High performance low power multiple-level-switching output drivers
AssigneeUniram Technology Inc.
InventorJeng-Jye Shau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Long existing performance, noise, and power consumption problems of prior art output drivers are solved by using n-channel transistors as pull up transistors and/or p-channel transistors as pull down transistors for high performance output drivers. Output drivers of the present invention can be fully compatible with HSTL, SSTL, LVDS, MIPI, or MDDI interfaces without using termination resistors. High resolution switching applications are also made possible without consuming much power. Output drivers of the present invention provide excellent solutions to support high performance interface while consuming much lower power.
Claims14
A differential signal output driver comprising:
- A first voltage supply source (Vddq);
- A second voltage supply source (Vssq) having a lower potential than said first voltage supply source;
- A pair of differential signal lines external to integrated circuits;
- One or a plurality of n-channel pull up transistor(s) in the last stage circuit that drives said pair of differential signal lines;
- One or a plurality of p-channel pull down transistor(s) in the last stage circuit that drives said pair of differential signal lines;
- Wherein said differential signal output driver controls the signal on said differential signal lines to switch between partial-voltage differential levels that are lower than Vddq and higher than Vssq.
A method to implement differential signal output driver comprising the steps of:
- Providing a first voltage supply source (Vddq);
- Providing a second voltage supply source (Vssq) having a lower potential than said first voltage supply source;
- Providing a pair of differential signal lines external to integrated circuits;
- Connecting one or a plurality of n-channel pull up transistor(s) in the last stage circuit to drive said pair of differential signal lines;
- Connecting one or a plurality of p-channel pull down transistor(s) in the last stage circuit to drive said pair of differential signal lines;
- Wherein said differential signal output driver controls the signal on said differential signal lines to switch between partial-voltage differential levels that are lower than Vddq and higher than Vssq.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.