Line reflection reduction with energy-recovery driver
AssigneeUniversity of Southern California
InventorsLars G. Svensson, William C. Athas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for reducing reflections in a transmission line and for recovering energy from the load in the transmission during the process. At least three drive signal levels are utilized. The transition from the second level to the third level during a rising transition and the transition from the second. level to the first level during a falling transition is timed to coincide with the arrival of the reflected signal from the immediately preceding transition. A capacitor is advantageously used as the source for the intermediate drive signal levels and advantageously facilitates energy recovery and conservation.
Claims60
A driver for driving a transmission line connected to a load, the transmission line having an input and an output, comprising:
- a. a signal generation system that generates at least a first drive signal, a second drive signal and a third drive signal, the second drive signal having a level greater than the first drive signal, and the third drive signal having a level greater than the second drive signal;
- and
- b. a controller in communication with said signal generation system to cause said signal generation system to deliver the first drive signal, then the second drive signal, and then the third drive signal to the input of the transmission line, the third drive signal beginning to be delivered to the input of the transmission line approximately when a reflection of the second drive signal from the output of the transmission line first arrives at the input to the transmission line.
A process for driving a transmission line connected to a load, the transmission line having an input and an output, comprising:
- a. generating at least a first drive signal, a second drive signal and a third drive signal, the second drive signal having a level greater than the first drive signal and the third drive signal having a level greater than the second drive signal;
- and
- b. delivering the first drive signal, then the second drive signal and then the third drive signal to the input of the transmission line, the third drive signal beginning to be delivered to the input of the transmission line approximately when a reflection of the second drive signal from the output of the transmission line first arrives at the input to the transmission line.
A driver for driving a transmission line having an input connected to the driver and an output connected to a capacitive load, comprising:
- a) a high potential voltage source;
- b) a first electronically-controlled switch connected between said high potential voltage source and the input of the transmission line;
- c) a low potential voltage source;
- d) a second electronically-controlled switch connected between said low potential voltage source and the input of the transmission line;
- e) an energy-storage device;
- f) a third electronically-controlled switch connected between said energy-storage device and the input of the transmission line;
- and
- g) a controller connected to said first, second and third electronically-controlled switches, said controller causing:
- 1) said third electronically-controlled switch to close approximately when a signal injected into the transmission line by said second electronically-controlled switch first returns back to the input of the transmission line;
- and
- 2) said first electronically-controlled switch to close approximately when a signal injected into the transmission line by said second electronically-controlled switch first returns back to the input of the transmission line.
A method of driving a transmission line connected to a load, the method comprising:
- applying a first drive signal to the transmission line;
- and.
- applying a second drive signal to the transmission line after the first drive signal is reflected from the load,
- wherein the application of the second drive signal to the transmission line reduces ringing on the transmission line.
A driver for driving a transmission line connected to a load, the driver comprising a signal generation system that applies a first drive signal to the transmission line and that applies a second drive signal to the transmission line after the first drive signal is reflected from the load, wherein the application of the second drive signal to the transmission line reduces ringing on the transmission line.
A method of driving a transmission line connected to a load, the method comprising:
- applying a first drive signal to the transmission line;
- and
- applying a second drive signal to the transmission line after the first drive signal is reflected from the load,
- wherein the second drive signal has a level approximately equal to a level of the reflected first drive signal and wherein the second drive signal reduces ringing on the transmission line.
A driver for driving a transmission line connected to a load, the driver comprising a signal generation system that applies a first drive signal to the transmission line and that applies a second drive signal to the transmission line after the first drive signal is reflected from the load, wherein the second drive signal has a level approximately equal to a level of the reflected first drive signal and wherein the second drive signal reduces ringing on the transmission line.
A method of driving a transmission line, wherein a first end of the transmission line is connected to a driver and a second end of the transmission is connected to a load, wherein the impedances of the driver and the transmission line are different substantially throughout the operation of the method, the method comprising:
- operating the driver so as to apply a plurality of drive signals to the transmission line such that ringing on the transmission line is reduced,
- wherein the plurality of drive signals include a first drive signal and a second drive signal, the second drive signal being applied to the first end of the transmission line after the first drive signal is reflected from the load.
A driver for driving a transmission line, wherein a first end of the transmission line is connected to said driver and a second end of the transmission is connected to a load, wherein the impedances of the driver and the transmission line are different substantially throughout the operation of the driver, the driver comprising a signal generation system for operating the driver so as to apply a plurality of drive signals to the first end of the transmission line such that ringing on the transmission line is reduced wherein the plurality of drive signals include a first drive signal and a second drive signal, the second drive signal being applied to the first end of the transmission line after the first drive signal is reflected from the load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.