Low swing repeater circuit with transition control
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorsClinton Harold Parker, John Wuu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an implementation, a repeater circuit includes an input circuit configured to receive an input signal, a control circuit coupled to the input circuit, an output circuit coupled to the control circuit and configured to drive an output signal, and a feedback circuit coupled between the output circuit and the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to operate the output circuit in a switching mode and operate the output circuit in a diode-connected mode to provide a reduced voltage swing responsive to the feedback circuit.
Claims20
A repeater circuit, comprising:
- an input circuit configured to receive an input signal;
- a control circuit coupled to the input circuit;
- an output circuit coupled to the control circuit and configured to drive an output signal;
- and
- a feedback circuit coupled between the output circuit and the control circuit;
- wherein the control circuit is configured to:
- operate the output circuit in a switching mode;
- and
- operate the output circuit in a diode-connected mode to provide a reduced voltage swing responsive to the feedback circuit.
A method of operating a repeater circuit, comprising:
- receiving an input signal;
- driving an output signal to an output node;
- operating in a first mode to provide a strong drive strength for the output signal;
- generating a feedback signal based on the output signal;
- and
- in response to the feedback signal, transitioning to a second mode to provide a reduced voltage swing for the output signal.
A circuit comprising:
- an output circuit comprising:
- a first transistor coupled between a first supply voltage and an output node;
- a second transistor coupled between the output node and a second supply voltage;
- a control circuit configured to:
- operate the first and second transistors as switches during transitions of a signal at the output node;
- and
- operate the first and second transistors as diode-connected devices between the transitions of the signal at the output node;
- and
- set an upper voltage of the output node to the first supply voltage minus a threshold voltage of the first transistor and a lower voltage of the output node to the second supply voltage plus a threshold voltage of the second transistor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.