Millimeter Wave CMOS Engines for Rack Scale Interconnects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current interconnect technologies for server architectures, such as traditional electrical and optical solutions, face challenges in achieving high data rates with low power consumption and latency, especially for medium distance communications in Rack Scale Architecture (RSA) servers, where existing solutions are either power-hungry or latency-prone.

Innovation Solution

The use of millimeter wave (mm-wave) waveguides coupled with CMOS packages and III-V semiconductor technology to transmit data, enabling high data rates with reduced power consumption and error correction needs, and allowing flexible orientations and directional signal transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If traditional electrical interconnects are used for medium distance communication, then data transmission is achieved, but power consumption increases and latency increases due to equalization and error correction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidtransmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional electrical signal transmission with acoustic wave transmission through solid media. Acoustic waves propagate through the solid interconnect medium, eliminating the need for electrical equalization and error correction mechanisms, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining transmission reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental transmission parameter from electrical signals to acoustic waves. This parameter change enables transmission through solid media with inherently lower loss characteristics, eliminating the need for power-hungry equalization and reducing latency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If optical interconnect fabric is used for medium distance communication, then high data rate is achieved, but power consumption becomes excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata rateVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes optical transmission with acoustic wave transmission through solid media. This substitution maintains high data rate capability while dramatically reducing power consumption, as acoustic waves in solids experience lower attenuation and do not require the power-intensive optical conversion and signal regeneration infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Length of moving object

If traditional electrical cables are used to extend reach or bandwidth, then transmission capability is improved, but power consumption and cost increase due to higher quality cables and advanced techniques

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission distanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical cable transmission with acoustic wave transmission through solid media. This enables extended transmission distances with lower power consumption, as acoustic waves in solids experience fundamentally different propagation characteristics with lower loss and no need for electrical signal boosting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transmission medium parameter from electrical conductors to solid acoustic waveguides. This parameter change enables longer transmission distances without the need for higher quality cables or advanced equalization techniques, as acoustic waves naturally maintain signal integrity over longer distances in solids

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 supports high data rates over short to medium distances with minimal power usage and reduced latency, providing a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for server interconnects.

Implementation Method 1

mm-wave transceiver circuitry to transmit data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10211970B2Millimeter wave CMOS engines for waveguide fabrics

Publication Date: 2019.02.19 INTEL CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for communicating between rack mounted devices disposed in the same or different racks separated by distances of less than a meter to a few tens of meters. The system includes a CMOS first mm-wave engine that includes mm-wave transceiver circuitry, mm-wave MODEM circuitry, power distribution and control circuitry, and a mm-wave waveguide connector. The CMOS first mm-wave engine communicably couples to a CMOS second mm-wave engine that also includes mm-wave transceiver circuitry, mm-wave MODEM circuitry, power distribution and control circuitry, and a mm-wave waveguide connector. In some implementations, at least a portion of the mm-wave transceiver circuitry may be fabricated using III-V semiconductor manufacturing methods. The use of mm-wave communication techniques beneficially improves data integrity and increases achievable datarates, and reduces power costs.