Differential input interface circuit and method for adjusting DC levels of differential input signals

• US 6,259,300 B1
• Filed: 01/03/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hatani, Naohisa, Yasuda, Takeo
• Primary Examiner(s): ZWEIZIG, JEFFERY SHAWN
• Application Number:
  US09/477,143
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 327/333, 327/560, 327/561, 327/562, 327/563, 330/177, 330/252, 330/259, 330/260, 330/261, 341/155, 341/158
• US Class Current: 327/333
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45475 using IC blocks as the active amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45941 Controlling the input circuit of the differential amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45959 Controlling the input circuit of the differential amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/0682 using a differential network structure, i.e. symmetrical with respect to ground
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/1295 Clamping, i.e. adjusting the DC level of the input signal to a predetermined value

Abstract

A differential input interface circuit includes a reference level generation stage generating a DC level that coincides with the DC level within the system; capacitors for cutting-off the DC level of the differential input signals; resistors for matching the average of the non-inverting phase signal and the inverting phase signal of the differential input signals from which the DC levels have been cut-off on the output DC level generated by the reference level generation stage. Thus, a differential input interface circuit make it possible to match the DC level of differential inputs to the DC level within a system which is responsive to the differential inputs.

Claims

1. A differential input interface circuit within a system responsive to differential inputs and providing differential outputs comprising:

a reference level generation means responsive to a first DC level from said system for generating a second DC level which coincides with said first DC level from said system; and

a DC level matching means for matching said first DC level of said differential input signals to said second DC level generated by said reference level generation means.

2. The differential input interface circuit according to claim 1, wherein said DC level matching means further comprises means for cutting-off the DC level of the differential input signals;

and means for superimposing the differential input signals from which the DC level was cut off, on the DC level generated by said reference level generation means.

3. The differential input interface circuit according to claim 2, wherein said superimposing means further comprises an average matching means for matching the average of a non-inverting phase signal and an inverting phase signal of the differential input signals from which the DC level was cut-off, on the DC level generated by said reference level generation means.

4. The differential input interface circuit according to claim 3, wherein said average matching means further comprising two identical resistors, one of said resistors being connected between a signal line receiving said non-inverting phase signal and an output line of said reference level generation means, and the other of said resistors being connected between the signal line receiving said inverting phase signal and the output line of said reference level generation means.

5. The differential input interface circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a DC level adjusting means for adjusting the DC levels of the differential input signals to be outputted to said system.

6. A method for matching DC levels of differential input signals to a DC level within a system which is responsive to differential inputs, comprising the steps of:

cutting-off the DC level of the differential input signals; and

superimposing differential inputs signals from which the DC level has been cut off on the DC level within the system, wherein superimposing the differential inputs signals further comprises matching the average between a non-inverting phase signal and an inverting phase signal of the differential input signals from which the DC level was cut-off on the DC level within the system.

7. A method for generating within a system a differential input interface circuit responsive to differential input signals and providing differential outputs comprising the steps of:

providing a reference level generation means responsive to a first DC level from said system for generating a second DC level which coincides with said first DC level from said system; and

matching said first DC level of said differential input signals to said second DC level generated by said reference level generation means.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said step of matching the DC levels further comprises the steps of cutting-off the DC level of the differential input signals, and superimposing the differential input signals from which the DC level was cut off on the DC level that was generated.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said step of superimposing the differential input signals further comprises the steps of matching the average between a non-inverting phase signal and an inverting phase signal of the differential inputs from which the DC level was cut-off on the DC level that was generated.