Communication between chips having different voltage levels
US5534812A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 9, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L25/0278
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention includes an output circuit for a driver on a first chip that will cause an unterminated transmission line to create a predetermined voltage reflection. This reflection will then be added to the output of the driver circuit to obtain a voltage level capable of switching the receiver circuit, located on a second chip. Further, the impedance of the driver can be varied to adjust the voltage level of the signal being transmitted to the receiver, in order to reduce noise margins and cause the receiver to switch more quickly. Additionally, the transmission line impedance can also be modified to create overshoot, thereby allowing chips with dissimilar voltage levels to communicate with one another.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.