Contactless PCB Coupling for Low-Latency Backplane Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic test equipment (ATE) systems face challenges in high-speed communication between multiple cards in a backplane, particularly when trying to expand channel capabilities beyond what standard PXI chassis supports, as front panel connections are expensive and cumbersome, and slot-to-slot communication is not efficiently timed.
Innovation Solution
The system enables contactless coupling between circuit boards aligned perpendicularly on a backplane, using conductive traces and circuitry to reconstruct digital signals through transient responses, eliminating the need for physical connections and reducing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If front panel connections are used for communication between cards, then communication capability is achieved, but cost increases and operation becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with an electromagnetic field-based contactless coupling system. Conductive traces on adjacent circuit boards create capacitive coupling through air gaps, enabling signal transmission without physical cable connections. This substitution eliminates the need for manual cable plugging and unplugging, directly resolving the operational convenience issue while maintaining communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the communication function from the mechanical connection interface by implementing contactless coupling between conductive traces. The signal transmission capability is separated from the physical cable connection, allowing communication to occur through electromagnetic field coupling across air gaps. This extraction eliminates the cumbersome cable management operations while preserving the essential communication function.
2Reliability
If standard PXI chassis slot-to-slot communication is used, then communication between cards is enabled, but timing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional slot-to-slot communication path that routes signals through the backplane with a direct contactless coupling path between adjacent circuit boards. By using capacitive coupling through air gaps between conductive traces on neighboring boards, the system creates a shorter, more direct signal path that reduces propagation delay and improves timing precision while maintaining communication connectivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple channel cards are added to expand ATE capabilities, then channel capacity increases, but communication latency between cards increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the indirect backplane routing path with direct contactless coupling between adjacent channel cards. The capacitive coupling through air gaps creates a shorter signal path that reduces propagation delay. This allows multiple channel cards to be added to expand capacity while maintaining low latency through the direct electromagnetic field coupling path between neighboring boards.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions communication from the two-dimensional backplane routing plane to a three-dimensional space utilizing air gaps between adjacent circuit boards. By establishing capacitive coupling vertically between boards through the air gap dimension, the system creates a more efficient communication path that reduces latency compared to traditional planar backplane routing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for seamless and low-latency communication between circuit boards, enhancing the operational efficiency of ATE systems by enabling direct energy transfer over air gaps without the need for cumbersome cable connections.
Implementation Method 1
a second conductive trace is within a predefined distance of the first conductive trace to produce a contactless coupling with the first conductive trace, and where the contactless coupling enables electrical energy on the first conductive trace to manifest on the second conductive trace as a transient response
Data Source
AI summary
An example system includes a first circuit board having first conductive traces, where a first conductive trace is for conducting an alternating current (AC) digital signal having an edge; a second circuit board having second conductive traces, where a second conductive trace is within a predefined distance of the first conductive trace to produce a contactless coupling with the first conductive trace, and where the contactless coupling enables electrical energy on the first conductive trace to manifest on the second conductive trace as a transient response that is based on the edge; and circuitry to reconstruct the edge based on the transient response from the second conductive trace.