Methods and systems for providing load-adaptive output current drive
First Claim
1. A method for providing load-adaptive output current drive, comprising:
- sensing load conditions by generating a sensor signal having a voltage substantially proportional to one or more signal characteristics of a signal at an output node coupled to a load, said one or more signal characteristics being affected by said load conditions;
generating a supplemental drive current according to said voltage to maintain said one or more signal characteristics within a desired range; and
combining said supplemental drive current with a primary output current to provide a compensated output signal to said output node;
whereby said one or more signal characteristics of said compensated output signal are substantially maintained within said desired range over a range of said load conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for sensing load conditions and for adjusting output current drive according to the sensed load conditions to maintain one or more signal characteristics within a desired range. Load conditions are sensed by monitoring one or more signal characteristics that are affected by load conditions, such as voltage changes with respect to time. Output current drive is then adjusted, as needed, to maintain the one or more desired signal characteristics. In an embodiment, rising and/or falling edge slopes are monitored. For example, a dV/dt may be monitored. The dV/dt can be monitored by coupling a capacitance to the output signal, generating a current with the capacitance, and generating a voltage from the current. The voltage is generally proportional to the dV/dt. Depending upon the load conditions, a supplemental current is generated and/or adjusted and added to the output signal to maintain the desired signal characteristics within a desired range. For example, where dV/dt is monitored, the supplemental current is generated and/or adjusted to maintain the dV/dt within a desired range. In this way, the desired signal characteristic(s) are substantially maintained within the desired range for a range of load values. One or more signal characteristics may be maintained over a load range of 50 pF to 600 pF. Signal characteristics may be sensed and maintained only during rising and falling edges. Signal characteristics may be separately sensed and maintained for rising and falling edges of data signals.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for providing load-adaptive output current drive, comprising:
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sensing load conditions by generating a sensor signal having a voltage substantially proportional to one or more signal characteristics of a signal at an output node coupled to a load, said one or more signal characteristics being affected by said load conditions;
generating a supplemental drive current according to said voltage to maintain said one or more signal characteristics within a desired range; and
combining said supplemental drive current with a primary output current to provide a compensated output signal to said output node;
whereby said one or more signal characteristics of said compensated output signal are substantially maintained within said desired range over a range of said load conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for providing a load-adaptive output current drive, comprising:
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sensing a change in voltage with respect to time (“
dV/dt”
) of an output signal provided to a load at an output node by generating a sensor signal having a voltage substantially proportional to said dV/dt;
generating a supplemental drive current;
reducing said supplemental drive current when said voltage increases until said sensed dV/dt is within a desired range for a range of load values;
increasing said supplemental drive current when said voltage decreases until said sensed dV/dt is within said desired range for said range of load values; and
combining said supplemental drive current with a primary output current. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A load-adaptive output current driver, comprising:
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a primary output current driver that generates a primary output current in response to a received signal;
a load sensor coupled to an output node, said load sensor generating a sensor signal having a voltage substantially proportional to one or more signal characteristics at said output node, said one or more signal characteristics being affected by load conditions at said output node;
a supplemental output driver coupled to receive said sensor signal, said supplemental output driver controller generating a supplemental drive current in response to said voltage to maintain said one or more signal characteristics within a desired range for a range of said load conditions; and
a summing node coupled to receive said primary output current and said supplemental drive current, said summing node combines said primary output current and said supplemental drive current to provide a compensated output signal to said output node. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification