TW202024934A - Electronic device and signal transmission method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A electronic device and a signal transmission method thereof. The electronic device includes a board, a connection interface circuit and a chip module. The connection interface circuit and the chip module are deposed on the board. The connection interface circuit includes a plurality of connection pins. The chip module is connected to the connection interface circuit through the connection pins. The chip module includes a storage circuit module and a wireless communication circuit module. A plurality of first-type pins among the connection pins are configured to transmit first-type signal related to a data storage function between the storage circuit module and the connection interface circuit. A plurality of second-type pins among the connection pins are configured to transmit second-type signal related to a wireless communication function between the wireless communication circuit module and the connection interface circuit.

Description

Electronic device and its signal transmission method

The invention relates to an electronic device and its signal transmission method.

Generally speaking, if the electronic device needs to support both data storage and wireless communication functions, at least two connection interface circuits (or slots) need to be provided inside the electronic device to connect the storage circuit module and the wireless communication circuit module respectively. Among them, one connection interface circuit needs to comply with the connection interface specifications of the storage circuit module, and the other connection interface circuit needs to comply with the connection interface specifications of the wireless communication circuit module. However, as the volume of the electronic device becomes smaller and smaller, how to use the internal space of the electronic device more effectively is one of the subjects that those skilled in the art are committed to.

The invention provides an electronic device and a signal transmission method thereof, which can make the storage circuit module and the wireless communication circuit module in a chip module share the same connection interface circuit, thereby more effectively using the internal space of the electronic device.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device including a circuit board, a connection interface circuit and a chip module. The connection interface circuit is disposed on the circuit board and includes a plurality of connection pins. The chip module is disposed on the circuit board and connected to the connection interface circuit through the connection pins. The chip module includes a storage circuit module and a wireless communication circuit module. The storage circuit module provides a data storage function, and the wireless communication circuit module provides a wireless communication function. The plurality of first-type pins of the connection pins are used for transmitting the first-type signals related to the data storage function between the storage circuit module and the connection interface circuit. The plurality of second-type pins of the connection pins are used for transmitting the second-type signals related to the wireless communication function between the wireless communication circuit module and the connection interface circuit.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a signal transmission method used in a circuit board. The circuit board is provided with a connection interface circuit and a chip module. The connection interface circuit includes a plurality of connection pins. The chip module is connected to the connection interface circuit through the connection pins. The signal transmission method includes: providing a data storage function by a storage circuit module in the chip module; providing a wireless communication function by a wireless communication circuit module in the chip module; A plurality of first-type pins transmit first-type signals related to the data storage function between the storage circuit module and the connection interface circuit; and through a plurality of second-type pins of the connection pins The pins transmit the second-type signal related to the wireless communication function between the wireless communication circuit module and the connection interface circuit.

Based on the above, after the chip module including the storage circuit module and the wireless communication circuit module is installed on the circuit board, the chip module can be connected to the connection interface circuit on the circuit board through the connection pins. Thereafter, the first type of signal related to the data storage function provided by the storage circuit module can be transmitted between the storage circuit module and the connection interface circuit through the first type of the connection pins, and is connected to the wireless communication circuit The second type of signal related to the wireless communication function provided by the module can be transmitted between the wireless communication circuit module and the connection interface circuit through the second type of the connection pins, thereby more effectively using the internal space of the electronic device .

In order to make the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, the following specific embodiments are described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to FIG. 1, the electronic device includes a circuit board 10, a connection interface circuit 11 and a chip module 12. The electronic device can be any electronic device that supports wireless communication functions, data storage functions, and data processing functions, such as a notebook computer and a desktop computer. The circuit board 10 is arranged in the electronic device. For example, the circuit board 10 may be the main board of the electronic device. The connection interface circuit 11 and the chip module 12 are arranged on the circuit board 10. In addition, other types of circuits or chips, such as a central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), etc., can also be provided on the circuit board 10, and the present invention is not limited.

The connection interface circuit 11 includes a plurality of connection pins 13. The chip module 12 can be connected to the connection interface circuit 11 via the connection pins 13. For example, the chip module 12 may have a plurality of corresponding pins to be electrically connected to the connection pins 13. Through the connection interface circuit 11, the chip module 12 can communicate with other circuits and/or chips on the circuit board 10.

The chip module 12 includes a storage circuit module 121 and a wireless communication circuit module 122. The storage circuit module 121 is used for providing data storage function. For example, the storage circuit module 121 may include a solid state drive (SSD) module to provide a non-volatile data storage function. The wireless communication circuit module 122 is used to provide wireless communication functions. For example, the wireless communication circuit module 122 may include WiFi and bluetooth modules to provide wireless local area network connection and short-range wireless communication functions.

The connecting pins 13 include a plurality of first-type pins, a plurality of second-type pins, at least one third-type pin, and at least one fourth-type pin. The first-type pins are used to transmit the first-type signals S1 related to the data storage function between the storage circuit module 121 and the connection interface circuit 11. For example, the first type signal S1 may include a signal (such as a data signal) for communicating with the central processing unit (or memory controller) during the operation of the storage circuit module 121. In addition, the first-type signal S1 may also include clock signals that may be used during the operation of the storage circuit module 121 and so on.

The second-type pins are used to transmit a second-type signal S2 related to the wireless communication function between the wireless communication circuit module 122 and the connection interface circuit 11. For example, the second type signal S2 may include a signal wirelessly received from an external device during the operation of the wireless communication circuit module 122 or a signal to be wirelessly transmitted to an external device. In addition, the second type signal S2 may also include a clock signal that may be used during the operation of the wireless communication circuit module 122 and so on.

The third type of pins is used to provide the power signal PWR to the storage circuit module 121 and the wireless communication circuit module 122. The fourth type of pins is used to provide a reference ground signal GND to the storage circuit module 121 and the wireless communication circuit module 122.

In other words, during the operation of the storage circuit module 121 and the wireless communication circuit module 122, the storage circuit module 121 and the wireless communication circuit module 122 can share the power signal PWR provided by the third type of pins and the fourth type of connection. The reference ground signal GND provided by the pin. However, the first-type signal S1 related to the data storage function provided by the storage circuit module 121 is transmitted through the first-type pin, and the second-type signal related to the wireless communication function provided by the wireless communication circuit module 122 is Pass through the second type of pin.

From another point of view, the first type of pins are configured for the storage circuit module 121, the second type of pins are configured for the wireless communication circuit module 122, and the third type of pins is the same as the fourth type. The pins can be allocated to the storage circuit module 121 and the wireless communication circuit module 122 for common use.

Table 1 below is a new pin definition of the connection pin 13 proposed according to an embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that Table 1 uses the connection interface circuit 11 conforming to the M.2 connection interface standard as an example, and the connection pin 13 is an M-Key type of M.2. Table 1

Referring to Table 1, in one embodiment, the numbers are 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 25, 29, 31, 35, 37, 38, 41, 43, 47, 49, 50, 52, The pins of 53, 55, 68, 69 can be the first type of pins; the numbers are 6, 8, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 42, 44, 46, The pins of 48, 54, 56 can be the second type of pins; the pins numbered 2, 4, 12, 14, 16, 18, 70, 72, 74 can be the third type of pins; and the number is 1 The pins of, 3, 9, 15, 21, 27, 33, 39, 45, 51, 57, 71, 73, 75 can be the fourth type of pins.

However, the above Table 1 is only an example. In other embodiments, the specifications of the connection interface circuit 11, the definition of at least one pin of the connection pin 13, and the total number of pins of the connection pin 13 can be adjusted according to practical requirements. No restrictions.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a chip module according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to FIG. 2, in an embodiment, the chip module 12 may include a switch circuit 21, a WiFi circuit 22 and a Bluetooth circuit 23. The WiFi circuit 22 is used to provide a WiFi communication function. The Bluetooth circuit 23 is used to provide a Bluetooth communication function. Both the WiFi circuit 22 and the Bluetooth circuit 23 are connected to the switch circuit 21 to transmit the second type signal S2 through the switch circuit 21. In this embodiment, the switch circuit 21 can turn on one of the WiFi circuit 22 and the Bluetooth circuit 23 according to a selection signal (not shown) to transmit the second type signal S2. For example, when the WiFi circuit 22 is turned on, the WiFi circuit 22 can transmit the second type signal S2 related to WiFi communication via the switch circuit 21, and the Bluetooth circuit 23 cannot transmit the second type signal S2 at this time. When the Bluetooth circuit 23 is turned on, the Bluetooth circuit 23 can transmit the second type signal S2 related to the Bluetooth communication through the switch circuit 21, and the WiFi circuit 22 cannot transmit the second type signal S2 at this time.

It should be noted that in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the WiFi circuit 22 and the Bluetooth circuit 23 can be switched by the switch circuit 21 to transmit the second type signal S2. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the storage circuit module 121 and the wireless communication circuit module 122 do not need to be switched by a specific switch circuit. That is, the storage circuit module 121 and the wireless communication circuit module 122 can operate simultaneously to respectively transmit the first type signal S1 and the second type signal S2.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, if only the storage circuit module 121 is enabled or activated, the enabled or activated storage circuit module 121 can operate independently, and is not affected by the wireless that is not enabled or activated. The communication circuit module 122 affects. Alternatively, if only the wireless communication circuit module 122 is enabled or activated, the wireless communication circuit module 122 can operate independently and is not affected by the storage circuit module 121 that is not enabled or activated.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a signal transmission method according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3, in step S301, the storage circuit module in the chip module is enabled or activated, and the storage circuit module provides a data storage function. In step S302, the wireless communication circuit module in the chip module is enabled or activated, and the wireless communication circuit module provides the wireless communication function. In step S303, the first-type signals related to the data storage function are transmitted between the storage circuit module and the connection interface circuit through a plurality of first-type pins. In step S304, a second-type signal related to the wireless communication function is transmitted between the wireless communication circuit module and the connection interface circuit through a plurality of second-type pins.

It should be noted that in another embodiment of FIG. 3, step S302 may be performed first and then step S301, and/or step S304 may be performed first and then step S303 may be performed. Alternatively, when the storage circuit module is not enabled or not activated, only steps S302 and S304 may be executed. Alternatively, when the wireless communication circuit module is not enabled or activated, only steps S301 and S303 may be executed.

However, each step in FIG. 3 has been described in detail as above, and will not be repeated here. It should be noted that each step in FIG. 3 can be implemented as a plurality of program codes or circuits, and the present invention is not limited. In addition, the method in FIG. 3 can be used in conjunction with the above exemplary embodiments, or can be used alone, and the present invention is not limited.

In summary, after the chip module including the storage circuit module and the wireless communication circuit module is installed on the circuit board, the chip module can be connected to the connection interface circuit on the circuit board through the connection pins of the connection interface circuit. Thereafter, the first type of signal related to the data storage function provided by the storage circuit module can be transmitted between the storage circuit module and the connection interface circuit through the first type of the connection pins, and is connected to the wireless communication circuit The second type of signal related to the wireless communication function provided by the module can be transmitted between the wireless communication circuit module and the connection interface circuit through the second type of the connection pins. By integrating the storage circuit module and the wireless communication circuit module into the same chip module and using a single connection interface circuit to connect, the internal space of the electronic device can be more effectively used. In addition, in another embodiment, other types of circuit modules can also be integrated into the same chip module, and are not limited to the aforementioned storage circuit module and wireless communication circuit module.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be subject to those defined by the attached patent scope.

10: Circuit board 11: Connection interface circuit 12: Chip module 13: Connection pin 121: Storage circuit module 122: Wireless communication circuit module 21: Switch circuit 22: WiFi circuit 23: Bluetooth circuit S301~S304: Steps

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a chip module according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a signal transmission method according to an embodiment of the invention.

S301~S304: steps

Claims (10)

An electronic device includes: a circuit board; a connection interface circuit arranged on the circuit board and comprising a plurality of connection pins; and a chip module arranged on the circuit board and connected to the circuit board via the plurality of connection pins Connection interface circuit, wherein the chip module includes a storage circuit module and a wireless communication circuit module, the storage circuit module provides a data storage function, and the wireless communication circuit module provides a wireless communication function, wherein the multiple The plurality of first-type pins among the connecting pins are used to transmit a first-type signal related to the data storage function between the storage circuit module and the connection interface circuit, and among the plurality of connecting pins The second type pins are used for transmitting a second type signal related to the wireless communication function between the wireless communication circuit module and the connection interface circuit. According to the electronic device described in claim 1, wherein the storage circuit module includes a solid state drive module, and the wireless communication circuit module includes a WiFi and Bluetooth module. According to the electronic device described in claim 1, wherein at least one third type of the plurality of connection pins is used to provide a power signal to the storage circuit module and the wireless communication circuit module. According to the electronic device described in claim 1, wherein at least one fourth-type pin among the plurality of connection pins is used to provide a reference ground signal to the storage circuit module and the wireless communication circuit module. As for the electronic device described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, the connection interface circuit complies with the M.2 connection interface standard. A signal transmission method is used for a circuit board. The circuit board is provided with a connection interface circuit and a chip module. The connection interface circuit includes a plurality of connection pins. The chip module is connected to the chip module via the plurality of connection pins. Connecting the interface circuit, the signal transmission method includes: providing a data storage function by a storage circuit module in the chip module; providing a wireless communication function by a wireless communication circuit module in the chip module; A plurality of first-type pins among the connecting pins transmit a first-type signal related to the data storage function between the storage circuit module and the connection interface circuit; and through the plurality of connecting pins A plurality of second-type pins transmit a second-type signal related to the wireless communication function between the wireless communication circuit module and the connection interface circuit. According to the signal transmission method described in item 6 of the scope of patent application, the storage circuit module includes a solid state hard disk module, and the wireless communication circuit module includes a WiFi and Bluetooth module. For example, the signal transmission method described in claim 6 further includes: providing a power signal to the storage circuit module and the wireless communication circuit module through at least one third-type pin among the plurality of pins. For example, the signal transmission method described in claim 6 further includes: providing a reference ground signal to the storage circuit module and the wireless communication circuit module through at least one fourth type of the plurality of pins . As for the signal transmission method described in item 6 of the scope of patent application, the connection interface circuit complies with the M.2 connection interface standard.

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