Multicast chip-to-chip interconnect based on millimeter-wave dielectric waveguide
Final Report Abstract
High data-rate inter-chip / intra-chip communication is required for modern computer systems. As an alternative to conventional approaches, which are based on metal transmission lines, and to wireless systems, the project investigated dielectric waveguide-based millimeter-wave interconnects for short distances. Important building blocks were designed and experimentally evaluated. These include low-loss transitions with power-split functionality, from on-chip lines to dielectric waveguide with about 2 dB loss at 180 GHz. Experiments showed that end-to-end transmission loss of the interconnect is very low compared to alternative approaches. In addition, high-efficiency on-chip antennas (operating at 180 GHz) and low-loss narrowband on-chip band-pass filters (operating at 170 GHz) were demonstrated in this project. Alternative applications of the technology, such as for dielectric characterization of liquids and for tunable filters, were explored.
