Driver stage selection based on noise in galvanic isolation signal transmission
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorMarcus Nuebling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to this disclosure, a first driver circuit may be configured to output a first signal, and a second driver circuit configured to output a second signal, wherein the first signal and the second signal define the differential signal, e.g., for communication over a galvanic isolation barrier. In order to reduce power consumption and also facilitate effective communication in the presence of noise, each driver circuit may include multiple driver stages, and each driver circuit may be capable of using different driver stages at different instances of time, e.g., to change from a low power mode to high power mode, when necessary or desirable. The change from low power mode to high power mode, for example, may be based on detected noise on the communication channels.
Claims21
A circuit configured to generate a differential signal for communication over a galvanic isolation barrier, the circuit comprising:
- a first driver circuit configured to output a first signal, and
- a second driver circuit configured to output a second signal, wherein the first signal and the second signal define the differential signal,
- wherein the first driver circuit includes a first driver stage and a second driver stage, wherein an output impedance of the first driver stage is lower than an output impedance of the second driver stage,
- wherein the second driver circuit includes a third driver stage and a fourth driver stage, wherein an output impedance of the third driver stage is lower than an output impedance of the fourth driver stage, wherein the circuit is configured to:
- generate the differential signal using the second driver stage and the fourth driver stage in response to detecting no common mode transient event;
- and
- generate the differential signal using the first driver stage and the third driver stage in response to detecting a common mode transient event.
A method comprising:
- outputting a first signal via a first driver circuit;
- and
- outputting a second signal via a second driver circuit, wherein the first signal and the second signal define a differential signal,
- wherein the first driver circuit includes a first driver stage and a second driver stage, wherein an output impedance of the first driver stage is lower than an output impedance of the second driver stage,
- wherein the second driver circuit includes a third driver stage and a fourth driver stage, wherein an output impedance of the third driver stage is lower than an output impedance of the fourth driver stage, wherein the method includes:
- generating the differential signal using the second driver stage and the fourth driver stage in response to detecting no common mode transient event;
- and
- generating the differential signal using the first driver stage and the third driver stage in response to detecting a common mode transient event.
A system comprising:
- a transmitter circuit;
- a receiver circuit;
- and
- a plurality of capacitors that define a galvanic isolation barrier between the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit, wherein the transmitter circuit is configured to generate a differential signal for communication over the galvanic isolation barrier, the transmitter circuit comprising:
- a first driver circuit configured to output a first signal, and
- a second driver circuit configured to output a second signal, wherein the first signal and the second signal define the differential signal,
- wherein the first driver circuit includes a first driver stage and a second driver stage, wherein an output impedance of the first driver stage is lower than an output impedance of the second driver stage,
- wherein the second driver circuit includes a third driver stage and a fourth driver stage, wherein an output impedance of the third driver stage is lower than an output impedance of the fourth driver stage, wherein the transmitter circuit is configured to:
- generate the differential signal using the second driver stage and the fourth driver stage in response to detecting no common mode transient event;
- and
- generate the differential signal using the first driver stage and the third driver stage in response to detecting a common mode transient event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.