Abstract:
A method for operating a circuit board, where: the circuit board is mounted within a printer; a first system on a first chip and a second system on a second chip are mounted on the circuit board; the first system on the first chip comprises a receiver and a transmitter; and the second system on the second chip comprises a first processing module and a second processing module. The method includes wirelessly receiving a first radio frequency signal at the receiver. A second radio frequency signal is generated based on the first radio frequency signal. The second radio frequency signal is wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter. The transmitter is implemented in the first system on the first chip. A data signal is generated based on the first radio frequency signal via the first processing module. A printing process is implemented based on the data signal via the second processing module.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/927,735 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,630,012), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/453,607 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,477,357), filed Apr. 23, 2012 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/751,687 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,164,773) filed on May 22, 2007. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/808,634, filed on May 26, 2006. The entire disclosures of the applications referenced above are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to wireless printing interfaces, and more particularly to wireless printer architectures. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
         [0004]    Wireless printers eliminate the need for printer cables and/or existing wired network connections near a desired printer location. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a wireless printer architecture  10  for wireless printing is shown. The architecture  10  includes a wireless subsystem  12  that communicates with an imaging subsystem  14  via an interface  16 . The wireless subsystem  12  is used in addition to the imaging subsystem  14  to provide wireless communication capability. The imaging subsystem  14  may be similar to a traditional imaging circuit that is used in a printer with a wired communication connection. The interface  16  is coupled between respective input/output interfaces  18 ,  20  and may include a serial peripheral interface (SPI), a serial peripheral input/output (SPIO), a USB and/or other suitable interface. 
         [0005]    The wireless subsystem  12  communicates with and is connected to a radio frequency (RF) transceiver  22  via a communication interface  24 . The transceiver  22  transmits and receives RF print command and data signals via an antenna  26  from a print request device, such as a remote computer. The transceiver  22  includes a receiver  27  and a transmitter  28 . During receiver operation, an input of a low noise amplifier (LNA)  29  receives signals from the antenna  26 , amplifies the signals and outputs them to the receiver  27 . During transmitter operation, an output of the transmitter  28  is received by a power amplifier (PA)  30 , which outputs amplified signals to the antenna  26 . While not shown, the transceiver  22  may also include a frequency synthesizer, a phase locked loop (PLL), and/or a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). 
         [0006]    The wireless subsystem  12  includes a baseband circuit  32  that may be arranged on a first printed circuit board (PCB)  34 . The baseband circuit  32  includes baseband hardware  36  and a wireless microprocessor (μP)  38 . The baseband circuit  32  communicates with a random access memory (RAM)  40  and a read only memory (ROM)  42 . The ROM  42  stores baseband and other wireless interface software  44  that is used in processing received baseband signals. 
         [0007]    The imaging subsystem  14  includes an imaging circuit  50  that is arranged on a second PCB  52 . The imaging circuit  50  includes imaging hardware  54 , an imaging microprocessor  56 , a RAM  58  and a ROM  60 . The imaging circuit  50  communicates with one or more input/output (I/O) interfaces  62 . The ROM  60  stores imaging software  61  that is used to generate print ready output signals. The I/O interfaces  62  may include a network connection  64 , a USB connection  66 , as shown, or other network and peripheral connections. The imaging circuit  50  is connected to a print mechanism  70 , which includes electrical and mechanical elements of a printer that implement a physical print process. Printing output of the print mechanism is based on the print ready output signals. Widespread use of printers with wireless communication capability has not occurred at least partially due to the cost associated therewith. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    A method for operating a circuit board is provided, where: the circuit board is mounted within a printer; a first system on a first chip and a second system on a second chip are mounted on the circuit board; the first system on the first chip comprises a receiver and a transmitter; and the second system on the second chip comprises a first processing module and a second processing module. The method includes wirelessly receiving a first radio frequency signal at the receiver. A second radio frequency signal is generated based on the first radio frequency signal. The second radio frequency signal is wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter. The transmitter is implemented in the first system on the first chip. A data signal is generated based on the first radio frequency signal via the first processing module. A printing process is implemented based on the data signal via the second processing module. 
         [0009]    In other features, a method of operating an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a first system on a first chip. The first system on the first chip includes a control module. The control module includes a first processing module and a second processing module. The method includes: communicating with a print mechanism via the control module, where a printer includes the control module and the print mechanism; receiving, at the control module, a first radio frequency signal transmitted within the printer and from a wireless transceiver to the first system on the first chip; generating a second radio frequency signal based on the first radio frequency signal; and transmitting, via the control module, the second radio frequency signal from the first system on a chip to the wireless transceiver. The method further includes: receiving the first radio frequency signal from the wireless transceiver at the first processing module; generating a data signal based on the first radio frequency signal; and via the second processing module, controlling the print mechanism to print based on the data signal. 
         [0010]    In other features, a system is provided and includes a first circuit board, a first system on a chip, a wireless transceiver, and a second system on a chip. The first circuit board is configured to be mounted within a printer. The first system on a chip is configured to be mounted on the first circuit board. The wireless transceiver includes a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver is implemented in the first system on a chip. The receiver is configured to (i) wirelessly receive a first radio frequency signal, and (ii) generate a first baseband signal based on the first radio frequency signal. The transmitter is implemented in the first system on a chip. The transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit, based on a second baseband signal, a second radio frequency signal. The second system on a chip is separate from the first system on a chip. The second system on a chip is configured to be mounted on the first circuit board. The second system on a chip includes a first processing module, a processor, and a second processing module. The first processing module is configured to (i) process the first baseband signal and the second baseband signal, and (ii) generate a data signal based on the first baseband signal. The processor is configured to generate the second baseband signal based on the first baseband signal. The second processing module is configured to implement a printing process based the data signal. 
         [0011]    In other features, a first system on a chip is provided and includes a control module configured to: be implemented in a printer; communicate with a print mechanism in the printer; receive a first radio frequency signal transmitted within the printer and from a wireless transceiver to the first system on a chip; and transmit a second radio frequency signal from the first system on a chip to the wireless transceiver. The control module includes a first processing module configured to: receive the first radio frequency signal from the wireless transceiver; generate a first baseband signal based on the first radio frequency signal; based on a second baseband signal, wirelessly transmit the second radio frequency signal using the wireless transceiver; and generate a data signal based on the first baseband signal. The control module further includes a processor and a second processing module. The processor is configured to generate the second baseband signal based on the first baseband signal. The second processing module is configured to print via the print mechanism and based on the data signal. 
         [0012]    A system in a package is provided and includes a printed circuit board, a first system on a chip, and a second system on a chip. The printed circuit board is configured to connect to a second circuit board mounted within a printer. The first system on a chip is configured to mount on the printed circuit board. The first system on a chip includes a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to (i) receive a first radio frequency signal from a low noise amplifier, and (ii) generate a first baseband signal based on the first radio frequency signal. The transmitter is configured to transmit, based on a second baseband signal, a second radio frequency signal to a power amplifier. The receiver, the low noise amplifier, the transmitter, and the power amplifier operate collectively as a wireless transceiver. 
         [0013]    The second system on a chip is separate from the first system on a chip. The second system on a chip is configured to mount on the printed circuit board and includes a baseband processing module and an imaging module. The baseband processing module is configured to (i) process the first baseband signal and the second baseband signal, and (ii) generate a data signal based on the first baseband signal. The imaging module is configured to process the data signal to implement physical printing. 
         [0014]    In other features, a printer is provided and includes a wireless transceiver in communication with a network device. The network device is separate from the printer. The wireless transceiver includes a low noise amplifier configured to receive a first radio frequency signal from the network device. A receiver is configured to (i) receive the first radio frequency signal from the low noise amplifier, and (ii) generate a first baseband signal based on the first radio frequency signal. A transmitter is configured to generate a second radio frequency signal based on a second baseband signal. A power amplifier is configured to transmit the second radio frequency signal to the network device. 
         [0015]    The printer also includes a system in a package. The system in a package includes a printed circuit board, a first system on a chip and a second system on a chip. The first system on a chip is configured to mount on the printed circuit board. The first system on a chip includes the receiver and the transmitter. The second system on a chip separate from the first system on a chip. The second system on a chip is configured to mount on the printed circuit board. The second system on a chip includes a baseband processing module configured to (i) process the first baseband signal and the second baseband signal, and (ii) generate a data signal based on the first baseband signal. The imaging module configured to process the data signal to generate an image signal, wherein physical printing is performed according to the image signal. A print mechanism is configured to (i) receive the image signal, and (ii) perform the physical printing in response to the image signal. 
         [0016]    A method is provided and includes operating a system in a package. The method includes receiving, at a receiver, a first radio frequency signal from a low noise amplifier. A first baseband signal is generated based on the first radio frequency signal. Based on a second baseband signal, a second radio frequency signal is transmitted from a transmitter to a power amplifier. The receiver and the transmitter are implemented in a first system on a chip. The first system on a chip is mounted on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is configured to connect to a second circuit board mounted within a printer. The receiver, the low noise amplifier, the transmitter, and the power amplifier operate collectively as a wireless transceiver. 
         [0017]    The method further includes processing the first baseband signal and the second baseband signal using a baseband processing module. A data signal is generated based on the first baseband signal. The data signal is processed to implement physical printing using an imaging module. The baseband processing module and the imaging module are implemented within a second system on a chip. The second system on a chip is separate from the first system on a chip. The second system on a chip is mounted on the printed circuit board. 
         [0018]    In other features, a wireless printer system is provided and includes a wireless transceiver that generates a baseband signal based on a received radio frequency signal. A first system on a chip communicates with the wireless transceiver. The system on a chip includes a wireless interface module and an imaging module. The wireless interface module processes the baseband signal to generate a print data signal via a wireless interface software. The imaging module processes the print data signal to generate a print image signal via an imaging software. 
         [0019]    In other features, the first system on a chip includes a central processing unit. 
         [0020]    In still other features, the wireless printer system further includes a system in a package that includes the first system on a chip. In other features, the system in a package includes memory that communicates with the wireless interface module and the imaging module. In other features, the memory includes a second system on a chip. In other features, the second system on a chip includes the wireless interface software and the imaging software. In yet other features, the memory includes wireless interface software and imaging software. 
         [0021]    In further features, the system in a package includes a memory integrated circuit that stores wireless interface software and printer imaging software and data. In other features, the system in a package includes at least one component of the wireless transceiver. In other features, the system in a package includes at least one component of the wireless transceiver selected from a receiver, a transmitter, a low noise amplifier, and a power amplifier. In other features, the system in a package includes dice. In other features, the dice include a transceiver die and a memory die. 
         [0022]    In still other features, the first system on a chip includes a network processing module. In other features, the first system on a chip includes at least one peripheral processing module. In other features, the first system on a chip includes at least one input/output (I/ 0 ) processing module. 
         [0023]    In yet other features, a printer is provided that includes the wireless printer system and further includes a print mechanism that prints based on the print image signal. 
         [0024]    In other features, a method of operating a wireless printer system is provided. The method includes generating a baseband signal based on a received radio frequency signal via a wireless transceiver. The wireless transceiver is communicated with via a system on a chip. The baseband signal is processed to generate a print data signal on the system on a chip using a wireless interface software. The print data signal is processed to generate a print image signal on the system on a chip using imaging software. 
         [0025]    In further features, the method includes generating the print data signal and the print image signal via a central processing unit. 
         [0026]    In other features, the method includes communicating with the wireless transceiver via a system in a package that includes the system on a chip. In yet other features, the method includes communicating with the wireless interface module and the imaging module via memory that is included in the system in a package. In other features, the method includes communicating with the wireless interface module and the imaging module via the wireless interface software and the imaging software, which are stored in the memory. 
         [0027]    In still other features, the method includes generating the print data signal and the print image signal via a printer. Printing is based on the print image signal. 
         [0028]    In other features, a wireless printer system is provided that includes wireless transceiving means for generating a baseband signal based on a received radio frequency signal. A first system on a chip for communicating with the wireless transceiving means is included. The first system on a chip includes wireless interface means for processing the baseband signal to generate a print data signal via a wireless interface software. The first system on a chip also includes imaging means for processing the print data signal to generate a print image signal via an imaging software. 
         [0029]    In further features, the first system on a chip includes a central processing unit. 
         [0030]    In other features, the wireless printer system further includes a system in a package that includes the first system on a chip. 
         [0031]    In other features, the system in a package includes storing means for communicating with the wireless interface means and the imaging means. In still other features, the storing means includes a second system on a chip. In other features, the the second system on a chip includes the wireless interface software and the imaging software. In other features, the storing means includes wireless interface software and imaging software. 
         [0032]    In yet other features, the system in a package includes storing means that stores wireless interface software and printer imaging software and data. In other features, the system in a package includes at least one component of the wireless transceiving means. In other features, the system in a package includes at least one component of the wireless transceiving means selected from a receiver, a transmitter, a low noise amplifier, and a power amplifier. In other features, the system in a package includes dice. In other features, the dice include a transceiver die and a memory die. 
         [0033]    In further features, the first system on a chip includes a network processing module. In other features, the first system on a chip includes at least one peripheral processing module. In other features, the first system on a chip includes at least one input/output (I/O) processing module. 
         [0034]    In other features, a printer is provided that includes the wireless printer system and further includes a print means for printing based on the print image signal. 
         [0035]    In still other features, the systems and methods described above are implemented by a computer program executed by one or more processors. The computer program can reside on a computer readable medium such as but not limited to memory, non-volatile data storage and/or other suitable tangible storage mediums. 
         [0036]    Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]    The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0038]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a wireless printer architecture according to the prior art; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram illustrating a wireless printer communication system incorporating a wireless printer architecture according to the present disclosure; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  is functional block diagram illustrating a wireless printer communication system incorporating a wireless printer architecture according to the present disclosure; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of the wireless printer architecture of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of forming a wireless printer architecture according to the present disclosure; and 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  is a data flow diagram illustrating a method of wirelessly communicating with a printer according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements. As used herein, the term module refers to an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical or. It should be understood that steps within a method may be executed in different order without altering the principles of the present disclosure. 
         [0045]    Also, in the following description the term “system on chip (SOC)” refers to an integration of multiple components on a single integrated circuit. A SOC may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and radio frequency functions on a single chip. For example a processor and a memory may be integrated by a SOC. 
         [0046]    As well, in the following description the term “system in a package (SIP)” refers to two or more integrated circuits that are enclosed in a single package or module. An SIP may perform all or most of the functions of an electronic system. An SIP may refer to a combination of one or more wire bonded or flip chip dice with one or more passive components attached to a standard formal microelectronic package. The package forms a functional block or module that may be used as a standard component in board level manufacturing. The integrated circuits or chips may be stacked vertically or placed horizontally alongside one another inside a package. 
         [0047]    The use of an SIP and an SOC tends to reduce circuit board cross-sectional area requirements, system cost and overall power consumption. A SIP provides a small footprint with wirebond assembly technology to allow for interconnects between elements and devices. The wirebonds may be encapsulated in a chip-sized ball-grid array (BGA) package. A BGA refers to integrated circuit packages that have output pins in the form of a solder ball matrix. The traces of a BGA are generally fabricated on laminated substrates (BT-based) or polyimide-based films. 
         [0048]    In the following description the terms “die” and “dice” refer to a rectangular pattern or patterns on a wafer that contains circuitry to perform a specific function. A die is generally encapsulated to form a chip, which may be placed on a module. 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a functional block diagram illustrating a wireless printer communication system  100  is shown. The wireless printer architecture  102  is shown in the form of a printer and thus may be included in a desktop printer, a network printer, a shared printer, etc. The system  100  includes a wireless printer architecture  102  that has a control module  104 , a transceiver  106  and a memory  108 . The control module is shown in the form of an integrated circuit (IC). The control module  104  includes baseband hardware  110  and imaging hardware  112 . The control module  104  is in communication with the transceiver  106  via the baseband hardware  110 . The control module  104  is also in communication with a print mechanism  114  via the imaging hardware  112 . 
         [0050]    In use, the transceiver  106  wirelessly receives radio frequency (RF) print command signals and/or data via an antenna  116  and an antenna interface  118 . The print signals may be received from various locations depending upon the mode of operation. For example, when operating in an infrastructure mode the received signals may be received from the client station  120  or another device associated with a communication network  121  via the access point/router  122 . The access point/router  122  may communicate with the communication network  121  via a modem  123  and a service provider. When operating in an ad hoc mode, the received signals may be received directly from a client station  120 ′. The client stations  120 ,  120 ′ may have central processing units (CPUs). The client station may refer to any print signal transmission device or medium. The client stations  120 ,  120 ′ and the access point/router  122  may be part of a local area network (LAN), a virtual local area network (VLAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN). The transceiver  106  converts the print signals to a baseband format for reception by the control module  104 . The control module  104  controls the operation of the print mechanism  114  based on the baseband signals received. The communication network  121  may be or includes an Internet, an Intranet, or other commercial, instructional or residential communication network. The communication network  121  may, for example, include a wide area network (WAN). Also, and as an example, the stated communication with the printer architecture  102  may be over designated or shared bandwidth. Of course, the communication may include signals other than print command signals and may include transmission to and from the printer architecture  102 . 
         [0051]    The control module  104  may have a micro signal architecture (MSA) to handle complex, real-time media data flow and control-oriented tasks typically handled by reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors. Other types of processors may be used as well. The control module  104  may have both digital signal processor (DSP) features and RISC features and support software that can execute video compression, motion compression, and entropy encoding algorithms used for lossless data compression, such as Huffman coding algorithms. The stated algorithms are used by video and image processing standards, such as MPEG2, MPEG4 and JPEG. The control module  104  may support applications with a convergence of capabilities including multi-format audio, video, voice and image processing, multi-mode baseband and packet processing, and real-time security and control processing. 
         [0052]    The control module  104  may include various processing modules and communication interfaces, as shown. In one sample implementation, the control module  104  includes a main microprocessor  130 , which includes a baseband processing module  132 , an image processing module  134 , a network processing module  136 , a peripheral processing module  138  and an input/output (I/O) protocol processing module  140 . The main processor  130  may be a DSP or a microprocessor. The modules  132 - 140  may be in the form of software or firmware. 
         [0053]    The baseband module  132  contains the logic and/or software for wireless communication. The wireless communication may be based on IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11h, 802.11n, 802.16, and 802.20 or the like. The baseband module  132  may be part of a Bluetooth system and have one or more protocol stacks or software subsystems that manage the flow of data according to a particular protocol, such as transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP). The baseband module  132  may support the various Bluetooth profiles, such as standard parallel port (SPP), hardcopy cable replacement profile (HCRP) and object push profiles (OPP). The wireless communication may be directly between the control module  104  and an upstream device, such as the client station  120 ′. The baseband module  132  manages communication channels and asynchronous and synchronous links. The baseband module  132  also handles packets, paging and inquiries to access any inquire devices in the area. 
         [0054]    The image module  134  contains the logic and/or software associated with the carrying out of various imaging and/or printing tasks. The image module  134  may include programming for image printing, viewing and editing. The image module  134  may also process text and other various printing and imaging formats. The image module  134  may be used for storing, managing or extracting information within a document or an image. 
         [0055]    The network module  136 , the peripheral module  138  and the I/O module  140  include the logic and/or software for wired communication with I/O 1-n  and any external peripherals and networks connected thereto or in communication with the control module  104 . The I/O 1-n  may be connected to a network, such as one above-stated, a universal serial bus (USB), a Firewire, an Ethernet line, a universal synchronous/asynchronous receiver/transmitter (USART), a serial peripheral interface (SPI) or other communication interface. The peripheral module  138  may also contain logic and/or software to handle internal peripherals, such as counters, timers and generators. The I/O 1-n  may be in the form of serial ports or parallel ports. The processing modules  132 - 140  may be separate modules, as shown, or combined into a single module. 
         [0056]    The interfaces include a transceiver interface  150 , which is controlled by the baseband hardware  110 . The interfaces also include a memory interface  152 , I/O interfaces  154  and a print mechanism interface  156 . The interfaces facilitate communication between the control module  104  and the transceiver  106 , the memory  108 , the print mechanism  114  and the I/O 1-n . 
         [0057]    The transceiver  106  and the antenna  116  are used for the reception and transmission of radio frequency (RF) signals to and from the client stations  120 ′. The transceiver  106  includes a receiver  163  and a transmitter  164 . During receiver operation, an input of a low noise amplifier (LNA)  165  receives signals from the antenna  116 , amplifies the signals and outputs them to the receiver  163 . During transmitter operation, an output of the transmitter  164  is received by a power amplifier (PA)  166 , which outputs amplified signals to the antenna  116 . While not shown, the transceiver  106  may also include a processor and other standard elements and components, such as a frequency synthesizer, a phase locked loop (PLL), and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The transceiver  106  may have mixed signal components, analog and digital components, and may have multiple layers that are associated with various protocols for wireless communication. The stated layers may support WiFi and IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11h, 802.11n, 802.16, and 802.20, as well as other communication protocols, connections and standards. 
         [0058]    The memory  108  is used to store programming for the stated modules and communication protocols, as well as to perform the processing tasks associated therewith. The memory  108  may include random access memory (RAM)  170  and read only memory (ROM)  172 , as shown, as well as other known memory types. In one implementation, the RAM  170  is used for imaging hardware functionality and the ROM  172  is used to store baseband software  174  and imaging software  176 . As another example, the RAM  170  may be discrete known good die (KGD) dynamic or static random access memory. 
         [0059]    The baseband hardware  110  may contain logic devices and operates in conjunction with the baseband module  132 . Baseband functions are shared by the baseband hardware  110  and the baseband module  132 . In general, tasks are divided up based on speed, efficiency, and capability. For example and in general, the baseband hardware  110  is quicker at encryption and decryption than the baseband module  132 . As such, the baseband hardware  110  performs the tasks associated with encryption and decryption. 
         [0060]    The imaging hardware  112  may contain logic devices and operates in conjunction with the image module  134 . Image processing functions are shared by the imaging hardware  112  and the image module  134 . 
         [0061]    The print mechanism refers to and may include the mechanical and electrical components that perform the printing function. The print mechanism may include print cartridges, rollers, toners, motors, photoreceptors, fusers, lasers, lamps, scanning units, corona wires, print heads, belts, paper feeders, etc. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a functional block diagram illustrating a wireless printer communication system  100 ′ is shown. The printer system  100 ′ is similar to the printer system  100 . The printer system  100 ′ includes a wireless printer architecture  102 ′ that has a wireless printer SIP  190 , which contains a control module  104 ′, a receiver  163 ′ and a transmitter  164 ′ of a transceiver  106 ′, and a memory  108 ′. The control module  104 ′, the receiver  163 ′ and a transmitter  164 ′, and the memory  108 ′ may have a control die  200 , a transceiver die  202 , and a memory die  204 , respectively. Note that the LNA  165 ′ and the PA  166 ′, although not shown as such, may also be incorporated in the SIP  190  and the transceiver die  202 . The dice  200 ,  202 ,  204  are mounted on a microelectronic package, as opposed to being on a PCB or otherwise arranged. The memory  108 ′ includes one or more RAM  170 ′ and one or more ROM  172 ′, which may be on a single chip. The printer architecture  102 ′ may be a stand-alone circuit or package, as shown, or may be incorporated into or used as part of a larger system. 
         [0063]    Referring now also to  FIG. 4 , a sample side cross-sectional view of the wireless printer architecture  102 ′ is shown. The architecture  102 ′ is shown in the form of a single SIP and includes the dice  200 ,  202 ,  204 , which are mounted on a printed circuit board  210 . The printed circuit board  210  has a rigid laminate  212  that is disposed between a top layer  214  and a bottom layer  216 . The top layer  214  is in communication with the bottom layer  216  through the use of via  218 . The top layer  214  has a first solder mask  220  and the bottom layer  216  has a second solder mask  222 . The dice  200 ,  202 ,  204  are mounted on the top layer  214 . The dice  200 ,  202 ,  204  and any surface mounted devices of the SIP are encased in a molded compound or encasement  224 . Solder balls  226  are connected to the bottom layer  216  for connection to a circuit board (not shown). Although the architecture  102 ′ is shown as having a single die layer and with multiple SICs, an architecture may be formed to include stacked dice or stacked SICs. 
         [0064]    The architectures described above allows for efficient use of processors, memories, and electrical connectors and connections. The architectures minimize idle processor operation time and memory and I/O redundancies. The architectures also allow for increased connectivity rates due to the minimization of the number of components, the elimination of communications between multiple processors and the close proximity of the components used. The architectures also minimize PCB surface area and system complexity. 
         [0065]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a process flow diagram illustrating a method of forming a wireless imaging communication architecture is shown. The method describes the formation of a single SIP architecture. 
         [0066]    In step  250 , screen paste is applied to a printed circuit board (PCB), such as the PCB  210 . The screen paste may be applied using a mesh screen stencil printing or a metal stencil printing process. In step  252 , surface mount devices (SMDs) are directly mounted on the surface of the PCB. In step  254 , the dice  200 ,  202 ,  204  are attached to the PCB. The dice  200 ,  202 ,  204  may be bonded or glued onto the PCB. 
         [0067]    In step  256 , a wire bonding process is performed to allow for connection to the dice  200 ,  202 ,  204  and other elements of the SIP. Wire may be attached using some combination of heat, pressure, and ultrasonic energy to make a weld. 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a data flow diagram illustrating a method of wirelessly communicating with a printing device is shown. The method, although primarily described with respect to printing, may be easily modified for other imaging tasks. 
         [0069]    In step  300 , a transceiver, such as one of the transceivers  106 ,  106 ′, receives an RF print command signal. The print command signal may be from any print requesting device, such as a computer, a cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), etc. 
         [0070]    In step  302 , the RF signal is amplified. In step  304 , the amplified RF signal is converted into a baseband signal. In step  306 , a wireless transceiver interface, such as one of the transceiver interfaces  150 ,  150 ′, receives the baseband signal. In step  308 , a wireless communication module or baseband processing module, such as the baseband module  132 , processes the baseband signal to generate a print data signal. 
         [0071]    In step  310 , an imaging module, such as the image module  134 , processes the print data signal to generate a print ready image signal. The image processing module performs the appropriate compressing, decompressing, editing, converting, tracking, stabilizing and other image processing tasks to generate the print ready image signal. 
         [0072]    In step  312 , a print mechanism, such as the print mechanism  114 , prints based on the print ready image signal. 
         [0073]    Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification and the following claims.