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US 6,856,178 B1Granted
Multi-function input/output driver
AssigneeSilicon Bridge, Inc.
InventorSriram Narayan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high-speed I/O driver includes circuitry that is configurable to meet single-ended and differential I/O signal standards. For one embodiment, the driver includes four input circuits that can be configured to implement two CMOS inverters to process single-ended signals or configured to implement a differential circuit to process differential signals.
Claims30
A multi-function driver configurable to process either single-ended or differential signals, comprising:
- a first pull-up circuit coupled between a supply voltage and a first output terminal, and including a first terminal to receive a first input signal, a second terminal to receive a first bias voltage, and a third terminal;
- a second pull-up circuit coupled between the supply voltage and a second output terminal, and including a first terminal to receive a second input signal, a second terminal to receive the first bias voltage, and a third terminal;
- a first pull-down circuit coupled between the first output terminal and ground potential, and including a first terminal to receive the first input signal, a second terminal to receive a second bias voltage, and a third terminal;
- a second pull-down circuit coupled between the second output terminal and ground potential, and including a first terminal to receive the second input signal, a second terminal to receive the second bias voltage, and a third terminal;
- a first switch connected between the third terminals of the first and second pull-up circuits, the first switch responsive to a mode signal;
- and
- a second switch connected between the third terminals of the first and second pull-down circuits, the second switch responsive to the mode signal.
4 more elements
A multi-function driver configurable to process either single-ended or differential signals, comprising:
- first and second circuits connected in series between a supply voltage and ground potential, the first and second circuits each having an input to receive a first input signal and having a first common output to provide a first output signal;
- third and fourth circuits connected in series between the supply voltage and ground potential, the third and fourth circuits each having an input to receive a second input signal and having a second common output to provide a second output signal;
- a first switch to selectively connect the first and third circuits together in response to a mode signal;
- and
- a second switch to selectively connect the second and fourth circuits together in response to the mode signal, wherein the mode signal indicates whether the driver is configured to process single-ended signals or differential signals.
2 more elements
A driver for processing single-ended and differential signals, comprising:
- first and second circuits connected in series between a supply voltage and ground potential;
- third and fourth circuits connected in series between the supply voltage and ground potential;
- means for configuring the first and second circuits to implement a first inverter and configuring the third and fourth circuits to implement a second inverter to simultaneously process two single-ended signals during a first mode;
- and
- means for configuring the first and third circuits to implement a first differential circuit and configuring the second and fourth circuits to implement a second differential circuit to process a differential signal during a second mode.
2 more elements
A method of processing single-ended and differential signals using a multi-function driver having first, second, third, and fourth circuits, comprising:
- configuring the first and second circuits to implement a first inverter and configuring the third and fourth circuits to implement a second inverter to simultaneously process two single-ended signals when a mode signal is in a first logic state;
- and
- configuring the first and third circuits to implement a first differential circuit and configuring the second and fourth circuits to implement a second differential circuit to process a differential signal when the mode signal is in a second logic state.
A method of processing single-ended and differential signals, comprising:
- providing first and second circuits connected in series between a supply voltage and ground potential;
- providing third and fourth circuits connected in series between the supply voltage and ground potential;
- providing a first input signal to the first and second circuits;
- providing a second input signal to the third and fourth circuits;
- configuring the first and second circuits to implement a first inverter and configuring the third and fourth circuits to implement a second inverter to simultaneously process the first and second input signals as independent single-ended signals when a mode signal is in a first logic state;
- and
- configuring the first and third circuits to implement a first differential circuit and configuring the second and fourth circuits to implement a second differential circuit to process the first and second input signals as differential signal when the mode signal is in a second logic state.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.