Digital signal transmitter and receiver using source based reference logic levels

A digital signal receiver block having receiver block outputs for generating digital HI and LO signals, said block comprising:

• a plurality of comparators, each having
• a signal input for receiving a voltage signal representative of one of a digital HI signal and LO signal and a noise signal;
• an output interconnected with one of said receiver block outputs;
• a first reference input for receiving a reference voltage signal including a signal indicative of a digital HI signal, and a noise signal;
• wherein said first reference inputs of said plurality of comparators are interconnected so that each of said first reference inputs receives the same reference voltage signal;
• each said comparator adapted to produce at its output a signal representative of a digital HI signal when a voltage at its signal input exceeds a threshold voltage derived from a reference voltage at its first reference input.

A digital signal receiver block having receiver block outputs for generating digital HI and LO signals, said block comprising:

• a plurality of comparators, each having
• a signal input for receiving a voltage signal representative of one of a digital HI signal and LO signal and a noise signal;
• an output interconnected with one of said receiver block outputs,
• a first reference input for receiving a reference voltage signal including a signal indicative of a digital LO signal, and a noise signal;
• wherein said first reference inputs of said plurality of comparators are interconnected so that each of said reference inputs receives the same reference voltage signal;
• and
• each of said comparators is adapted to produce at its output a signal representative of a digital LO signal when a voltage at its signal input is less than a threshold voltage derived from a reference voltage at its first reference input.

A method of transmitting and receiving a plurality of signals representative of digital HI and LO signals from a transmitter to a receiver comprising the steps of

• a. concurrently transmitting said plurality of signals, each having a voltage level representative of one of a digital HI and LO signal and a noise signal from a transmitter to a receiver;
• b. transmitting a reference signal comprised of a signal having a voltage level representative of a HI signal and a noise signal to said receiver;
• c. receiving said plurality of signals and said reference signal at said receiver;
• d. comparing said reference signal to each of said plurality of signals;
• e. outputting a signal representative of a digital HI signal at said receiver, for each of said plurality of signals that exceeds a threshold voltage derived from said reference signal.

A signal transmitter block for transmitting digital signals to a receiver, said block comprising:

• means for transmitting a plurality of output signals, each output signal comprised of a voltage signal representative of digital HI and LO signals and noise;
• means for transmitting a reference signal, representative of said noise and a determined one of
• a. a signal having a voltage level representative of a digital HI signal;
• and
• b. a signal having a voltage level representative of a digital LO signal
• wherein said means for transmitting said plurality of output signals and said means for transmitting a reference signal are interconnected to accept a common clock, so that outputs of said means for transmitting said plurality of output signals and said means for transmitting a reference signal are generated upon transitions of said clock.

A receiver comprising:

• means to concurrently receive a plurality of received signals each received signal comprised of a voltage signal representative of digital HI and LO signals and noise;
• means to receive a reference signal representative of said noise and a determined one of
• a. a signal having a voltage level representative of a digital HI signal;
• and
• b. a signal having a voltage level representative of a digital LO signal
• means to separately compare each of said plurality of received signals to said reference signal to determine whether each of said plurality of signals comprises a voltage signal representative of a digital HI signal, or a voltage signal representative of a digital LO signal.

In combination, a signal transmitter block formed as part of an integrated circuit, said transmitter block for transmitting digital signals to a receiver, said block comprising:

• a plurality of signal drivers, each for generating output voltages at a signal driver output, that when measured relative to a ground point on said integrated circuit are representative of digital HI and LO signals;
• a first reference driver, for generating at a first reference output, an output voltage that when measured relative to said ground point corresponds to a voltage representative of a digital LO signal;
• said first reference driver and said signal drivers electrically interconnected to said ground point on said integrated circuit block,
• said ground point interconnected through an impedance on said integrated circuit block to a system ground connection for said integrated circuited, so that current flowing from and to said ground connection through said ground point to any and all of said signal drivers and said first reference driver flows through said impedance;
• a digital signal receiver block having receiver block outputs for generating digital HI and LO signals, said block comprising:
• a plurality of comparators, each having
• a signal input interconnected with one of said signal drivers outputs for receiving a voltage signal representative of one of a digital HI signal and LO signal and a noise signal;
• an output interconnected with one of said receiver block outputs,
• a first reference input interconnected with said first reference driver for receiving a reference voltage signal including a signal indicative of a digital LO signal, and a noise signal;
• wherein said first reference inputs of said plurality of comparators are interconnected so that each of said first reference inputs receives the same reference voltage signal;
• and
• each of said comparators is adapted to produce at its output a signal representative of a digital LO signal when a voltage at its signal input is less than a threshold voltage derived from said reference voltage at its first reference input.

In combination, a signal transmitter block for transmitting digital signals to a receiver, said block comprising:

• a plurality of signal drivers, each for generating output voltages at a signal driver output, that when measured relative to a ground point on said integrated circuit are representative of digital HI and LO signals;
• a first reference driver, for generating at a first reference output, an output voltage that when measured relative to said ground point corresponds to a voltage representative of a digital LO signal;
• a digital signal receiver block having receiver block outputs for generating digital HI and LO signals, said block comprising:
• a plurality of comparators, each having
• a signal input interconnected with one of said signal drivers outputs for receiving a voltage signal representative of one of a digital HI signal and LO signal and a noise signal;
• an output interconnected with one of said receiver block outputs,
• a first reference input interconnected with said first reference driver for receiving a reference voltage signal including a signal indicative of a digital LO signal, and a noise signal;
• wherein said first reference inputs of said plurality of comparators are interconnected so that each of said first reference inputs receives the same reference voltage signal;
• and
• each of said comparators is adapted to produce at its output a signal representative of a digital LO signal when a voltage at its signal input is less than a threshold voltage derived from said reference voltage at its first reference input.

A signal transmitter block formed as part of an integrated circuit for transmitting digital signals to a receiver, said block comprising

• a plurality of signal drivers for generating output voltages representative of digital HI and LO signals;
• a reference driver for generating at a first reference output, a determined one of:
• a) an output voltage representative of a digital HI signal;
• b) an output voltage representative of a digital LO signal;
• wherein said plurality of signal drivers and said first reference driver are adapted for interconnection to a common clock source such that said signal drivers and said reference driver generate said output voltages at transitions of said clock source.

A digital signal receiver block having receiver block outputs for generating digital HI and LO signals, said block comprising:

• a plurality of comparators, each having:
• a signal input for receiving a voltage signal representative of a digital HI or digital LO signal and a noise signal;
• a first reference input for receiving a reference voltage;
• a clock input;
• and
• a latch interconnected with said clock input and each output of said plurality of comparators;
• wherein said latch is adapted to latch said outputs upon a transition of said clock input.