Semi-differential signaling for DSI3 bus enhancement

A slave device that couples to a master device via a bus having at least a power supply conductor, a power return conductor, and a signal conductor, the slave device comprising:

• a power supply node and a power return node that respectively connect to the power supply conductor and the power return conductor to receive power from the master device;
• a signal node that connects to the signal conductor;
• and
• a receiver that senses a voltage of the signal node relative to a reference voltage midway between voltages of the power supply node and the power return node.

A communication system comprising:

• a slave device;
• and
• a master device coupled to the slave device via a bus having at least a power supply conductor, a power return conductor, and a signal conductor, the master device comprising:
• a power supply node and a power return node that respectively connect to the power supply conductor and the power return conductor;
• a signal node that connects to the signal conductor;
• and
• a driver that drives the signal node relative to a reference voltage midway between voltages of the master device's power supply node and the master device's power return node;
• the slave device comprising:
• a power supply node and a power return node that respectively connect to the power supply conductor and the power return conductor;
• a signal node that connects to the signal conductor;
• and
• a receiver that senses a voltage of the signal node relative to a reference voltage midway between voltages of the slave device's power supply node and the slave device's power return node.