Hybrid output driver for high-speed communications interfaces
US7817727B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A driver circuit that consumes less current than other driver circuits combines a current-mode driver circuit with a voltage-mode driver circuit to provide impedance matching and signal equalization operations. In at least one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes a differential node and a driver circuit configured to generate a signal on the differential node. The driver circuit includes a first circuit portion configured to generate a first signal on the differential node based, at least in part, on a data signal. The first signal has a voltage swing based, at least in part, on a voltage on a power supply node. The driver circuit includes at least a second circuit portion configured to generate a current through the differential node based, at least in part, on a first bit-time of the data signal and an equalization operation, thereby adjusting the voltage swing of the signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.