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US-20260128527-A1 - Helical Antenna As Coupler For Dielectric Waveguide For High Data Rate Communications

US20260128527A1US 20260128527 A1US20260128527 A1US 20260128527A1US-20260128527-A1

Abstract

Techniques pertaining to designs of a helical antenna as a coupler for dielectric waveguides for high data rate communications are described. A coupler to a waveguide cable is configured to allow the waveguide cable to connect to an integrated circuit (IC) chip in a direction normal to the IC chip. The coupler includes a helical antenna which includes a core, a helical structure in the core, and a cladding surrounding the core.

Inventors

  • Sang-June Park
  • Gurkaranjot Singh Kalra
  • Saeed Farsi
  • Hsin-Hung Chen

Assignees

  • MEDIATEK INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20250423

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A device, comprising: a coupler to a waveguide cable, the coupler configured to allow the waveguide cable to connect to an integrated circuit (IC) chip in a direction normal to the IC chip, the coupler comprising a helical antenna.
  2. 2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the helical antenna comprises: a core; a helical structure in the core; and a cladding surrounding the core.
  3. 3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the helical structure comprises a conductor wound into a helical shape as a three-dimensional radiating structure with one end connected to a high-frequency connector or a printed circuit board (PCB) and configured to produce generally circular polarized waves.
  4. 4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the helical structure comprises circular windings.
  5. 5 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the helical structure comprises polygon-shaped windings.
  6. 6 . The device of claim 3 , wherein a core diameter of the helical structure increases with every helical turn as viewed from one distal end of the helical structure to an opposite distal end of the helical structure.
  7. 7 . The device of claim 3 , wherein a core diameter of the helical structure decreases with every helical turn as viewed from one distal end of the helical structure to an opposite distal end of the helical structure.
  8. 8 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the core comprises a polyethylene material.
  9. 9 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the cladding comprises a foam.
  10. 10 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the helical structure is embedded in the core.
  11. 11 . The device of claim 2 , wherein a hollow is carved out of the core, and wherein the helical structure is received in the hollow.
  12. 12 . An apparatus, comprising: a waveguide cable; and a coupler to the waveguide cable, the coupler configured to allow the waveguide cable to connect to an integrated circuit (IC) chip in a direction normal to the IC chip, the coupler comprising a helical antenna.
  13. 13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the helical antenna comprises: a core; a helical structure in the core; and a cladding surrounding the core.
  14. 14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the helical structure comprises a conductor wound into a helical shape as a three-dimensional radiating structure with one end connected to a high-frequency connector or a printed circuit board (PCB) and configured to produce generally circular polarized waves.
  15. 15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the helical structure comprises circular windings or polygon-shaped windings.
  16. 16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a core diameter of the helical structure increases or decreases with every helical turn as viewed from one distal end of the helical structure to an opposite distal end of the helical structure.
  17. 17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the core comprises a polyethylene material.
  18. 18 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the cladding comprises a foam.
  19. 19 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the helical structure is embedded in the core.
  20. 20 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a hollow is carved out of the core, and wherein the helical structure is received in the hollow.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION(S) The present disclosure is part of a non-provisional application claiming the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/714,948, filed 1 Nov. 2024, the content of which herein being incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure is generally related to wireline communications and, more particularly, to designs of a helical antenna as a coupler for dielectric waveguides for high data rate communications. BACKGROUND Unless otherwise indicated herein, approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims listed below and are not admitted as prior art by inclusion in this section. A waveguide is typically a metal tube or dielectric cable that transmits electromagnetic energy from one place to another. A waveguide with a circular cross section is called a circular waveguide, and a transverse electric (TE) mode TE11 is the dominant mode of operation in a circular waveguide. The mode index “11” represents the field variation along the radial and axial directions, and a signal transmitted in TE11 mode tends to be transmitted with a minimum degradation. A cut-off frequency of a circular waveguide is inversely proportional to a core radius of the circular waveguide. Circular waveguides are relatively easier to manufacture and install than rectangular waveguides. Radio frequency (RF) circular waveguide are researched to support next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and autonomous vehicles. The conventional method to launch a signal into circular dielectric waveguide cables typically involves using a Vivaldi antenna with a tapered slot structure. The Vivaldi antenna can provide broadband characteristics, hence it is generally suitable to support a wide bandwidth. However, one drawback of the Vivaldi antenna is that it can only produce radiation in the end-fire direction, thus limiting its scope of applications. Another drawback of the Vivaldi antenna is the complexity in assembling a Vivaldi printed circuit board (PCB) antenna to a waveguide. Conventional chip-to-chip communication in data centers and automotive applications generally use electrical and optical channels. The electrical channel tends to have a large roll-off in the insertion loss over bandwidth, thus requiring power-hungry equalization. The optical channel, in contrast, has a very small roll-off but is an expensive solution, since it requires an electrical-to-optical conversion. In contrast, the dielectric waveguide (DWG) cables offer performance advantage over electrical links and cost advantage over optical links for a medium range of 1 - 10 meters of distance. Compared to copper, the DWG losses are lower and the bandwidth achievable is higher. Moreover, compared to optical links, DWGs tend to be cheaper and more mechanically robust. One use-case of DWG cables is the connection between a graphics processing unit (GPU) inside a server and a switch integrated circuit (IC) inside an ethernet switch in data centers. This type of applications typically require a coupler that couples a signal normal to the switch IC (e.g., normal or perpendicular to a connection surface of the switch IC) to allow a circular DWG cable to connect to a chip in the normal direction. However, the conventional solution based on Vivaldi antenna as a coupler for circular DWG can only end-fire the signal and thus is not a feasible solution for data centers and automotive applications. Therefore, there is a need for a solution of designs of a helical antenna as a coupler for dielectric waveguides for high data rate communications. SUMMARY The following summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. That is, the following summary is provided to introduce concepts, highlights, benefits and advantages of the novel and non-obvious techniques described herein. Select implementations are further described below in the detailed description. Thus, the following summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. An objective of the present disclosure is to propose solutions or schemes that address the issue(s) described herein. More specifically, various schemes proposed in the present disclosure pertain to designs of a helical antenna as a coupler for dielectric waveguides for high data rate communications. It is believed that implementations of the various proposed schemes may address or otherwise alleviate the aforementioned issue(s). In one aspect, a device may include a coupler to a waveguide cable. The coupler may be configured to allow the waveguide cable to connect to an IC chip in a direction normal to the IC chip. The coupler may include a helical antenna. In another aspect, an apparatus may include a waveguide cable and a coupler to the waveguide cable. The coupler may be configured to allow the waveguide ca