Dynamically-adjustable differential output drivers

• US 7,675,326 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Wong, Wilson, Shumarayev, Sergey, Lee, Chong H., Luo, Mei
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan; Vibol
• Application Number:
  US12/163,709
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 326/86, 326/115, 326/127, 327/108
• US Class Current: 326/86
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/00369 Modifications for compensating variations of temperature, supply voltage or other physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/01812 with at least one differential stage
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/01837 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/018514 with at least one differential stage H03K19/018528 and H03K19/018542 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/018585 programmable

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided using dynamically adjustable differential output drivers. Integrated circuits such as programmable logic devices may be provided with adjustable differential output drivers for transmitting high-speed data to other integrated circuits. The peak-to-peak output voltage and common-mode voltage of the output drivers may be adjusted. Dynamic control circuitry may be used to control the settings of current sources, programmable resistors, and voltage source circuitry in the adjustable differential output driver automatically in real time. The adjustable components in the differential output driver may be adjusted by the dynamic control circuitry based on feedback information received from the integrated circuit to which the data is transmitted.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit comprising:

circuitry that, in response to feedback received from another integrated circuit, controls a differential output driver in each of a plurality of data channels that connect the integrated circuit and the other integrated circuit to independently adjust a characteristic of the differential output driver; and

a plurality of adjustable voltage sources, each adjustable voltage source being contained in a respective one of the differential output drivers and being controlled in response to the feedback.

2. The integrated circuit defined in claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the differential output driver comprises a level of peak-to-peak output voltage swing.

3. The integrated circuit defined in claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the differential output driver comprises a common mode voltage.

5. The integrated circuit defined in claim 1, wherein each data channel carries data signals having an associated common mode voltage and wherein the circuitry comprises control circuitry that controls the differential output drivers to adjust the common mode voltage for the data signals of each data channel.

7. The integrated circuit defined in claim 1, wherein each data channel carries differential output data signals produced by the differential output driver in that data channel, wherein the differential output data signals in each data channel have an associated common-mode voltage, and wherein the circuitry comprises control circuitry that controls the differential output driver for each data channel to adjust the common-mode voltage for the differential output data signals in that data channel.

8. The integrated circuit defined in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of adjustable voltage sources provides an adjustable voltage to a node in a respective one of the differential output drivers, each output driver further comprising a pair of programmable resistors that are connected to that node.

9. The integrated circuit defined in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of adjustable voltage sources provides an adjustable voltage to a node in a respective one of the differential output drivers, each output driver further comprising a pair of programmable resistors that are connected at that node and that are adjusted in real time by the feedback.

4. An integrated circuit comprising:

circuitry that, in response to feedback received from another integrated circuit, controls a differential output driver in each of a plurality of data channels that connect the integrated circuit and the other integrated circuit to independently adjust a characteristic of each data channel, wherein each data channel carries differential output data signals having an associated level of peak-to-peak output voltage swing and wherein the circuitry comprises control circuitry that controls the differential output drivers to adjust the level of peak-to-peak output voltage swing for the data signals of each data channel.

6. The integrated circuit defined in claim 4, wherein the differential output data signals in each data channel have an associated common-mode voltage and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the differential output driver for each data channel to adjust the common-mode voltage for the differential output data signals in that data channel.

10. An integrated circuit comprising:

a plurality of differential output drivers, each producing output data signals in a respective data channel connecting the integrated circuit to another integrated circuit;

memory cells that store programming data and that generate corresponding static control signals that configure the output drivers to adjust characteristics of the output data signals in each data channel; and

programmable multiplexers that are configured to route the static control signals or dynamic feedback signals received from said another integrated circuit to the differential output drivers to adjust the differential output drivers.

11. The integrated circuit defined in claim 10 wherein the multiplexers provide output control signals and wherein the differential output driver in each data channel includes adjustable programmable resistor circuitry that is adjusted by the output control signals.

12. The integrated circuit defined in claim 10 wherein the differential output driver in each data channel includes adjustable programmable resistor circuitry that is adjusted by the static control signals.

13. The integrated circuit defined in claim 10 wherein the differential output driver in each data channel includes adjustable programmable resistor circuitry that is adjusted by the static control signals to make peak-to-peak output voltage swing adjustments for that differential output driver.

14. The integrated circuit defined in claim 10 wherein the differential output driver in each data channel includes adjustable circuitry that is adjusted by the static control signals to make common mode voltage adjustments for that differential output driver.

15. The integrated circuit defined in claim 10 wherein the differential output driver in each data channel includes adjustable voltage source circuitry that is adjusted by the static control signals to make common mode voltage adjustments for that differential output driver.

16. The integrated circuit defined in claim 10 wherein the differential output driver in each data channel includes adjustable programmable current source circuitry that is adjusted by the static control signals.

17. The integrated circuit defined in claim 16 wherein the adjustable programmable current source circuitry comprises a pair of programmable current sources in each differential output driver.

18. The integrated circuit defined in claim 10 wherein the differential output driver in each data channel includes adjustable programmable resistor circuitry and programmable current source circuitry that are independently adjusted by the static control signals.