IP Library Granted Patent US 8,674,888
Granted Patent B2
US 8,674,888 · App. 12/210,595 · Granted Mar 18, 2014

Integrated circuit with power supply line antenna structure and methods for use therewith

Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran (Newport Castle, CA)
Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,674,888
App. No.
12/210,595
Granted
Mar 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated circuit includes a plurality of circuits including a plurality of millimeter wave interfaces for communicating data between the plurality of circuits via millimeter wave RF signaling. A power supply line supplies at least one power supply signal to the plurality of circuits. The power supply line includes a plurality of antenna elements to facilitate the communicating of first data between the plurality of circuits via the millimeter wave RF signaling.

Claims (26)

1. An integrated circuit comprising:

a plurality of circuits including a plurality of millimeter wave interfaces for communicating data between the plurality of circuits via millimeter wave RF signaling;

at least one power supply line, coupled to the plurality of circuits for supplying at least one direct current (DC) power supply signal from an external source to the plurality of circuits, wherein the at least one power supply line includes a plurality of antenna elements to facilitate the communicating of first data between the plurality of circuits via the millimeter wave RF signaling that is carried via the at least one power supply line, wherein the at least one power supply line includes a plurality of inductive elements that are connected along a linear pathway in an alternating series connection with the plurality of antenna elements to block electrical conduction of the millimeter wave RF signaling between adjacent ones of the plurality antenna elements along the linear pathway while passing the at least one direct current (DC) power supply signal along the linear pathway.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna elements has an effective length that is substantially one-quarter of the wavelength of the millimeter wave RF signaling.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna elements has an effective length that is substantially one-half of the wavelength of the millimeter wave RF signaling.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

an RF bus controller that mediates the communicating of the first data between the plurality of circuits via the millimeter wave RF signaling.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 4 wherein the RF bus operates in accordance with a shared access protocol that controls transmission by the plurality of millimeter wave interfaces.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 4 wherein the RF bus controller includes at least one millimeter wave transceiver that communicates with the plurality of millimeter wave interfaces.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 4 wherein the RF bus controller further communicates third signals with a remote device.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of millimeter wave interfaces communicates second data with a remote device.

9. A method for use in an integrated circuit having a plurality of circuits, the method comprising:

communicating between the plurality of circuits via millimeter wave RF signaling facilitated by an antenna that includes a plurality of antenna elements formed from at least one power supply line of the integrated circuit that couples a direct current (DC) power supply signal from an external source to the integrated circuit and that carries the millimeter wave RF signaling via the at least one power supply line, wherein the at least one power supply line includes a plurality of inductive elements that are connected along a linear pathway in an alternating series connection with the plurality of antenna elements to block electrical conduction of the millimeter wave RF signaling between adjacent ones of the plurality antenna elements along the linear pathway while passing the at least one direct current (DC) power supply signal along the linear pathway.

10. An integrated circuit comprising:

a plurality of circuits including a plurality of millimeter wave interfaces for communicating data between the plurality of circuits via millimeter wave RF signaling;

a power supply line, coupled to the plurality of circuits for supplying at least one direct current (DC) power supply signal from an external source to the plurality of circuits, wherein the at least one power supply line includes a plurality of antenna elements to facilitate the communicating of first data between the plurality of circuits via the millimeter wave RF signaling that is carried via the at least one power supply line, wherein the power supply line includes a plurality of inductive elements that are connected along a linear pathway in an alternating series connection with the plurality of antenna elements to block electrical conduction of the millimeter wave RF signaling between adjacent ones of the plurality antenna elements along the linear pathway while passing the at least one direct current (DC) power supply signal along the linear pathway.

11. The integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna elements has an effective length that is substantially one-quarter of the wavelength of the millimeter wave RF signaling.

12. The integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna elements has an effective length that is substantially one-half of the wavelength of the millimeter wave RF signaling.

13. The integrated circuit of claim 10 further comprising:

an RF bus controller that mediates the communicating of the first data between the plurality of circuits via the millimeter wave RF signaling.

14. The integrated circuit of claim 13 wherein the RF bus operates in accordance with a shared access protocol that controls transmission by the plurality of millimeter wave interfaces.

15. The integrated circuit of claim 13 wherein the RF bus controller includes at least one millimeter wave transceiver that communicates with the plurality of millimeter wave interfaces.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 13 wherein the RF bus controller further communicates third signals with a remote device.

17. The integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of millimeter wave interfaces communicates second data with a remote device.

18. A method for use in an integrated circuit having a plurality of circuits, the method comprising:

communicating between the plurality of circuits via millimeter wave RF signaling facilitated by an antenna that includes plurality of antenna elements formed from a power supply line of the integrated circuit that couples a direct current (DC) power supply signal from an external source to the integrated circuit and that carries the millimeter wave RF signaling via the at least one power supply line, wherein the power supply line includes a plurality of inductive elements that are connected along a linear pathway in an alternating series connection with the plurality of antenna elements to block electrical conduction of the millimeter wave RF signaling between adjacent ones of the plurality antenna elements along the linear pathway while passing the at least one direct current (DC) power supply signal along the linear pathway.

Assignments (7)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 22, 2017
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.; NXP USA, INC.
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 042525/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ADD OMITTED PAGE 6 OF 22 TO THE ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040569 FRAME: 0572. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 28, 2017
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 042108/0597 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041712/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 040569/0572 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040192/0701 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037806/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2008
From: ROFOUGARAN, AHMADREZA (REZA)
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021544/0502 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 11648826 · Dec 29, 2006
Continuation In Part 11472205 · Jun 21, 2006
Related Publication 20090009405A1 · Jan 8, 2009