Differential signaling driver

• US 8,816,726 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Original Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Inventors: Lee, Yeong-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Almo, Khareem E
• Application Number:
  US13/888,622
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 327/108
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/018528 with at least one differential stage
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0272 Arrangements for coupling to multiple lines, e.g. for differential transmission

Abstract

A differential signaling driver includes a current source, a differential signal generator, and a resistor. The current source is connected between an operation voltage and a first node, and supplies a driving current to the first node. The differential signal generator is connected between the first node and a second node. The differential signal generator receives a digital input signal, and generates a pair of differential output signals at a first output node and a second output node according to the digital input signal. The resistor is connected between the second node and a ground voltage. The differential signal generator couples the first output node to the operation voltage and the second output node to the ground voltage or couples the first output node to the ground voltage and the second output node to the operation voltage according to the digital input signal.

Claims

1. A differential signaling driver, comprising:

a current source, connected between an operation voltage and a first node, and supplying a driving current to the first node;

a differential signal generator, connected between the first node and a second node, receiving a digital input signal, and generating a pair of differential output signals at a first output node and a second output node according to the digital input signal; and

a first resistor, connected between the second node and a ground voltage,

wherein the differential signal generator couples the first output node to the operation voltage and the second output node to the ground voltage or couples the first output node to the ground voltage and the second output node to the operation voltage according to the digital input signal;

wherein the first resistor is implemented with an RTN (Resistor Tuning Network) element comprising;

a plurality of tunable branches, coupled in parallel between a first terminal and a second terminal of the RTN element, wherein each of the tunable branches comprises a resistor and a transistor, and the transistors each have a control terminal to selectively activate the transistor; and

a comparator, comparing a reference voltage difference with a voltage difference between the first terminal and the second terminal, and outputting a comparison signal according to the reference voltage difference and the voltage difference between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the control terminals of the transistors of the plurality of tunable branches are coupled to the comparison signal.

2. The differential signaling driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential signal generator comprises:

a first switch, coupled between the first node and the first output node; and

a fourth switch, coupled between the second output node and the second node,

wherein the first and fourth switches are selectively closed and opened according to the digital input signal.

3. The differential signaling driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential signal generator comprises:

a second switch, coupled between the first node and the second output node; and

a third switch, coupled between the first output node and the second node,

wherein the second and third switches are selectively closed and opened according to the digital input signal.

4. The differential signaling driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential signal generator comprises:

a second resistor, coupled between the first output node and a third node; and

a third resistor, coupled between the third node and the second output node.

5. The differential signaling driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control signal is inputted by a user.

6. A differential signaling driver, comprising:

a first resistor, connected between an operation voltage and a first node;

a differential signal generator, connected between the first node and a second node, receiving a digital input signal, and generating a pair of differential output signals at a first output node and a second output node according to the digital input signal; and

a current source, connected between the second node and a ground voltage, and sinking a driving current from the second node,

wherein the differential signal generator couples the first output node to the operation voltage and the second output node to the ground voltage or couples the first output node to the ground voltage and the second output node to the operation voltage according to the digital input signal;

wherein the first resistor is implemented with an RTN (Resistor Tuning Network) element comprising;

a plurality of tunable branches, coupled in parallel between a first terminal and a second terminal of the RTN element, wherein each of the tunable branches comprises a resistor and a transistor, and the transistors each have a control terminal to selectively activate the transistor; and

a comparator, comparing a reference voltage difference with a voltage difference between the first terminal and the second terminal, and outputting a comparison signal according to the reference voltage difference and the voltage difference between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the control terminals of the transistors of the plurality of tunable branches are coupled to the comparison signal.

7. The differential signaling driver as claimed in claim 6, wherein the differential signal generator comprises:

a first switch, coupled between the first node and the first output node; and

a fourth switch, coupled between the second output node and the second node,

wherein the first and fourth switches are selectively closed and opened according to the digital input signal.

8. The differential signaling driver as claimed in claim 6, wherein the differential signal generator comprises:

a second switch, coupled between the first node and the second output node; and

a third switch, coupled between the first output node and the second node,

wherein the second and third switches are selectively closed and opened according to the digital input signal.

9. The differential signaling driver as claimed in claim 6, wherein the differential signal generator comprises:

a second resistor, coupled between the first output node and a third node; and

a third resistor, coupled between the third node and the second output node.

10. The differential signaling driver as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control signal is inputted by a user.