Method and apparatus for providing bimodal voltage references for differential signaling
US6449669B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/26
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
According to the invention, systems, apparatus and methods are disclosed for providing bimodal voltage references for use in differential signaling between components or devices. In an embodiment, a switchable power supply is used to produce at least one of two or more supply voltages based on the value of a selection signal received by the switchable power supply. This selection signal is also used by at least one of the elements to switch between a reference voltage produced by another device and a reference voltage derived from the supply voltage. In certain embodiments, the reference voltage derived from the power supply and the selection via a multiplexing circuit is contained within one of the devices (e.g., a chip), which provides certain design and cost advantages.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.