Low voltage differential signalling driver

A method of providing a low voltage differential signal comprising the steps of:

• providing a current source connected to a voltage supply;
• providing a first output node and a second output node, said first output node and said second output node being for providing a differential signal by virtue of a difference between a first voltage of said first output node and a second voltage of said second output node;
• connecting said current source to said first output node in dependence on a differential input signal to cause said first voltage to rise with respect to said second voltage;
• connecting said current source to said second output node in dependence on an inverse version of said differential input signal to cause said second voltage to rise with respect to said first voltage;
• and
• establishing with slew control circuitry, during a polarity transition of said differential input signal, a current discharge path for said current source thereby reducing a slew rate of one of said first and second voltages that is rising with respect to the other of said first and second voltages.

A low voltage differential signalling driver comprising:

• a current source means, said current source means being connected to a voltage supply;
• a first output node means and a second output node means for providing a differential signal by virtue of a difference between a first voltage of said first output node means and a second voltage of said second output node means;
• first differential steering switch means configured to be switched in dependence on a differential input signal to selectively connect said current source means to said first output node means to cause said first voltage to rise with respect to said second voltage;
• second differential steering switch means configured to be switched in dependence on an inverse version of said differential input signal to selectively connect said current source means to said second output node to cause said second voltage to rise with respect to said first voltage;
• and
• slew control means for establishing a current discharge path for said current source means during a polarity transition of said differential input signal, thereby reducing a slew rate of one of said first and second voltages that is rising with respect to the other of said first and second voltages.

A low voltage differential signalling driver comprising:

• a current source, said current source being connected to a voltage supply;
• a first output node and a second output node for providing a differential signal by virtue of a difference between a first voltage of said first output node and a second voltage of said second output node;
• first differential steering switch circuitry configured to be switched in dependence on a differential input signal to selectively connect said current source to said first output node to cause said first voltage to rise with respect to said second voltage;
• second differential steering switch circuitry configured to be switched in dependence on an inverse version of said differential input signal to selectively connect said current source to said second output node to cause said second voltage to rise with respect to said first voltage;
• and
• slew control circuitry configured to establish a current discharge path for said current source during a polarity transition of said differential input signal, wherein said first differential steering switch circuitry further selectively connects said second output node to a reference voltage to cause said second voltage to fall whilst said first voltage is rising, and said second differential steering switch circuitry selectively connects said first output node to said reference voltage to cause said first voltage to fall whilst said second voltage is rising.