A SCALABLE COMPUTER SYSTEM HAVING SURFACE-MOUNTED CAPACITIVE COUPLERS FOR INTERCOMMUNICATION

• Main Authors: RUBIN BARRY J, WILCKE WINFRIED W, GARNER ROBERT B, KAHN HOWARD
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.05.2008
• Edition: 7

A SCALABLE COMPUTER SYSTEM HAVING SURFACE-MOUNTED CAPACITIVE COUPLERS FOR INTERCOMMUNICATION A scalable and compact computer system of three-dimensional subsystems (20- 23) each having capacitive couplers (25) of its external surfaces for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to and from adjacent subsystems (20-23). Each surface having an electrically non-conducting substrate, one or more electrically conducting pads on the substrate, and electrical leads for coupling the pads to the subsystem's circuits. Two adjacent pads, each from a different subsystem (20-23), form a capacitive coupler (35) to carry signals between the subsystems (20-23). The pads are covered by a low-loss dielectric material having a large dielectric constant for improved signal transmission. A differential signal may be supported using two capacitive couplers (25) to respectively carry the positive and negative signals of the differential signal. The sub-systems (20-23) might be replaced or left in place when they failed. Additional subsystems (20-23) might be added to the system to expand its capacity.