US 2004/0000924 A1 · METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTABLY PROVIDING SINGLE-ENDED AND DIFFERENTIAL SIGNALING WITH CONTROLLABLE IMPEDANCE AND TRANSITION TIME

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selectably providing single-ended and differential signaling with controllable impedance and transition time is provided. According to the method and apparatus, a differential signal can be transmitted over two wires or two single-ended signals can be transmitted over the two wires. According to the method and apparatus, termination may be selected among a single-reference termination, a center termination, or a high-impedance termination. Regardless of the type of termination selected, a capability for dynamic control of the termination impedance is provided. Moreover, an ability to change impedances of termination elements to maintain a desired termination impedance for both single-reference termination and center termination modes by shifting bits is provided. Also, a capability for dynamic control of transition times of signals is provided.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A method for selectably providing single-ended and differential signaling, comprising the steps of:

for operation in a single-ended transmission mode,
disabling a differential drive circuit and applying a data signal to a first high side and a first low side of a first single-ended drive circuit;
and
for operation in a differential transmission mode,
applying the data signal to the differential drive circuit,
enabling a first termination in the first high side of the first single-ended drive circuit and a second termination in a second high side of a second single-ended drive circuit, and
disabling the first low side of the first single-ended drive circuit and a second low side of the second single-ended drive circuit;

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for selectably providing single-ended and differential signaling with controllable impedance and transition time

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for selectably providing single-ended and differential signaling with controllable impedance and transition time

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35