Current mode driver with constant voltage swing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A current mode driver comprising:
- a first driver module configured to generate a differential output signal based on a differential input signal and a first control signal, the differential output signal having a voltage swing between a lower voltage level and an upper voltage level; and
a feedback module coupled to the first driver module and configured to determine an intermediate voltage between the lower voltage level and the upper voltage level, the feedback module further configured to generate the first control signal based on the intermediate voltage for maintaining the voltage swing at a substantially constant voltage, determine a voltage difference between the intermediate voltage and a reference voltage, and generate a first bias voltage based on the voltage difference, the first control signal based on the voltage difference, the first control signal having the first bias voltage, the feedback module comprising;
a sensor module coupled to the first driver module and configured to determine the intermediate voltage;
a regulator module coupled to the sensor module and configured to generate the voltage difference; and
a bias module coupled to the regulator module and the first driver module, the bias module configured to generate the first bias voltage based on the voltage difference.
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Abstract
A current mode driver generates a differential output signal that has a constant voltage swing between a lower voltage level and an upper voltage level. A feedback module determines an intermediate voltage between the lower voltage level and the upper voltage level, compares the intermediate voltage with a reference voltage, and generates a control signal based on a result of the comparison. The current mode driver maintains the voltage swing of the differential output signal at a constant voltage based on the control signal. The differential output signal may have a data signal component and a pre-emphasis signal component.
40 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A current mode driver comprising:
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a first driver module configured to generate a differential output signal based on a differential input signal and a first control signal, the differential output signal having a voltage swing between a lower voltage level and an upper voltage level; and a feedback module coupled to the first driver module and configured to determine an intermediate voltage between the lower voltage level and the upper voltage level, the feedback module further configured to generate the first control signal based on the intermediate voltage for maintaining the voltage swing at a substantially constant voltage, determine a voltage difference between the intermediate voltage and a reference voltage, and generate a first bias voltage based on the voltage difference, the first control signal based on the voltage difference, the first control signal having the first bias voltage, the feedback module comprising; a sensor module coupled to the first driver module and configured to determine the intermediate voltage; a regulator module coupled to the sensor module and configured to generate the voltage difference; and a bias module coupled to the regulator module and the first driver module, the bias module configured to generate the first bias voltage based on the voltage difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A current mode driver configured to generate a differential output signal, the differential output signal having a voltage swing between a lower voltage level and an upper voltage level, the current mode driver comprising:
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a first driver module configured to generate a data signal component of the differential output signal based on a first control signal; a second driver module configured to generate a pre-emphasis signal component of the differential output signal based on a second control signal; and a feedback module coupled to the first driver module and the second driver module and configured to determine an intermediate voltage between the lower voltage level and the upper voltage level, the feedback module further configured to generate both the first control signal and the second control signal based on the intermediate voltage for maintaining the voltage swing at a substantially constant voltage. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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generating a differential output signal based on a differential input signal and a first control signal, the differential output signal having a voltage swing between a lower voltage level and an upper voltage level; determining an intermediate voltage between the lower voltage level and the upper voltage level; and generating the first control signal based on the intermediate voltage for maintaining the voltage swing at a substantially constant voltage, wherein generating the first control signal further comprises determining a voltage difference between the intermediate voltage and a reference voltage, and wherein generating the first control signal further comprises generating a first bias voltage based on the voltage difference, the first control signal based on the voltage difference and the first bias voltage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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means for generating a differential output signal based on a differential input signal and a first control signal, the differential output signal having a voltage swing between a lower voltage level and an upper voltage level; means for determining an intermediate voltage between the lower voltage level and the upper voltage level; means for generating a pre-emphasis signal component of the differential output signal; and means for generating the first control signal based on the intermediate voltage for maintaining the voltage swing at a substantially constant voltage. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification