US 2017/0288663 A1 · METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR LEVEL-SHIFTING HIGH SPEED SERIAL DATA WITH LOW POWER CONSUMPTION

Abstract

A driver circuit for driving a transmission line, such as a cable or a metal trace on a printed circuit board is described. The driver may be configured to drive lines with voltages exceeding the maximum voltage than a transistor can withstand for a given fabrication node. The driver may be configured to receive a supply voltage larger than that indicated by manufacturers. The driver may use a fast path and a slow path. Signals provided by the slow path and the fast path may be combine to adapt the input signals to levels that do cause stress to a transistor. A plurality of drivers of the type described herein may be used to provide digital-to-analog conversion.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A circuit comprising:

a first transistor having a first control terminal and a first output terminal;
a second transistor having a second control terminal and a second output terminal;
a third transistor having a third output terminal coupled to the first output terminal;
a fourth transistor having a fourth output terminal coupled to the second output terminal;
a first driving stage connected to the first control terminal, the first driving stage comprising a first driver having a first speed and a second driver having a second speed slower than the first speed;
and
a second driving stage connected to the second control terminal, the second driving stage comprising a third driver having a third speed and a fourth driver having a fourth speed slower than the third speed.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and apparatus for level-shifting high speed serial data with low power consumption

Life of this patent

Methods and apparatus for level-shifting high speed serial data with low power consumption

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20