Device and method for transferring data between a transmitter and at least one receiver

Abstract

In the device and the method for transferring data between a transmitter and at least one receiver, which are in communication connection by means of a transfer line, an electrical and / or electronic component having a capacitance which can be changed by means of a voltage signal is arranged between the transfer line and a reference potential (20). The transmitter (12) generates a voltage signal (US) which is changed over time and which represents data to be transferred. The voltage signal (US) changed over time is applied to the electrical and / or electronic component (18) in order to change its electrical capacitance and thus to change the electrical capacitance of the transfer line (16). In the at least one receiver (14), the electrical capacitance of the transfer line (16) and / or the change in the electrical capacitance of the transfer line (16) is measured, the changing electrical capacitance representing the transferred data.

Description

[0001] and method for transmitting data between a sender and at least one receiver

[0002] The invention relates to a device and a method for transmitting data between a transmitter and at least one receiver, wherein the electrical power for the data transmission is extremely low.

[0003] It is known that data can be transmitted at high speed using LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signal). The data is transmitted from a transmitter to at least one receiver via a transmission link or line. One or more receivers can be connected to the transmission line (point-to-point), or the multiple receivers can be connected in a daisy-chain configuration, communicating with each other and with the transmitter.

[0004] There are a wide variety of applications that require data transmission with minimal power and energy consumption. Keeping electrical power losses as low as possible can be crucial. One example is a quantum computer, which must be operated at very low temperatures close to absolute zero in order to achieve superconducting properties. If, for example, the result of a calculation performed with such a quantum computer is to be sent to a receiver, the transmitter, which is coupled to the quantum computer and is intended for data transmission to the receiver, must be operated at very low temperatures. In this regard, even minimal electrical power losses have a detrimental effect, as they can lead to an increase in the operating temperature of the quantum computer or transmitter. In contrast, the receiver can, for example,operated at room temperature.

[0005] However, other applications are also conceivable, for example, in autonomously operating systems that only have limited electrical power. DE-A-10 2006 061 511 discloses a circuit arrangement for frequency modulation in which a voltage-controlled oscillator has at least one varactor diode controlled by a control unit. The abstract of the aforementioned publication mentions that the known circuit arrangement is used, for example, in data transmission. However, this does not mean that the at least one varactor diode itself implements the data transmission.

[0006] Furthermore, DE-B-10 2020 122 321 describes a field device for a process plant, which has a power-distributing data switching unit, which has an electrical primary connection configured for power consumption at a first power level > 10 W and at least two electrical secondary connections for combined data communication and power transfer at a second power level < 10 W per secondary connection.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a device and a method for transmitting data between a transmitter and at least one receiver, in which the transmitter can transmit with very low electrical power.

[0008] To achieve this object, the invention proposes a device which is provided with a transmission line to which the transmitter and one or more receivers are connected, an electrical and / or electronic component arranged between a reference potential and the transmission line with an electrical capacitance which can be changed by means of a voltage signal, wherein the transmitter generates a changing voltage signal representing data for controlling the component in order to change its capacitance value, and a capacitance measuring unit arranged in the at least one receiver or coupled thereto for detecting the capacitance of the transmission line or a capacitance change of the transmission line,wherein the detected capacity change or the capacity change resulting from the detected capacity represents the data to be transmitted from the transmitter to the at least one receiver and can be converted into the transmitted data in the at least one receiver or in a conversion unit connected downstream thereof.

[0009] Furthermore, to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention proposes a method for transmitting data between a transmitter and at least one receiver which are in communication connection via a transmission line, wherein an electrical and / or electronic component with a capacitance which can be changed by means of a voltage signal is arranged between the transmission line and a reference potential, and wherein in the method the transmitter generates a time-varying voltage signal representing data to be transmitted, the time-varying voltage signal is applied to the electrical and / or electronic component in order to change its electrical capacitance and thus to change the electrical capacitance of the transmission line, and in the at least one receiver the electrical capacitance of the transmission line and / or the change in the electrical capacitance of the transmission line is detected,where the changing electrical capacitance represents the transmitted data.

[0010] Individual embodiments of the invention, ie the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention, are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] A key feature of the invention is that data is transmitted by modulating the electrical capacitance of the transmission line. For this purpose, an electrical and / or electronic component is used according to the invention, which has the functionality of varying its electrical capacitance through an electrical voltage signal. This component is connected to the transmission line and is arranged between it and a reference potential, typically ground. The transmitter delivers a modulated voltage signal that varies over time and represents data to be transmitted, as is known, for example, from differential or otherwise modulated voltage signals in communication bus systems. LVDS is one example, whereby much smaller voltage swings can be used according to the invention.The modulated, time-varying voltage signal now operates the component in question, whereupon it changes its capacitance and thus the electrical capacitance on which the transmission line is located. The electrical capacitance of the transmission line and / or its change is then recorded in at least one receiver or in each receiver, which can be done, for example, using systems or methods known from the prior art. Here, it is no longer crucial that as little energy as possible is required. Unlike on the transmitter side, where the lowest possible electrical power or energy is required to send data, the power or energy requirement on the receiver side can be significantly greater. The recorded change in capacitance is then converted into the transmitted data on the receiver side.

[0012] A component with an electrically variable capacitance is particularly suitable as a component with a PN junction. The component has a space charge zone whose width changes when the PN junction is operated in the reverse direction by applying a changing voltage signal, and which functions as a variable electrical capacitance. The PN junction can be an intentional or parasitic PN junction formed in a semiconductor substrate. For example, according to the invention it is possible for the PN junction to be formed in a diode, in particular a tuning or capacitance diode or in a varactor, or for the PN junction to be formed parasitically in a CMOS transistor or another CMOS component. Even taking into account the fact that the transmission line could have a parasitic capacitance, it is possible to use the electrical orelectronic component with electrically variable capacitance to change or modulate the resulting total capacitance to such an extent that the modulated total capacitance (still) reliably represents the data to be transmitted on the receiver side.

[0013] The transmitter and the at least one receiver can be any type of electrical or electronic device that exchanges data with each other. In a bidirectional data exchange, where both devices are allowed to use only extremely low electrical energy to transmit data, the transmitter and receiver would then convert a modulated voltage signal into a modulated capacitance on the transmission line and, by measuring the changing capacitance, into transmitted data.

[0014] In an expedient embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the data are communication data or result calculation data or data about the state of a unit coupled to the transmitter.

[0015] In a further expedient embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the transmitter is a data generation unit in the form of, for example, a computer, such as a quantum computer to be operated at or near absolute (temperature) zero, for example at less than 77 K or less than 10 K, or that the transmitter is connected to a data generation unit.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the voltage signal changes at a frequency resulting in a bit rate of more than 500 megabits / second.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the capacitance change of the electrical and / or electronic component can be between 1 femtofarad and 500 femtofarad. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, less than 1 mW is required from the transmitter and in the electrical and / or electronic component to control the component.

[0018] In a further expedient embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the at least one receiver can be operated at a temperature which is greater than the temperature of the transmitter.

[0019] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawing.

[0020] The drawing schematically shows a data transmission system 10 comprising a transmitter 12 and at least one receiver 14. Transmitter 12 and receiver 14 are connected to each other via an electrical transmission line 16. Multiple receivers 14 can be connected to the transmission line 16 in a point-to-point configuration, or the receivers 14 can be connected to each other and to the transmitter 12 in a daisy-chain arrangement.

[0021] An electronic component 18 is connected to the transmission line 16, either inside or outside the transmitter 12, via which the transmission line 16 is coupled to a reference potential 20. In this embodiment, the said component 18 is a varactor 22, i.e., a capacitance or tuning diode operated in the reverse direction. Accordingly, its anode is connected to the reference potential 20 and its cathode to the transmission line 16.

[0022] In the transmitter 12, a time-varying, modulated voltage signal Us is generated, which is applied to the transmission line 16 and thus to the varactor 22. As a result of the time-varying voltage signal Us, the varactor 22 changes its electrical capacitance and thus the electrical capacitance of the transmission line 16. In the receiver 14, the electrical capacitance of the transmission line 16 is sensed and recorded in order to detect its modulation, i.e., to detect its change. The changed electrical capacitance of the transmission line 16 therefore represents the time-varying voltage signal Us, which in turn represents the data to be transmitted. This means that this data can be recognized in the receiver 14 as data transmitted thereto.

[0023] The control of the varactor 22 or the electrical or electronic component 18 used according to the invention for data transmission by the modulated voltage signal Us with the minimum possible swing allows data to be transmitted with minimal electrical power and thus with minimal electrical power loss, so that, particularly due to the latter, a virtually non-existent temperature influence in the transmitter 12 for data transmission can be observed. Thus, the inventive concept is suitable wherever no temperature increase can be tolerated for a transmitter for data transmission, as is the case, for example, in a superconducting quantum computer, or wherever the electrical energy available for data transmission is severely limited.

[0024] When applying the invention in a daisy-chain communication system, each receiver on the receiving side would then convert the modulated capacitance on the transmission line into an electrical voltage signal and, in a data processing unit (e.g., a microcontroller), examine the data to determine whether it is useful data for the respective receiver. If this is not the case, the voltage signal would be converted on the output side into a modulated capacitance curve for the transmission line to the next receiver, which is also coupled to an electrical / electronic component with electrically variable capacitance.

[0025] 10 Data transmission system

[0026] 12 channels

[0027] 14 recipients

[0028] 16 transmission line

[0029] 18 electrical / electronic component with electrically variable capacitance

[0030] 20 Reference potential (ground)

[0031] 22 Varactor

[0032] Us voltage signal

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device for transmitting data between a transmitter and at least one receiver, comprising a transmission line (16) to which the transmitter (12) and one or more receivers (14) are connected, an electrical and / or electronic component (18) arranged between a reference potential (20) and the transmission line (16) with an electrical capacitance that can be changed by means of a voltage signal (Us), wherein the transmitter (12) generates a changing voltage signal (Us) representing data for controlling the component (18) for the purpose of changing its capacitance value, and a capacitance measuring unit arranged in the at least one receiver (14) or coupled thereto for detecting the capacitance of the transmission line (16) or a change in the capacitance of the transmission line (16),wherein the detected capacity change or the capacity change resulting from the detected capacity represents the data to be transmitted from the transmitter (12) to the at least one receiver (14) and can be converted into the transmitted data in the at least one receiver (14) or in a conversion unit connected downstream thereof.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical and / or electronic component (18) has a PN junction which has a space charge zone, the width of which changes when the PN junction is operated in the reverse direction by applying the changing voltage signal (Us) and functions as a variable electrical capacitance.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the PN junction is formed in a diode, in particular a tuning or capacitance diode or in a varactor (22) or that the PN- junction is formed parasitically in a CMOS transistor or other CMOS component.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the data are communication data or result calculation data or data about the state of a unit coupled to the transmitter (12).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the transmitter (12) is a data generation unit in the form of, for example, a computer, such as a quantum computer to be operated at or near absolute (temperature) zero, for example at less than 77 K or less than 10 K, or that the transmitter (12) is connected to a data generation unit.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the voltage signal (Us) changes at a frequency resulting in a bit rate of more than 500 megabits / second.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the capacitance change of the electrical and / or electronic component (18) is between 1 femtofarad and 500 femtofarad.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that less than 1 mW is required by the transmitter (12) in the electrical and / or electronic component to control the component (18).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one receiver (14) is operable at a temperature which is greater than the temperature of the transmitter (12).

10. Method for transmitting data between a transmitter and at least one receiver via a transmission line in communication nication connection, wherein an electrical and / or electronic component with a capacitance that can be changed by means of a voltage signal is arranged between the transmission line and a reference potential (20), and wherein in the method the transmitter (12) generates a time-varying voltage signal (Us) representing data to be transmitted, the time-varying voltage signal (Us) is applied to the electrical and / or electronic component (18) in order to change its electrical capacitance and thus to change the electrical capacitance of the transmission line (16), and in the at least one receiver (14) the electrical capacitance of the transmission line (16) and / or the change in the electrical capacitance of the transmission line (16) is detected, wherein the changing electrical capacitance represents the transmitted data.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that a component (18) with a PN junction is used as the electrical and / or electronic component (18), which component has a space charge zone, the width of which changes when the PN junction is operated in the reverse direction by applying the changing voltage signal (Us) and functions as a variable electrical capacitance.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that a diode, in particular a tuning or capacitance diode or a varactor (22) or an electrical and / or electronic component (18) with a parasitic PN junction, such as a CMOS transistor or another CMOS component, is used as the electrical and / or electronic component (18) with a PN junction.

13. Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that communication data or result calculation data or data about the state of a unit coupled to the transmitter (12) are transmitted as data.

14. Method according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that a data generation unit in the form of, for example, a computer, such as a quantum computer to be operated at or near absolute (temperature) zero, for example at less than 77 K or less than 10 K, is used as the transmitter (12), or that the transmitter (12) is connected to a data generation unit.

15. Method according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the voltage signal (Us) changes at a frequency resulting in a bit rate of more than 500 megabits / second.

16. Method according to one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the change in capacitance of the electrical and / or electronic component (18) is between 1 femtofarad and 500 femtofarad.

17. Method according to one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that less than 1 mW is required on the part of the transmitter (12) and in the electrical and / or electronic component (18) for controlling the component (18).

18. Method according to one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that the at least one receiver (14) is operated at a temperature which is greater than the temperature of the transmitter (12).

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