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US5264745A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Recovering phase and data from distorted duty cycles caused by ECL-to-CMOS translator

Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices Inc
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Filing: 1992-08-28
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Granted: 1993-11-23
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Expires: 2012-08-28
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Abstract

Abstract A logic interface circuit for recovering phase and data information from ECL differential input signals of the NRZI type having distorted duty cycles caused by ECL-to-CMOS translators includes first and second ECL-to-CMOS translators (T1, T2), first and second delay circuits, and an output logic circuit The first delay circuit is formed of a first inverter (I1), a first delay network (D1), and a first NAND logic gate (N1). The second delay network includes a second inverter (I2), a second delay network (D2), and a second NAND logic gate (N2). The output logic circuit is formed of a third NAND logic gate. The interface circuit generates an output signal which is in the form of a pulse train whose cycle time can be detected for determining the frequency information and whose presence or absence of pulses can be detected for determining data information.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ann K. Woo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 13:59
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M5/00; H03M5/02; H03M5/04; H03M5/14; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/0175; H03K19/0185; H03K19/018507; H03K19/018521

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 175 words
A logic interface circuit for receiving ECL differential signals and for generating an output signal which is CMOS compatible so that both data and frequency information can be easily extracted separately, said interface circuit comprising: first translator means responsive to the ECL differential input signals for generating a first CMOS output signal; second translator means responsive also to the ECL differential input signals for generating a second CMOS output signal which is complementary to said first CMOS output signal; first delay means responsive to said first CMOS output signal and a first delayed signal for generating a first pulse-width control signal; second delay means responsive to said second CMOS output signal and a second delayed signal for generating a second pulse-width control signal; and output logic means responsive to said first and second pulse-width control signals for generating the output signal which is in the form of a pulse train whose cycle time can be detected for determining the frequency information and whose presence or absence of pulses can be detected for determining data information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 175 words
A logic interface circuit for receiving ECL differential signals and for generating an output signal which is CMOS compatible so that both data and frequency information can be easily extracted separately, said interface circuit comprising: first translator means responsive to the ECL differential input signals for generating a first CMOS output signal; second translator means responsive also to the ECL differential input signals for generating a second CMOS output signal which is complementary to said first CMOS output signal; first delay means responsive to said first CMOS output signal and a first delayed signal for generating a first pulse-width control signal; second delay means responsive to said second CMOS output signal and a second delayed signal for generating a second pulse-width control signal; and output logic means responsive to said first and second pulse-width control signals for generating the output signal which is in the form of a pulse train whose cycle time can be detected for determining the frequency information and whose presence or absence of pulses can be detected for determining data information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first translator means comprises a first ECL-to-CMOS translator (T1).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second translator means comprises a second ECL-to-CMOS translator (T2).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first delay means is comprised of a first inverter (I1), a first delay network (D1), and a first NAND logic gate (N1).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 33 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second delay means is comprised of a second inverter (I2), a second delay network (D2), and a second NAND logic gate (N2).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 115 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first NAND logic gate (N1) has its first input connected to the output of said first inverter (I1) and its second input connected to the output of said first delay network (D1), said second NAND logic gate (N2) having its first input connected to the output of said second inverter (I2) and its second input connected to the output of said second delay network (D2), said first delay network (D1) having its input connected to the output of said second NAND logic gate (N2) and said second delay network (D2) having its input connected to the output of said first NAND logic gate (N1).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 31 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first and second delay networks (D1, D2) are each comprised of a pair of inverters to provide equal delay times.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first and second delay networks (D1, D2) are each comprised of a plurality of even number of inverters to provide equal delay times.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 72 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said output logic means is comprised of a third NAND logic gate (N3), said third NAND logic gate (N3) having its first input connected to the output of said first NAND logic gate (N1) and its second input connected to the output of said second NAND logic gate (N2), the output of said third NAND logic gate (N3) providing the output signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second CMOS output signals are non-symmetrical with unequal rise and fall times.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 136 words
A logic interface circuit for recovering phase and data from a data/frequency signal having distorted duty cycles caused by an ECL-to-CMOS translator, said interface circuit comprising: input stage means responsive to ECL differential input signals for generating a first CMOS output signal and a second CMOS output signal which is complementary to said first CMOS output signal; first intermediate stage means responsive to said first CMOS output signal and a first delayed signal for generating a first pulse-width control signal; second intermediate stage means responsive to said second CMOS output signal and a second delay signal for generating a second pulse-width control signal and output logic means responsive to said first and second pulse-width control signals for generating an output signal which is CMOS compatible so that both data and frequency information can be extracted separately.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 136 words
A logic interface circuit for recovering phase and data from a data/frequency signal having distorted duty cycles caused by an ECL-to-CMOS translator, said interface circuit comprising: input stage means responsive to ECL differential input signals for generating a first CMOS output signal and a second CMOS output signal which is complementary to said first CMOS output signal; first intermediate stage means responsive to said first CMOS output signal and a first delayed signal for generating a first pulse-width control signal; second intermediate stage means responsive to said second CMOS output signal and a second delay signal for generating a second pulse-width control signal and output logic means responsive to said first and second pulse-width control signals for generating an output signal which is CMOS compatible so that both data and frequency information can be extracted separately.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 24 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein said input stage means is comprised of first and second ECL-to-CMOS translators (T1, T2).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 34 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first intermediate stage means is comprised of a first inverter (I1), a first delay network (D1), and a first NAND logic gate (N1).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 34 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second intermediate stage means is comprised of a second inverter (I2), a second delay network (D2), and a second NAND logic gate (N2).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 115 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first NAND logic gate (N1) has its first input connected to the output of said first inverter (I1) and its second input connected to the output of said first delay network (D1), said second NAND logic gate (N2) having its first input connected to the output of said second inverter (I2) and its second input connected to the output of said second delay network (D2), said first delay network (D1) having its input connected to the output of said second NAND logic gate (N2) and said second delay network (D2) having its input connected to the output of said first NAND logic gate (N1).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 31 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first and second delay networks (D1, D2) are each comprised of a pair of inverters to provide equal delay times.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 34 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first and second delay networks (D1, D2) are each comprised of a plurality of even number of inverters to provide equal delay times.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 72 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said output logic means is comprised of a third NAND logic gate (N3), said third NAND logic gate (N3) having its first input connected to the output of said first NAND logic gate (N1) and its second input connected to the output of said second NAND logic gate (N2), the output of said third NAND logic gate (N3) providing the output signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 25 words
A logic interface circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first and second CMOS output signals are non-symmetrical with unequal rise and fall times.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4140980A Cited
US4798981A Cited
US4868425A Cited
US4958132A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-11-22 1997-05-24 1997-11-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-11-22 2001-05-24 2001-11-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-11-22 2005-05-24 2005-11-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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