Apparatus and method for recovery of wasted power from differential drivers
US8035359B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 19, 2007 |
| Grant date | Oct 11, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03F2203/45696
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for supplying power to circuits of an integrated circuit (IC) from the wasted power in low-swing high-speed differential line drivers used in the IC, is disclosed. In a high speed line driver the load resistors of the driver are connected to a power supply, either the local power supply or the receiver power supply. DC power for the driver is supplied through these resistors. A large portion of this power, supplied from the power supply is wasted in the DC set-up circuit of the differential line driver. It is proposed to use this wasted power to power selected circuits of an IC. The use of this wasted power from the drivers for powering the circuits reduces the overall power dissipation of the system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.