Efficient link architecture for on-chip serial links and networks
 
Efficient link architecture for on-chip serial links and networks 
 
Jayaprakash Balachandran, Jayaprakash Balachandran, Maarten Kuijk, Maarten Kuijk, G. Carchon, G. Carchon, B. Nauwelaers, B. Nauwelaers, Eric Beyne, Eric Beyne
 
Abstract 

Serial links are an effective solution to address the growing on-chip communication bottlenecks in nano-CMOS technologies. This paper proposes efficient link architecture for on-chip serial links and networks. The proposed solution consists of a pre-emphasized differential driver and receiver interconnected by LC transmission lines. The LC transmission lines are implemented in packaging layers post processed directly above a standard CMOS wafer. The link enables simple register-to-register style data transfer, well suited for on-chip IO. The proposed scheme can offer data rates as high as 12.5 Gbps per channel for less than 0.5pJ of energy per bit on the 0.13 micron technology