Network signal coupling circuit assembly

A network signal coupling circuit installed in a circuit board and coupled between a network-on-chip and a network connector is disclosed to include a coupling module including a first capacitor connected in series to each wire of one respective two-wire channel of the signal coupling circuit thereof for coupling network signals and removing noises. Subject to the capacitance reactance characteristic that the signal attenuation is reduced when the frequency rises and the capacitive coupling characteristic that the signal coupling performance is enhanced when the frequency rises, the network signal coupling circuit assembly is practical for high frequency network applications to enhance signal coupling and transmission performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to network technology and more particularly, to a network signal coupling circuit assembly, which uses a signal coupling circuit with capacitor-based coupling modules for signal transmission between a network connector and a network-on-chip to enhance the signal coupling performance subject to the characteristic of the capacitors that capacitive reactance is relatively reduced and the coupling strength is relatively enhanced when the frequency is getting higher.

2. Description of the Related Art

Following fast development of computer technology, desk computers and notebook computers are well developed and widely used in different fields for different applications. It is the market trend to provide computers having high operating speed and small size. Further, network communication technology brings people closer, helping people to gather information about living, learning, working and recreational activities. By means of network communication, people can communicate with one another to send real time information, advertising propaganda or e-mail. Further, through the Internet, people can search information, send instant messages, or play on-line video games. The development of computer technology makes the relationship between people and network unshakable and inseparable.

Connecting a computer or electronic apparatus to a network for data transmission can be done by a cable connection technique or a wireless transmission protocol. A cable connection technique needs the installation of a network connector. A network signal coupling circuit assembly has built therein transformer modules and common-mode suppression modules. As shown inFIG. 7, a conventional network signal coupling assembly comprises a circuit board A, and multiple transformer coils B and Filter coils C installed in the circuit board A. Each of the transformer coils B and filter coils C comprises a wire core D, and a lead wire D1wound round the wire core D with the ends thereof bonded to respective contacts at the circuit board A. Because the winding of the transformer coils B and the filter coils C cannot be achieved by an automatic machine and must be done by labor, the fabrication efficiency of this kind of network connector is low. Further, the lead wire may be broken easily during winding, thereby increasing the cost. Further, fabrication by labor cannot accurately control the coil winding tightness and number of turns, affecting product quality stability.

Further, following the development of network application technology, network data transmission capacity has been greatly increased. To satisfy the demand for high data transmission capacity, network transmission speed has been greatly improved from the early 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps. Nowadays, Fiber-optic network transmission speed can be as high as 10 Gbps and up. A transformer coil B is an inductor, the impedance (Z) of an inductor is an inductive reactance, and its unit is ohm (Ω). The inductive reactance is calculated subject to the equation of Z=2π*F*L), in which: F=Frequency and its unit is the hertz (Hz); L=inductance of inductor and its unit is Henry (H). The aforesaid network connector utilizes the characteristic of the inductance of the transformer coils B to isolate electricity and to couple signals. In order to transmit signals from the primary side to the secondary side, each transformer coil B must have a predetermined inductance. From the above equation, it is known that inductive reactance is directly proportional to the working Frequency and the inductance of the inductor. When increasing the signal Frequency, the inductance reactance will be relatively increased (see the comparative curve of Frequency and capacitive reactance based on a 350 μH capacitor). However, the increase of inductive reactance causes the increase of signal attenuation, leading to network disconnection or dramatic slowdown in network transmission speed. As shown inFIG. 7, when the insertion loss of the transformer reaches −3 db, the response frequency becomes 0.45 MHz-240 MHz. When being over this range, the insertion loss will increase rapidly. Therefore, the working Frequency must be controlled within a relatively narrower bandwidth. Further, subject to the characteristic curve of the transformer coils B of low Frequency with low intensity, middle Frequency with high intensity and high Frequency with low intensity, when the network transmission speed reaches 1 Gbps, the signal intensity of the transformer coils B will be lowered, unable to meet the product requirements.

Therefore, there is a strong demand for a network signal coupling circuit assembly, which eliminates the drawbacks of instable quality, high cost, automated production incapability and low signal intensity under a high network transmission speed of the prior art design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present invention, the network signal coupling circuit assembly comprises a circuit board, a network-on-chip installed in the circuit board, a network connector, and a signal coupling circuit electrically coupled between the network-on-chip and the network connector, wherein the network-on-chip is a current-mode design; the signal coupling circuit comprises opposing first connection end and second connection end, multiple two-wire channels coupled between the first connection end and the second connection end, and a plurality of coupling modules respectively installed in the two-wire channels and respectively electrically coupled between the first connection end and the second connection end. Further, each two-wire channel consists of two wires. Each coupling module comprises a first capacitor connected to each wire. Subject to the characteristic that increasing the signal frequency can relatively increases the signal coupling strength of the capacitors, the signal coupling performance of the signal coupling circuit can be relatively enhanced if the network frequency is getting higher.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the network-on-chip is a voltage-mode design. Subject to the characteristics of the first capacitors of the coupling modules, supplying a voltage to the first end of each first capacitor can cause the first end of the respective first capacitor to generate a transient unipolar charge and the opposing second end of the respective first capacitor to generate another transient unipolar charge. When the supplied voltage is stopped after a predetermined period of time, the second end of the respective first capacitor of each coupling module discharges the negative charge through the wires of the respective two-wire channel, achieving signal coupling transmission. Further, the first capacitors can also provide an isolation effect to prohibit the signal from passing through the wires of the respective two-wire channel directly, preventing reverse current.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the signal coupling circuit is used with a voltage mode network-on-chip. The charge and discharge speed of the first capacitors of the coupling modules has a great concern with the time constant, thus, the time constant must match the signal cycle so that the charge and discharge time can just let the signal be transmitted in integrity without interruption. Increasing the capacitance of the first capacitors of the coupling modules relatively increases the time constant. Preferably, the capacitance of the first capacitors is in the range of 100 μF˜0.01 μF, or most preferably 0.1 μF.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the signal coupling circuit can be configured to provide a plurality of coupling modules respectively installed in the two-wire channels and respectively electrically coupled between the first connection end and the second connection end, and a plurality of filter modules respectively installed in the two-wire channels and respectively electrically coupled between and the respective coupling modules and the first connection end or second connection end. In one embodiment of the invention, each filter module comprises an inductor electrically connected in series to each wire of the respective two-wire channel. In another embodiment of the invention, each filter module comprises two second capacitors electrically connected in series between the two wires of the respective two-wire channel with the midpoint between the two second capacitors electrically connected to a second grounding terminal. By means of the inductors or second capacitors, the filter modules can effectively remove noises from the network signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a simple circuit block diagram and a simple circuit diagram of a network signal coupling circuit assembly in accordance with the present invention are shown. As illustrated, the network signal coupling circuit assembly comprises a signal coupling circuit1installed in a circuit board4and having a first connection end10thereof electrically connected to a network connector2and an opposing second connection end11thereof electrically connected to a network-on-chip3. The network-on-chip3is a current-mode design, and therefore, the network-on-chip3outputs electric current to the signal coupling circuit1. The signal coupling circuit1comprises a plurality of two-wire channels12electrically connected in parallel between the first connection end10and the second connection end11, and a plurality of coupling modules13respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between the first connection end10and the second connection end11. Each two-wire channel12consists of two wires121. Further, each coupling module13comprises a first capacitor131connected to each wire121.

Referring toFIGS. 3-5andFIGS. 1 and 2again, the network-on-chip3is installed in the circuit board4and electrically coupled with the signal coupling circuit1. The network signal coupling circuit assembly further comprises a plurality of filter modules14respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between the first connection end10and the respective coupling modules13. Alternatively, each filter module14can be coupled between the second connection end11and the respective coupling module13. Further, each filter module14comprises a first coil141and a second coil142respectively coupled to the two wires121of the respective two-wire channel12.

The first connection end10of the signal coupling circuit1is electrically coupled to respective contacts of the network connector2. The second connection end11of the signal coupling circuit1is electrically coupled to respective pins of the network-on-chip3. The wires121of the two-wire channel12are respectively electrically coupled to MD0+/MX0+; MD0−/MX0−; MD1+/MX1+; MD1−/MX1−; MD2+/MX2+; MD2−/MX2−; MD3+/MX3+; MD3−/MX3−. However, this configuration layout is changeable to fit different design requirements.

In the aforesaid arrangement of the present invention, each first capacitor131of each coupling module13of the signal coupling circuit1of the network signal coupling circuit assembly at one wire121of the respective two-wire channel12enables the two wires121of the respective two-wire channel12to be coupled together. Preferably, the capacitance of the first capacitor131is 0.1 μF; the equivalent resistance at one end of the first capacitor131adjacent to the network-on-chip3is 49.9 ohm (Ω); the equivalent resistance at the other end of the first capacitor131adjacent to the network connector2is 75 ohm (Ω). The impedance (Z) of the first capacitors131is a capacitive reactance of which the unit is ohm (Ω). The capacitive reactance is measured subject to the equation of Z=½(2π*F*C), in which: F=Frequency and its unit is hertz (Hz); C=capacitance and its unit is Farad (F). The invention utilizes the characteristics of the first capacitors131to isolate electricity and to couple signal. From the above equation, we can know that the capacitive reactance is inversely proportional to the operating frequency and the capacitance. Thus, under the condition that the capacitance of the first capacitors131remains unchanged, the capacitance reactance will be relatively reduced and the signal attenuation will also be relatively reduced when the signal frequency is increased (seeFIG. 3), achieving better network linking performance and faster signal transmission speed. By means of the characteristic that the intensity of capacitor rises subject to increase of frequency, capacitors are effective for use in a high-frequency (wideband) network (greater than 1 Gbps) to utilize isolated DC current for creating an electric field induction for coupling signals. Further, the characteristics of the capacitors can also enhance coupling of high-frequency network signals.

The network-on-chip3outputs a voltage to the signal coupling circuit1.

As described above, the coupling modules13are respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between the first connection end10and the second connection end11. Further, each coupling module13comprises the first capacitor131connected to each wire121of the respective two-wire channel12. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the filter modules14are respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between the first connection end10and the respective coupling modules13; each filter module14comprises the first coil141and a second coil142respectively coupled to the two wires121of the respective two-wire channel12. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the filter modules14are respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between the second connection end11and the respective coupling modules13, wherein each filter module14comprises an inductor143electrically connected in series to each wire121of the respective two-wire channel12. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 5, each filter module14comprises two second capacitors144electrically connected in series between the two wires121of the respective two-wire channel12with the midpoint between the two second capacitors144electrically connected to a second grounding terminal145. Further, because the filter modules14are simply adapted for removing noises from the signal, the filter modules14can be respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between the respective coupling modules13and the first connection end10or second connection end11to achieve the same noise filtering effect.

The aforesaid network-on-chip3is a voltage-mode chip adapted to provide a driving voltage to the signal coupling circuit1. Because signal is subject to variations in voltage during its transmission, each coupling module13must provide a resistor for generating a voltage if the signal coupling circuit1is used in a current-mode network-on-chip. Using the signal coupling circuit1in the aforesaid voltage-mode network-on-chip3does not need to install resistors in the coupling modules13. As stated above, each coupling module13of the signal coupling circuit1of the network signal coupling circuit assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises two first capacitors131respectively electrically connected to the two wires121of the respective two-wire channel12. Subject to the characteristics of the first capacitors131, supplying a voltage to one end (the first end) of each first capacitor131can cause the first end of the respective first capacitor131to generate a transient unipolar charge, for example, positive charge, and the other end (the second end) of the respective first capacitor131to generate another transient unipolar charge, for example, negative charge. When the supplied voltage is stopped after a predetermined period of time, the other end (the second end) of the respective first capacitor131discharges the negative charge through the wires121of the respective two-wire channel12, achieving signal coupling transmission. At the same time, the first capacitor131prohibits the signal from passing through the wires121of the respective two-wire channel12directly, preventing reverse current. However, because the charge and discharge speed of the first capacitors131has a great concern with the time constant, the time constant must match the signal cycle so that the charge and discharge time can just let the signal be transmitted in integrity without interruption. Increasing the capacitance of the first capacitors131relatively increases the time constant. Preferably, the capacitance of the first capacitors131is in the range of 100 μF˜0.01 μF, or most preferably 0.1 μF.

Further, during the transmission of a network signal, other signals may enter, producing noises. These noises must be removed. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the inductors143of the filter module14that are respectively connected in series to the wires121of the two-wire channels12can be magnetic beads, chip beads, plug-in beads, wire wound inductors, chip inductors, plug-in inductors or common mode inductors. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 5, each filter module14comprises two second capacitors144electrically connected in series between the two wires121of the respective two-wire channel12with the midpoint between the two second capacitors144electrically connected to a second grounding terminal145. The inductors143have low pass filtering characteristics for removing high frequency noises from the signal band. The second capacitors144have high pass filtering characteristics. Further, lowering the impedance of the second capacitors144can relatively increase the filtered signal frequency. Thus, by means of adjusting the impedance of the second capacitors144, noises can be removed while letting the network signal pass, achieving the effect of removing low frequency noises.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 6again, the signal coupling circuit1and the network-on-chip3can be directly installed in the circuit board4, enabling the signal coupling circuit1to be electrically coupled with the network connector2and the network-on-chip3, as shown inFIG. 1. Alternatively, the signal coupling circuit1can be installed in the circuit board4and then installed with the circuit board4in the network connector2, and then electrically coupled with the network-on-chip3that is mounted in an external circuit board. The arrangement of the network connector2and the network-on-chip3is the known art and not within the scope of the present invention, and therefore, no further detailed description in this regard will be necessary.

In actual application, the invention has the advantages and features as Follows:

1. In the case that the network-on-chip3is a current-mode design, the signal coupling circuit1comprises opposing first connection end10and second connection end11, multiple two-wire channels12coupled between the first connection end10and the second connection end11, and a plurality of coupling modules13respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between the first connection end10and the second connection end11, wherein each two-wire channel12consists of two wires121; each coupling module13comprises a first capacitor131connected to each wire121. Subject to the characteristic that increasing the signal frequency can relatively increases the signal coupling strength of the capacitors, the signal coupling performance of the signal coupling circuit can be relatively enhanced if the network frequency is getting higher.

2. In the case that the network-on-chip3is a voltage-mode design, the signal coupling circuit1comprises opposing first connection end10and second connection end11, multiple two-wire channels12coupled between the first connection end10and the second connection end11, and a plurality of coupling modules13respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between the first connection end10and the second connection end11, wherein each two-wire channel12consists of two wires121; each coupling module13comprises a first capacitor131connected to each wire121. Subject to the characteristics of the first capacitors131, supplying a voltage to the first end of each first capacitor131can cause the first end of the respective first capacitor131to generate a transient unipolar charge and the opposing second end of the respective first capacitor131to generate another transient unipolar charge. When the supplied voltage is stopped after a predetermined period of time, the second end of the respective first capacitor131of each coupling module13discharges the negative charge through the wires121of the respective two-wire channel12, achieving signal coupling transmission. Further, the first capacitors131can also provide an isolation effect to prohibit the signal from passing through the wires121of the respective two-wire channel12directly, preventing reverse current.

3. In the case that the network-on-chip3is a voltage-mode design, the signal coupling circuit1comprises opposing first connection end10and second connection end11, multiple two-wire channels12coupled between the first connection end10and the second connection end11, and a plurality of coupling modules13respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between the first connection end10and the second connection end11, wherein each two-wire channel12consists of two wires121; each coupling module13comprises a first capacitor131connected to each wire121. Because the charge and discharge speed of the first capacitors131has a great concern with the time constant, the time constant must match the signal cycle so that the charge and discharge time can just let the signal be transmitted in integrity without interruption. Increasing the capacitance of the first capacitors131relatively increases the time constant. Preferably, the capacitance of the first capacitors131is in the range of 100 μF˜0.01 μF, or most preferably 0.1 μF.

4. The signal coupling circuit1can be configured to provide a plurality of coupling modules13respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between the first connection end10and the second connection end11, and a plurality of filter modules14respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between and the respective coupling modules13and the first connection end10or second connection end11. In one embodiment of the invention, each filter module14comprises the inductor143electrically connected in series to each wire121of the respective two-wire channel12. In another embodiment of the invention, each filter module14comprises two second capacitors144electrically connected in series between the two wires121of the respective two-wire channel12with the midpoint between the two second capacitors144electrically connected to a second grounding terminal145. By means of the inductors143or second capacitors144, the filter modules14can effectively remove noises from the network signal.

In conclusion, the invention provides a network signal coupling circuit assembly using a signal coupling circuit1to couple a network connector2and a voltage-mode network-on-chip3. The signal coupling circuit1comprises a plurality of two-wire channels12connected in parallel between opposing first connection end10and second connection end11thereof, and a plurality of coupling modules13respectively installed in the two-wire channels12and respectively electrically coupled between the first connection end10and the second connection end11, wherein each coupling module13of the signal coupling circuit1comprises two first capacitors131respectively electrically connected to the two wires121of the respective two-wire channel12for isolating electricity and coupling network signals. Subject to the characteristic that increasing the capacitance strength can relatively enhance the signal coupling performance, the signal coupling circuit can effectively achieve optimal network signal coupling performance.