Conductive DC biasing for capacitively coupled on-chip drivers
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit containing a communication channel, wherein the communication channel comprises:
- a transmit circuit configured to transmit signals;
a link coupled to an output of the transmit circuit;
a receive circuit coupled to the link, wherein the transmit circuit is capacitively coupled to the receive circuit via the link; and
a clamping circuit coupled to the link, wherein the clamping circuit is configured to compensate for leakage current on the link by maintaining a voltage on the link corresponding to a logical “
1”
or a logical “
0”
, and wherein the voltage is based on a history of the transmitted signals.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit containing a communication channel is described. This communication channel includes: a transmit circuit configured to transmit signals; a link coupled to an output of the transmit circuit; a receive circuit coupled to the link; and a clamping circuit coupled to the link. Note that the transmit circuit is capacitively coupled to the receive circuit via the link. Furthermore, the clamping circuit is configured to compensate for leakage current on the link by maintaining a voltage on the link corresponding to a logical “1” or a logical “0.” This voltage is based on a history of the transmitted signals.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit containing a communication channel, wherein the communication channel comprises:
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a transmit circuit configured to transmit signals; a link coupled to an output of the transmit circuit; a receive circuit coupled to the link, wherein the transmit circuit is capacitively coupled to the receive circuit via the link; and a clamping circuit coupled to the link, wherein the clamping circuit is configured to compensate for leakage current on the link by maintaining a voltage on the link corresponding to a logical “
1”
or a logical “
0”
, and wherein the voltage is based on a history of the transmitted signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer system, comprising:
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a processor; memory, wherein the memory is configured to store one or more program module mechanisms; and an integrated circuit containing a communication channel, wherein the communication channel includes; a transmit circuit configured to transmit signals; a link coupled to an output of the transmit circuit; a receive circuit coupled to the link, wherein the transmit circuit is capacitively coupled to the receive circuit via the link; and a clamping circuit coupled to the link, wherein the clamping circuit is configured to compensate for leakage current on the link by maintaining a voltage on the link corresponding to a logical “
1”
or a logical “
0”
, and wherein the voltage is based on a history of the transmitted signals.
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20. A method for maintaining a voltage on a link in an integrated circuit, comprising:
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transmitting signals on a communication channel in the integrated circuit using a transmit circuit, wherein the communication channel includes a capacitively coupled link between the transmit circuit and a receive circuit; receiving the transmitted signals through the receive circuit; and maintaining a voltage on the link to compensate for leakage current on the link, wherein the voltage corresponds to a logical “
1”
or a logical “
0”
, and wherein the voltage is based on a history of the transmitted signals.
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Specification