Mmwave Connector Multiplexer and Ridge Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interconnect technologies for server architectures face challenges in achieving high data rates with low power consumption and minimal latency, particularly for medium-distance communications, as traditional electrical solutions are costly and power-hungry, while optical solutions incur high overhead, and mm-wave waveguides are dispersion-limited, leading to signal degradation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of mm-wave waveguide connectors that incorporate a multiplexer and ridge-based waveguide filters to channelize bandwidth, reduce dispersion, and minimize guard bands, allowing for improved roll-off and increased usable bandwidth, thereby enhancing data rates and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrical cables are used for medium-distance interconnects, then data rates can be maintained, but power consumption increases and latency increases due to error correction requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional electrical cable transmission with mm-wave waveguide transmission, substituting electromagnetic wave propagation through dielectric materials for electrical signal transmission through conductors. This substitution eliminates the need for error correction mechanisms in electrical cables, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining data rate performance for medium-distance interconnects
2Speed
If optical fiber solutions are used for medium-distance interconnects, then data rates and reach are improved, but power consumption and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transmission medium parameter from optical fiber to mm-wave dielectric waveguide, operating in the 24-100 GHz frequency range. This parameter change allows achieving high data rates similar to optical solutions but with significantly lower power consumption, as mm-wave waveguides do not require the complex optical-to-electrical conversion processes that consume substantial power in optical fiber systems
3Use of energy by moving object
If mm-wave waveguides are used for long-distance transmission, then power consumption is reduced, but signal dispersion increases causing degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wide mm-wave bandwidth into multiple narrower sub-bands using bandpass filters. Each sub-band experiences reduced dispersion effects compared to the full bandwidth, allowing signals to traverse longer distances without significant degradation. This segmentation approach maintains signal quality while preserving the low power consumption advantages of mm-wave waveguide transmission
4Productivity
If bandwidth is increased to achieve higher data rates, then data rates improve, but dispersion effects increase causing signal spread
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the total available bandwidth into multiple narrower frequency sub-bands using bank of bandpass filters. Each sub-band carries a portion of the data stream at reduced bandwidth, which minimizes dispersion-induced signal spread. The segmented sub-bands are then combined at the receiver to reconstruct the high-rate data stream, achieving both high data rates and maintained signal integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces bandpass filters as intermediary components that selectively pass specific frequency sub-bands while blocking others. These filters act as mediators that decompose the wide bandwidth signal into narrower sub-bands, reducing dispersion effects during transmission. The filters enable the system to achieve high overall data rates by parallel transmission of multiple sub-band signals
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 solution increases data rates by up to 16 Gbps and reduces power consumption by minimizing the need for additional bandpass filters on the transceiver die, while maintaining a compact connector size and reducing latency.
Implementation Method 1
a multiplexer portion communicatively coupled to the first ridge based mm-wave filter portion. The multiplexer portion may include a bank of bandpass filters that channelize the available bandwidth into multiple sub-bands
Implementation Method 2
a first ridge based mm-wave filter portion communicatively coupled to the first mm-wave launcher portion. The filter portion may include a plurality of protrusions that define one or more resonant cavities
Implementation Method 3
mm-wave waveguides propagate mm-wave signals along a dielectric waveguide
Implementation Method 4
mm-wave waveguides propagate mm-wave signals along a dielectric waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention include a mm-wave waveguide connector and methods of forming such devices. In an embodiment the mm-wave waveguide connector may include a plurality of mm-wave launcher portions, and a plurality of ridge based mm-wave filter portions each communicatively coupled to one of the mm-wave launcher portions. In an embodiment, the ridge based mm-wave filter portions each include a plurality of protrusions that define one or more resonant cavities. Additional embodiments may include a multiplexer portion communicatively coupled to the plurality of ridge based mm-wave filter portions and communicative coupled to a mm-wave waveguide bundle. In an embodiment the plurality of protrusions define resonant cavities with openings between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, the plurality of protrusions are spaced apart from each other by a spacing between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, and wherein the plurality of protrusions have a thickness between 200 μm and 1,000 μm.