N:1 time-voltage matrix encoded I/O transmission system
First Claim
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1. A transmission system for transmitting N, N being an integer, binary input voltage signals, each having a magnitude equal to either a first or a second voltage level and received on N input signal ports, out of a single output port, said system comprising:
- a clock generating for setting the states of a plurality of clock signals to define a set of M, M being a fixed integer less than N, sequential time slots; and
a time/voltage concurrent encoder, adapted to receive said N binary signals and said clock signals, for selecting a distinct subset of N/M of said binary input signals and concurrently converting said selected N/M binary signals into a corresponding one of 2**(N/M) discrete predetermined voltage levels during each time slot, with the corresponding voltage level uniquely encoding the values of the selected N/M binary input signals so that the encoded values of said N binary input signals are transmitted out of the single output port during said M sequential time slots.
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Abstract
Encoding and decoding circuits are described for functioning as both a time and voltage based transmission system. Multiple binary inputs can be transmitted and received on a single I/O pin by encoder and decoder circuits using high speed emitter coupled-like logic.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A transmission system for transmitting N, N being an integer, binary input voltage signals, each having a magnitude equal to either a first or a second voltage level and received on N input signal ports, out of a single output port, said system comprising:
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a clock generating for setting the states of a plurality of clock signals to define a set of M, M being a fixed integer less than N, sequential time slots; and a time/voltage concurrent encoder, adapted to receive said N binary signals and said clock signals, for selecting a distinct subset of N/M of said binary input signals and concurrently converting said selected N/M binary signals into a corresponding one of 2**(N/M) discrete predetermined voltage levels during each time slot, with the corresponding voltage level uniquely encoding the values of the selected N/M binary input signals so that the encoded values of said N binary input signals are transmitted out of the single output port during said M sequential time slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A time-voltage decoder comprising:
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a voltage level generator for generating (2**X)-1 ordered voltage levels to partition a predetermined voltage interval into 2**X subintervals; a non-binary converter, adapted to receive an input voltage signal having an amplitude equal to one level in a set of 2**X predetermined discrete voltage levels, with each discrete voltage level included in an associated one of said subintervals and uniquely encoding the values of a set of X binary signals, said non-binary converter for converting said received input voltage signal into X decoded binary output signals; a clock generator for setting the states of a plurality of clock signals to define a set of M, M being a fixed integer, sequential time slots; a data latch network, having an ordered set of N output ports, N being an integer equal to the product of M multiplied by X and adapted to receive said clock signals and said decoded binary output signals, with said N output ports partitioned into M subsets of X output ports and each subset associated with a given time slot, said network for latching said X decoded binary output signals received during the given time slot onto the X output ports of the subset associated with the given time slot. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A transmission system, of the type including a system clock signal for defining system clock cycles, for transmitting N, N being an integer, binary input signals each characterized by a first or a second state, through a single output port, said system comprising:
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a time slot generator, adapted to receive said system clock signal, for setting the states of a plurality of clocking signals to define a set of M, M being a fixed integer, sequential time slots during each system clock cycle; a time/voltage concurrent encoder, adapted to receive said N binary signals and said clock signals, for dividing said N binary signals into M time slots, generating a distinct subset of N/M of said binary input signals and concurrently converting the said selected binary input signals into a corresponding one of 2**(N/M) discrete predetermined voltage levels during each time slot, with the corresponding voltage level uniquely encoding the values of the selected N/M binary signals; a voltage level generator for generating (2**(N/M)-1 ordered voltage levels to partition a predetermined voltage interval into 2**(N/M) subintervals; a non-binary converter, adapted to receive an input voltage signal having an amplitude equal to one level in a set of 2**(N/M) predetermined discrete voltage levels, with each discrete voltage level included in an associated one of said subintervals and uniquely encoding the values of a set of N/M binary signals, said non-binary converter for converting said received input voltage signal into N/M decoded binary output signals, each corresponding to one of said N/M binary signals encoded by said received input signal.
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8. In a multi-level logic system of the type that generates discrete voltage levels on a first node and complementary discrete voltage levels on a second node, an output buffer for providing dynamic pull-down to reduce output slew for large signal deltas, said system comprising:
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a pull-up transistor having a first terminal coupled to said VCC terminal, a base terminal coupled to said first node, and a second terminal coupled to an output port, said pull-up transistor for conducting current from said VCC terminal to said output port; a pull-down transistor having a first terminal coupled to said output port, a base terminal coupled to said VEE terminal via a control resistor, and a second terminal coupled to said VEE terminal, said pull-down terminal for conducting current from said output terminal to said VEE terminal; a pull-down control transistor having a first terminal coupled to said VCC terminal, a base terminal coupled to said second node, and a second terminal coupled to said base terminal of said pull-down transistor via a current supply resistor; and a control resistor coupling said base of said pull-down transistor and said current supply resistor to said VEE terminal.
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Specification