Patent · US Expired

Differential input buffers with elevated power supplies

US7046037B1 · kind B1 · utility

2Cited by
17References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 15, 2005
Grant dateMay 16, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 15, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L25/0272
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Input buffer circuitry for handling high-speed differential input signals on an integrated circuit is provided. The input buffer circuitry may use two parallel differential input buffers with overlapping input-voltage ranges. Logic on the integrated circuit may be powered at a core-logic power supply voltage. Input-output circuitry on the integrated circuit may be powered at an input-output voltage level. To improve the performance of the input buffers in the overlap range, at least one the input buffers can be powered using a total power supply voltage drop that exceeds the core-logic power supply level. One of the input buffers may be configured to handle lower-voltage input signals. This input buffer may be powered using the input-output power supply level.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.