JPH0738476A - Electronic circuit module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an electronic circuit module in which the number of physical signal lines and terminals is remarkably reduced and remarkable miniaturization is attained. CONSTITUTION:When a signal is given from an electronic circuit module (microprocessor 1) to other electronic circuit module (peripheral element 2A), a MODEM circuit 13 modulates a signal to be sent outputted from a main circuit 11 of a sender side electronic circuit module 1 and a distribution mixer circuit 12 superimposes the signal onto a signal of a power supply line 3. A distribution mixer circuit 22 of a receiver side electronic circuit module 2A separates a signal superimposed on the signal from the power supply line 3 and a MODEM circuit 23 demodulates the separated signal and gives the demodulated signal to a main circuit 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic circuit module such as a single semiconductor chip such as a microprocessor or a peripheral element or an electronic circuit board on which a plurality of elements are mounted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows a conventional wiring of an electronic circuit including a microprocessor 5 and peripheral elements 6A, 6B, ..., Each chip being commonly connected to a power supply line 7. Necessary signals can be exchanged between the chips by the individual signal lines 8.
It should be noted that not only a single semiconductor element but also an electronic circuit board on which a plurality of elements are mounted is connected to each other in the same form as described above.

As described above, it is common knowledge that conventional power supply lines and signal lines are separately provided in electronic circuit modules such as semiconductor chips and electronic circuit boards, and no doubt has been given.

[0004]

By the way, due to recent advances in semiconductor technology, it has become possible to manufacture highly functional semiconductor chips in an extremely small size. On the other hand, however, due to the increase in the number of signals, the size of parts is reduced. The space for occupied signal lines and their terminals is becoming non-negligible. This is also the case with electronic circuit boards and other electronic circuit modules, and as the device becomes more multifunctional, it becomes a serious problem, which is a major factor that hinders miniaturization.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the number of physical signal lines and terminals to a large extent, and to achieve an electronic circuit with a large size reduction. To provide a module.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention separates a pure power source and a superimposed signal from an external power source line in an electronic circuit module such as a semiconductor chip or an electronic circuit board. At the same time, the distribution / mixing circuit that superimposes the modulated signal to be transmitted to the other electronic circuit module on the power supply line and the signal that has been superimposed on the power supply line from the distribution / mixing circuit are demodulated and demodulated by the electronic circuit module. A modulation / demodulation circuit is provided which receives a signal to be transmitted to another electronic circuit module from the main circuit and modulates the signal to be supplied to the main circuit and applies the signal to the distribution / mixing circuit.

[0007]

According to the electronic circuit module of the present invention, when a signal is given from one electronic circuit module to another electronic circuit module, the signal to be transmitted output from the main circuit of the electronic circuit module on the transmitting side is transmitted. The modulation / demodulation circuit performs modulation, and the distribution / mixing circuit superimposes this on the power supply line. In the electronic circuit module on the receiving side, the distribution / mixing circuit separates the signal superimposed from the power supply line, and the modulation / demodulation circuit demodulates the separated signal and gives it to the main circuit.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic circuit module of the present invention, which is an example in which a semiconductor chip such as a microprocessor and peripheral elements is assumed as the electronic circuit module.

In FIG. 1, a microprocessor 1, peripheral elements 2A, 2B, ... Are connected to a common power supply line 3, and main circuits 11 and 21 for realizing the original functions of the chip, respectively. , Distribution / mixing circuits 12 and 22 for superimposing signals on the power supply line 3 and separating signals from the power supply line 3, and distribution / mixing circuits 12 and 22 for modulating signals given from the main circuits 11 and 21. And the modulation / demodulation circuits 13 and 23 for demodulating the signals separated from the distribution / mixing circuits 12 and 22 and supplying the demodulated signals to the main circuits 11 and 21.

Now, for example, the operation of transmitting a signal from the microprocessor 1 to the peripheral element 2A is as follows.

The main circuit 11 of the microprocessor 1 gives a signal (data) including information such as a signal type, a transmission source, a transmission destination, contents, etc. to the modulation / demodulation circuit 13 for a signal to be transmitted.

The modulation / demodulation circuit 13 modulates a predetermined carrier signal with the signal supplied from the main circuit 11 and supplies it to the distribution / mixing circuit 12.

The distribution / mixing circuit 12 superimposes the signal (the signal already modulated) supplied from the modulation / demodulation circuit 13 on the power supply voltage and sends it to the power supply line 3.

In the peripheral element 2A, the distribution / mixing circuit 2
Reference numeral 2 separates the modulated signal superimposed on the power supply voltage of the power supply line 3 and supplies it to the modulation / demodulation circuit 23.

The modulation / demodulation circuit 23 demodulates the signal given from the distribution / mixing circuit 22 and gives it to the main circuit 21.

When the information of the transmission destination included in the signal given from the modulation / demodulation circuit 23 indicates itself, or when the signal type is specific, the main circuit 21 takes in the signal, the type of the signal, etc. Appropriate processing is performed according to. In addition, the function to identify the information of the destination and the signal type,
The modulation / demodulation circuit 23 (13 is also the same) may be provided.

In the present invention, since signals are transmitted by so-called power line carrier communication, the transmission speed is reduced as compared with the case of using physical wiring. Therefore, a dedicated signal line is provided as usual for signals requiring ultra high speed. However, many of the signals exchanged in the electronic circuit do not require high speed, so that a considerable number of signals can be superimposed on the power supply line 4 to be transmitted and received by the present invention.

Further, in the case of carrying out the present invention in a general purpose, it is necessary to unify the communication protocol including the carrier frequency and the bit rate, and construct the product lineup in accordance with the standard.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, which is an example in which an electronic circuit board is assumed as the electronic circuit module.

Each of the electronic circuit boards 4A, 4B, 4C, ... Has a main circuit 41, a distribution / mixing circuit 42, and a modulation / demodulation circuit 43. Note that these operations are shown in FIG.
The description is omitted because it is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0022]

As described above, in the electronic circuit module of the present invention, the electronic circuit module is superposed on the power supply line, except for those which must use a dedicated signal line for ultra-high speed signal transmission. Since signals can be transmitted and received by using the same, even if the number of types of signals to be handled increases, there is no need for physical terminals or wiring for them, and it is possible to achieve a significant reduction in size.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic circuit module of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the electronic circuit module of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a state of connection between conventional semiconductor chips.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ……………… Microprocessor 11 ………… Main circuit 12 ………… Distribution / mixing circuit 13 ………… Modulation / demodulation circuit 2A, 2B… Peripheral element 21 ………… Main circuit 22 ………… Distribution・ Mixing circuit 23 ………… Modulation / demodulation circuit 3 ……………… Power line 4A to 4C… Electronic circuit board 41 ………… Main circuit 42 ………… Distribution / mixing circuit 43 ………… Modulation / demodulation circuit 5 ... ………… Microprocessor 6A, 6B… Peripheral elements 7 …………… Power line 8 ……………… Signal line

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an electronic circuit module such as a semiconductor chip or an electronic circuit board, a modulated signal to be transmitted to another electronic circuit module while separating a pure power source and a superimposed signal from an external power source line. Should be transmitted to other electronic circuit modules as well as the distribution / mixing circuit that superimposes the power line on the power supply line and the signal that has been superimposed on the power supply line from the distribution / mixing circuit to demodulate and apply to the main circuit of the electronic circuit module. An electronic circuit module, comprising: a modulation / demodulation circuit that receives a signal from a main circuit, modulates the signal, and supplies the modulated signal to a distribution / mixing circuit.