Repeater circuit having different operating and reset voltage ranges, and methods thereof
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a circuit operable to assist a transition of a signal on a wire and to drive said signal after said transition, said circuit assisting said transition and driving said signal with said circuit operating within a first voltage range, said circuit being reset for a subsequent transition with said circuit operating within a second voltage range, wherein said first and second voltage ranges are separated by a gap that provides a margin between said first and second voltage ranges;
wherein said circuit comprises;
a rising transition subcircuit that operates in a range above a first threshold voltage; and
a falling transition subcircuit coupled to said rising transition circuit and that operates in a range below a second threshold voltage, wherein said first and second threshold voltages are separated by a gap that provides a margin between said first and second threshold voltages.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit for assisting signal transitions on a wire, and a method thereof. A first subcircuit causes a first transistor that is coupled to the circuit'"'"'s output to turn on during a rising transition and drive the output to a high state to assist in the rising transition. A second subcircuit causes a second transistor that is coupled to the circuit'"'"'s output to turn on during a falling transition and drive the output to a low state to assist in the falling transition. A third subcircuit resets elements of the first subcircuit. The first subcircuit operates above a first voltage threshold and the third subcircuit operates below the first voltage threshold. A fourth subcircuit resets elements of the second subcircuit. The second subcircuit operates below a second voltage threshold and the fourth subcircuit operates above the second voltage threshold.
146 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A device comprising:
a circuit operable to assist a transition of a signal on a wire and to drive said signal after said transition, said circuit assisting said transition and driving said signal with said circuit operating within a first voltage range, said circuit being reset for a subsequent transition with said circuit operating within a second voltage range, wherein said first and second voltage ranges are separated by a gap that provides a margin between said first and second voltage ranges;
wherein said circuit comprises;a rising transition subcircuit that operates in a range above a first threshold voltage; and a falling transition subcircuit coupled to said rising transition circuit and that operates in a range below a second threshold voltage, wherein said first and second threshold voltages are separated by a gap that provides a margin between said first and second threshold voltages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
8. A circuit for assisting signal transitions on a wire, said circuit comprising:
-
first circuitry coupled to said wire and for generating a first pulse in response to a rising transition of a signal on said wire, wherein said first pulse turns on a first transistor for a first period of time, said first transistor driving an output of said circuit to a high state while turned on, wherein said first circuitry operates above a first voltage; second circuitry coupled to said wire and for generating a second pulse in response to a falling transition of a signal on said wire, wherein said second pulse turns on a second transistor for a second period of time, said second transistor driving said output to a low state while turned on, wherein said second circuitry operates below a second voltage; third circuitry coupled to said first circuitry and for resetting elements of said first circuitry, wherein said third circuitry operates below a third voltage that is less than said first voltage; and fourth circuitry coupled to said second circuitry and for resetting elements of said second circuitry, wherein said fourth circuitry operates above a fourth voltage that is greater than said second voltage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. In a circuit coupled to a wire, a method of assisting signal transitions on said wire, said method comprising:
-
generating a first pulse in response to a rising transition on said wire, said first pulse causing a first transistor in a first subcircuit of said circuit to turn on for a period of time to drive an output of said circuit to a high state while said first transistor is turned on, wherein said first subcircuit operates above a first voltage; generating a second pulse in response to a falling transition on said wire, said second pulse causing a second transistor in a second subcircuit of said circuit to turn on for a period of time to drive said output to a low state while said second transistor is turned on, wherein said second subcircuit operates below a second voltage; resetting elements of said first subcircuit using a third subcircuit, said third subcircuit operating below a third voltage that is below said first voltage; and resetting elements of said second subcircuit using a fourth subcircuit, said fourth subcircuit operating above a fourth voltage that is above said second voltage. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification