Pseudo-AUI line driver and receiver cells for ethernet applications
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A single-ended attachment unit interface (AUI) driver, comprising:
- a first source follower, coupled to an output port and responsive to a first reference voltage, for clamping a magnitude of an output voltage at said output port from rising above about a first voltage level;
a second source follower, coupled to said output port and responsive to a second reference voltage, for clamping said magnitude of said output voltage from falling below about a second voltage level;
a pull-up driver, coupled to said output port and responsive to a data signal, for actively driving said output voltage to said first reference voltage when said data signal is asserted; and
a pull-down driver, coupled to said output port and responsive to said data signal, for actively driving said output voltage to said second reference voltage when said data signal is deasserted.
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Abstract
A single-ended differential AUI line driver, and complementary single-ended differential AUI line receiver, implement a pseudo AUI that exhibits most of the characteristics of an IEEE 802.3 standard compatible AUI line driver. The pseudo AUI line driver permits multi-point to single point connection (wire-ORing) of multiple line drivers and receivers to support port mobility on a per-port basis.
17 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A single-ended attachment unit interface (AUI) driver, comprising:
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a first source follower, coupled to an output port and responsive to a first reference voltage, for clamping a magnitude of an output voltage at said output port from rising above about a first voltage level; a second source follower, coupled to said output port and responsive to a second reference voltage, for clamping said magnitude of said output voltage from falling below about a second voltage level; a pull-up driver, coupled to said output port and responsive to a data signal, for actively driving said output voltage to said first reference voltage when said data signal is asserted; and a pull-down driver, coupled to said output port and responsive to said data signal, for actively driving said output voltage to said second reference voltage when said data signal is deasserted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A single-ended attachment unit interface (AUI) receiver, comprising:
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a differential amplifier having a first input coupled to an input port for receiving a single-ended data signal referenced to a particular voltage reference between a first voltage reference and a second voltage reference, and having a second input coupled to a reference voltage, for generating a differential data signal from said single-ended data signal; and a self-bias reference circuit, coupled to said second input and to said particular voltage reference, for generating said reference voltage from said particular voltage reference, wherein said self-bias reference circuit comprises; a first impedance coupled between said second input and said first voltage reference; and a second impedance coupled between said second input and said second voltage reference. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A data transmission system, comprising:
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a single-ended attachment unit interface (AUI) driver for driving a single-ended data signal at an output port, including; a first source follower, coupled to said output port and responsive to a first reference voltage, for clamping a magnitude of an output voltage at said output port from rising above about a first voltage level; a second source follower, coupled to said output port and responsive to a second reference voltage, for clamping said magnitude of said output voltage from falling below about a second voltage level; a pull-up driver, coupled to said output port and responsive to a data signal, for actively driving said output voltage to said first reference voltage when said data signal is asserted; and a pull-down driver, coupled to said output port and responsive to said data signal, for actively driving said output voltage to said second reference voltage when said data signal is deasserted; and a single-ended AUI receiver coupled to said single-ended AUI driver, including; a differential amplifier having a first input coupled to said output port for receiving said single-ended data signal referenced to a particular voltage reference between said first voltage reference and said second voltage reference, and having a second input coupled to a reference voltage, for generating a differential data signal from said single-ended data signal; and a self-bias reference circuit, coupled to said second input and to said particular voltage reference, for generating said reference voltage from said particular voltage reference. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A data transmission system, comprising:
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a single-ended attachment unit interface (AUI) driver for driving a single-ended data signal at an output port, including; a first source follower, coupled to said output port and responsive to a first reference voltage, for clamping a magnitude of an output voltage at said output port from rising above about a first voltage level; a second source follower, coupled to said output port and responsive to a second reference voltage, for clamping said magnitude of said output voltage from falling below about a second voltage level; a pull-up driver, coupled to said output port and responsive to a data signal, for actively driving said output voltage to said first reference voltage when said data signal is asserted; and a pull-down driver, coupled to said output port and responsive to said data signal, for actively driving said output voltage to said second reference voltage when said data signal is deasserted; and a single-ended AUI receiver coupled to said single-ended AUI driver, including; an amplifier having a first input coupled to said output port for receiving said single-ended data signal referenced to a particular voltage reference between said first voltage reference and said second voltage reference, and having a second input coupled to a reference voltage, for generating an output data signal from said single-ended data signal; and a self-bias reference circuit, coupled to said second input and to said particular voltage reference, for generating said reference voltage from said particular voltage reference.
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Specification