias.
[0034] The second surface 16 includes connection elements (not shown) adapted to connect the integrated circuit 10 to the electronic board 6.
[0035] A die 18, a processing chip, and a memory chip 20 are formed on the first surface 14. The processing chip is configured to receive analog or digital radio signals, convert the radio signals into sampled digital signals, and demodulate the sampled digital signals.
[0036] In one embodiment, the processing chip 18 is configured to receive the radio signal received by the antenna 5, digitize it, and demodulate it via software processing. Furthermore, the processing chip 18 filters the received and demodulated signals to enable the acquisition of a baseband signal, which is then digitally processed.
[0037] The memory chip 20 is a dynamic memory chip with a capacity of 64 megabytes or more, preferably 128 megabytes or more.
[0038] Advantageously, the dynamic memory chip is a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) chip.
[0039] The processing chip 18 and the memory chip 20 are connected via the substrate 12, and via... Figure 1 The link shown in the diagram is used for communication. Figure 1 The number of links shown can vary. Figure 1 The symbols in the text are given only as indications.
[0040] Preferably, the memory chip 20 is connected to the substrate using flip-chip technology. Preferably, all chips integrated on the substrate are connected to the substrate using flip-chip technology. Alternatively, the chips are integrated and connected via direct wire bonding or bridging.
[0041] Figure 2 A second embodiment of an integrated circuit 10 suitable for processing radio signals is illustrated.
[0042] In this second embodiment, the integrated circuit 10 includes, for example, a memory chip 20 of the SDRAM type, and two radio signal processing chips, namely a first processing chip 22 dedicated to receiving analog or digital radio signals and converting them into sampled digital signals, and a second processing chip 24 dedicated to demodulating radio signals.
[0043] The link between the first processing chip 22 (also known as the receiver chip 22) and the second processing chip 24 (also known as the demodulator chip) is a digital link via the substrate 12, which includes control signals and data.
[0044] Figure 2 The number of links shown is given only as an indication and may vary in practice.
[0045] Advantageously, the separation between the reception of radio signals and the demodulation of sampled digital radio signals makes it possible to use one chip technology for the radio frequency (RF) section and another chip technology for the demodulation section.
[0046] This separation also makes it easier to modify integrated circuits that include various processing chips. For example, a low-noise technique (e.g., FD-SOI (fully depleted silicon-on-insulator)) can be used on receiver chip 22, and similarly, thinner technology nodes (i.e., the minimum half-distance between two lithographic patterns) can be used on processing chip 28, since the latter consists only of digital elements.
[0047] Advantageously, due to the proximity between the memory chip and the processing chip, the integration of the memory chip (preferably an SDRAM chip) into the application-specific integrated circuit allows for more efficient processing of weak radio signals.
[0048] Furthermore, it advantageously reduces overall power consumption. In practice, when the electronic memory cell is located outside an integrated circuit dedicated to receiving radio signals, it is necessary to further amplify the radio signal. In the proposed implementation, this amplification is avoided.
[0049] Furthermore, this type of integrated circuit, specifically designed for processing radio signals, is advantageously easier to integrate onto the printed circuit board of an electronic board, and requires less verification testing when integrated onto the printed circuit board compared to when the electronic memory cell is external.
[0050] Finally, this advantageously reduces the size of the equipment used for radio signal processing and frees up space through memory chips on the printed circuit board, which can then be used for other functions. This is particularly advantageous for integration into motor vehicle radio receiving systems.
Claims
1. An integrated circuit suitable for processing radio signals, the integrated circuit comprising a substrate (12) including a first surface (14) and a second surface (16), the first surface (14) being adapted to receive at least one chip, and the second surface (16) including connection elements adapted to be connected to an electronic board (6), characterized in that, The first surface (14) of the substrate (12) includes at least one processing chip (18, 22, 24) configured to receive and demodulate radio signals, and a memory chip (20) connected to the processing chip (18, 22, 24) via the substrate (12).
2. The integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein the memory chip (20) is a dynamic memory chip having a capacity of 64 megabytes or more, preferably 128 megabytes or more.
3. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the memory chip (20) is connected to the substrate (12) by flip-chip technology or by direct wire bonding or bridging.
4. The integrated circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first surface (14) of the substrate (12) includes a first processing chip (22) dedicated to receiving analog or digital radio signals and converting the radio signals into sampled digital signals, and a second processing chip (24) dedicated to demodulating the sampled digital signals.
5. The integrated circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a single processing chip (18) configured to receive and demodulate radio signals.
6. A radio signal processing system (4), the radio signal processing system comprising an electronic board (6) having an integrated circuit (10) suitable for processing radio signals according to claims 1 to 6 connected to the electronic board.
7. The radio signal processing system (4) according to claim 6, wherein the radio signal processing system includes at least one antenna (5) for receiving radio signals.
8. The radio signal processing system (4) according to claim 7, wherein the radio signal processing system includes two antennas (5) for receiving radio signals.
9. A housing adapted to house the radio signal processing system (4) according to any one of claims 7 or 8.
10. A motor vehicle comprising a radio signal processing system (4) according to any one of claims 7 or 8.