Wireless IC Communication Antenna Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional wired communication methods with integrated circuit (IC) devices are costly, prone to failure, and limited by bandwidth and space constraints, making real-time evaluation and debugging inefficient, while wireless technologies are restricted to system-level communications due to high cost and low bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

Implementing wireless communication between IC devices and monitoring stations using antennas for signal transmission and reception, leveraging multiplexing techniques and emerging wireless protocols like IEEE 802.11a, UWB, and Bluetooth to achieve higher bandwidth and reduce the need for physical pins, allowing for efficient data transfer and debugging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wired communication methods are used with IC devices, then reliable signal transmission is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and bandwidth is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmission reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces wired mechanical connections (traces, wires, solder joints) with wireless electromagnetic field-based communication. This substitution eliminates the physical infrastructure requirements while maintaining communication reliability through protocol design and error correction mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If wired communication methods are used with IC devices, then stable connection is achieved, but bandwidth and data transfer rate are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoiddata transfer rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental transmission medium from electrical signals through conductive traces to electromagnetic waves through air or vacuum. This parameter change enables significantly higher bandwidth and data transfer rates while maintaining connection stability through sophisticated modulation and error correction techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If more pins are allocated for testing and debugging, then real-time monitoring capability improves, but board space consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time monitoring capabilityVSAvoidboard space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical pin-based test interfaces with wireless communication channels. This eliminates the need for additional pins on the IC device and board, freeing up valuable real estate while enabling comprehensive real-time monitoring and debugging capabilities through high-bandwidth wireless data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If wireless technology is used for system-level communication, then flexibility and space efficiency improve, but bandwidth and data transfer rate are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication flexibilityVSAvoidbandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent advances wireless technology parameters by implementing high-data-rate modulation schemes, multiple antenna systems (MIMO), and advanced error correction protocols. These parameter changes enable wireless communication to achieve bandwidths sufficient for IC device testing and debugging, matching or exceeding wired solution performance.

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

Enables high-speed data transfer exceeding 100 MBPS, facilitates real-time debugging and monitoring of IC devices without disrupting normal operation, and reduces service time by allowing direct wireless access to internal operations, thereby improving testing and validation capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

A signal destined for an integrated circuit device is transmitted by the monitoring station using an associated antenna

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

An antenna associated with the destination integrated circuit receives the transmitted signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS8315567B2Method and system for wireless communication with an integrated circuit under evaluation

Publication Date: 2012.11.20 INTEL CORP

AI summary

A method and apparatus are provided for wireless communication between an integrated circuit device and a monitoring station. Each integrated circuit device has one or more antennas that permit wireless communication with an external monitoring station. A signal destined for an integrated circuit device is transmitted by the monitoring station using an associated antenna. An antenna associated with the destination integrated circuit receives the transmitted signal. The antenna(s) may be embodied, for example, as pins that are external to the integrated circuit device, or printed or etched on the integrated circuit device itself. Greater bandwidth can be achieved, if necessary, by pooling the bandwidth of several antennas.