Flexible versatile low-cost wireline transmit driver
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A transmit line driver adapted to drive a signal over a transmit line, the transmit line driver comprising:
- a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) receiving a digital input and providing at least one analog current output; and
conversion circuitry adapted for coupling between the DAC and a transformer of the transmit line, the conversion circuitry adapted to convert the analog current output to a signal to be transmitted over the transmit line via the transformer, wherein the conversion circuitry is reconfigurable such that the transmit driver is capable of operating in at least one current mode and at least one voltage mode depending on at least one characteristic of the transmit line,wherein the at least one current mode includes a first current mode, wherein when the transmit driver is operating in the first current mode, the conversion circuitry is configured to directly connect the at least one analog current output provided by the DAC to the transformer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A versatile, programmable, low-cost transmit line driver is provided. The line driver includes a digital-to-analog converter that receives a digital input and provides an analog output. The line driver is reconfigurable between the voltage mode of operation.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A transmit line driver adapted to drive a signal over a transmit line, the transmit line driver comprising:
-
a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) receiving a digital input and providing at least one analog current output; and conversion circuitry adapted for coupling between the DAC and a transformer of the transmit line, the conversion circuitry adapted to convert the analog current output to a signal to be transmitted over the transmit line via the transformer, wherein the conversion circuitry is reconfigurable such that the transmit driver is capable of operating in at least one current mode and at least one voltage mode depending on at least one characteristic of the transmit line, wherein the at least one current mode includes a first current mode, wherein when the transmit driver is operating in the first current mode, the conversion circuitry is configured to directly connect the at least one analog current output provided by the DAC to the transformer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
9. A transmit line driver adapted to drive a signal over a transmit line, the transmit line driver comprising:
-
a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) receiving a digital input and providing at least one analog current output; and conversion circuitry adapted for coupling between the DAC and a transformer of the transmit line, the conversion circuitry adapted to convert the analog current output to a signal to be transmitted over the transmit line via the transformer, wherein the conversion circuitry is reconfigurable such that the transmit driver is capable of operating in at least one current mode and at least one voltage mode depending on at least one characteristic of the transmit line, wherein the conversion circuit comprises first and second current mirrors, first and second resistors, first and second bipolar transistors, coupled between the DAC and the transformer, and wherein when the line driver operates in the at least one voltage mode, the conversion circuit connects at least one of the first and second bipolar transistors to the transformer.
-
Specification