Decoder for self-clocking serial data communications

Claim 1

Apparatus for decoding to an NRZ signal an encoded signal received from a signal source, the encoded signal encoding a series of data bits with, for each data bit, a first transition in the encoded signal, and for each data bit for which the succeeding data bit has the same binary value, a second transition occurring within a predetermined time interval after the first transition, said apparatus comprising: A. storage means responsive to a clocking signal of at least a predetermined minimum pulse width, received at a clock input of the storage means, for storing a sample of a digital signal received at a data input of the storage means, the storage means having at least one output indicative of the value of the stored sample, an output of the storage means providing the decoded NRZ signal, B. an exclusive-OR gate, C. a first signal path from an output of the storage means through the exclusive-OR gate to the clock input of the storage means, D. a second signal path from the source of the encoded signal through the exclusive-OR gate to the clock input of the storage means, and E. a third signal path from the source of the encoded signal to the data input of the storage means, wherein a. the time for a signal to propagate along the first signal path is at least as long as the minimum pulse width required to clock the storage means, and b. wherein the difference between the time for a signal to propagate along the second signal path and the time for a signal to propagate along the third signal path is at least as long as said predetermined time interval, and c. the output signal from the exclusive-OR gate comprises a signal which has exactly one pulse for each data bit.