US5592510A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Common mode early voltage compensation subcircuit for current driver
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1994-03-29
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Granted: 1997-01-07
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Expires: 2014-03-29
Abstract
Abstract In a driver circuit for a twisted pair cable, a compensator for preventing appreciable common mode current flow into or out of the twisted pair cable in response to the device receiving a wide range of common mode voltage bias levels. A wide range of external bias voltages may be received as a result of variations in the ground node voltages of two coupled devices. The compensator circuit utilizes a feed back loop and monitors the bias voltage received on the twisted pair cable. As the magnitude of the common mode current increases due to external bias voltage variation from a reference bias voltage, the current flow of p-channel transistors, coupled in an arrangement of the present invention, is increased (or decreased, as necessary) so that reduced common mode current flows onto the twisted pair cable. The present invention reduces appreciable common mode current flow through the twisted pair cable from the driver that are due to variations in the external bias voltage between communication devices. The present invention provides high common mode output impedance for the driver circuit by altering the effective common mode common mode early voltage characteristics of the driver circuit while utilizing shorter channel length transistors for high speed communication capacity. The present invention also offers reduced current supply capacity of the common mode bias voltage source. The present invention operates ideally within driver circuits compatible with the IEEE P1394 communication standard.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger W. Van Brunt
- 👤 Florin A. Oprescu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L25/00; H04L25/02; H04L25/0264; H04L25/028; H04L25/0282; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/45; H03F3/45071; H03F3/45076; H03F3/45179; H03F3/45475; H03F3/45479; H03F3/45632; H03F3/45636; H03F3/45641; H03F3/45654; H03F3/45744; H03F3/45766; H04L25/0272; H04L25/0274; H04L5/00; H04L5/20; H03F2203/00; H03F2203/45; H03F2203/45394; H03F2203/45592; H04L25/029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A driver circuit comprising: driving circuitry driving differential signals over a twisted pair cable and driving common mode current signals containing information over said twisted pair cable, said driving circuitry comprising driving transistors and having a bias voltage, said driving transistors coupled to said twisted pair cable; and a subcircuit coupled to said driving circuitry and modifying an effective common mode early voltage characteristic of said driving transistors in response to variations in said bias voltage from a reference voltage level, said subcircuit effectively reducing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable in response to variations of said bias voltage from said reference voltage level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A driver circuit comprising: driving circuitry driving differential signals over a twisted pair cable and driving common mode current signals containing information over said twisted pair cable, said driving circuitry comprising driving transistors and having a bias voltage, said driving transistors coupled to said twisted pair cable; and a subcircuit coupled to said driving circuitry and modifying an effective common mode early voltage characteristic of said driving transistors in response to variations in said bias voltage from a reference voltage level, said subcircuit effectively reducing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable in response to variations of said bias voltage from said reference voltage level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 1 wherein said subcircuit is for increasing an effective output impedance of said driving transistors of said driving circuitry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 1 wherein said common mode current signals over said twisted pair cable are for conveying speed signal information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 1 wherein said subcircuit comprises two amplifiers coupled in a feedback arrangement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 1 wherein said driving transistors of said driving circuitry are current drivers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 1 wherein said driving transistors of said driving circuitry are small channel length p-type transistors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
A high speed current driver circuit comprising: (a) a biased driver circuit driving differential and common mode current signals containing information over a twisted pair cable, said driver circuit driving high, low and null signals representative of digital information, said driver circuit comprising: a first pair of transistors coupled to said twisted pair cable for driving differential signals; a second pair of transistors coupled to said twisted pair cable for driving common mode signals; and a third pair of transistors coupled to said twisted pair cable, said third pair of transistors for use in conjunction with said first pair and said second pair of transistors; and (b) a common mode early voltage compensation circuit coupled to said biased driver circuit, said common mode early voltage compensation circuit monitoring a bias voltage level and minimizing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable in response to variations of said bias voltage level from a reference bias voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
157 words
A high speed current driver circuit comprising: (a) a biased driver circuit driving differential and common mode current signals containing information over a twisted pair cable, said driver circuit driving high, low and null signals representative of digital information, said driver circuit comprising: a first pair of transistors coupled to said twisted pair cable for driving differential signals; a second pair of transistors coupled to said twisted pair cable for driving common mode signals; and a third pair of transistors coupled to said twisted pair cable, said third pair of transistors for use in conjunction with said first pair and said second pair of transistors; and (b) a common mode early voltage compensation circuit coupled to said biased driver circuit, said common mode early voltage compensation circuit monitoring a bias voltage level and minimizing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable in response to variations of said bias voltage level from a reference bias voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A high speed current driver as described in claim 7 wherein said common mode early voltage compensation circuit is for effectively increasing common mode early voltage characteristics of said first pair of transistors in response to said variations of said bias voltage level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A high speed current driver as described in claim 8 wherein said first pair of transistors of said biased driver circuit are small channel length p-type transistors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A high speed current driver as described in claim 8 wherein said common mode current signals are for conveying speed signal information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A high speed current driver as described in claim 8 wherein said common mode early voltage compensation circuit comprises two amplifiers coupled in a feedback arrangement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
A driver circuit for communicating information over a twisted pair cable, said driver circuit comprising: first circuitry for generating differential voltage signals over said twisted pair cable, said differential signals representative of binary data, said first circuitry having a bias voltage; second circuitry for generating a common mode voltage signal over said twisted pair cable, said second circuitry responsive to a speed signal input, and said common mode voltage signal for indicating a high speed transmission rate; and a common mode early voltage compensation circuit coupled to said first and second circuitry for monitoring said bias voltage and for minimizing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable in response to variations of said bias voltage from a reference bias voltage level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
123 words
A driver circuit for communicating information over a twisted pair cable, said driver circuit comprising: first circuitry for generating differential voltage signals over said twisted pair cable, said differential signals representative of binary data, said first circuitry having a bias voltage; second circuitry for generating a common mode voltage signal over said twisted pair cable, said second circuitry responsive to a speed signal input, and said common mode voltage signal for indicating a high speed transmission rate; and a common mode early voltage compensation circuit coupled to said first and second circuitry for monitoring said bias voltage and for minimizing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable in response to variations of said bias voltage from a reference bias voltage level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 12 wherein said second circuitry is also for generating differential voltage signals over said twisted pair cable simultaneously with said common mode voltage signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 12 wherein said common mode early voltage compensation circuit is for effectively increasing common mode early voltage characteristics of said first circuitry in response to said variations of said bias voltage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 14 wherein said first circuitry comprises p-type transistors of small channel length.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 14 wherein said common mode early voltage compensation circuit comprises two amplifiers coupled in a feedback arrangement.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 12 wherein said first circuitry is responsive to a set of inputs for generating high, low, and null differential voltage signals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 17 wherein said first circuitry comprises switchable current sources that are electrically coupled to or decoupled from said twisted pair cable in response to said set of inputs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 13 wherein said second circuitry is responsive to a set of inputs for generating said common mode voltage signal and also for generating high, low, and null differential voltage signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 19 wherein said second circuitry comprises switchable current sources that are electrically coupled to or decoupled from said twisted pair cable in response to said set of inputs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A driver circuit as described in claim 12 wherein said first circuitry and said second circuitry are implemented in CMOS technology on a single driver circuit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
157 words
A communication network comprising: a plurality of communicating devices comprising a general purpose computer system, a digital graphic display device, a digital graphic input device, and a digital information storage device; and associated with individual devices of said network, a driver circuit for communicating information over a twisted pair cable, said driver circuit comprising: driving circuitry driving differential signals over said twisted pair cable and driving common mode current signals containing information over said twisted pair cable, said driving circuitry comprising driving transistors and having a bias voltage, said driving transistors coupled to said twisted pair cable; and a subcircuit coupled to said driving circuitry and modifying an effective common mode early voltage characteristic of said driving transistors responsive to variations in said bias voltage from a reference voltage level, said subcircuit effectively reducing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable in response to variations of when said bias voltage from said reference voltage level.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
157 words
A communication network comprising: a plurality of communicating devices comprising a general purpose computer system, a digital graphic display device, a digital graphic input device, and a digital information storage device; and associated with individual devices of said network, a driver circuit for communicating information over a twisted pair cable, said driver circuit comprising: driving circuitry driving differential signals over said twisted pair cable and driving common mode current signals containing information over said twisted pair cable, said driving circuitry comprising driving transistors and having a bias voltage, said driving transistors coupled to said twisted pair cable; and a subcircuit coupled to said driving circuitry and modifying an effective common mode early voltage characteristic of said driving transistors responsive to variations in said bias voltage from a reference voltage level, said subcircuit effectively reducing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable in response to variations of when said bias voltage from said reference voltage level.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
A communication network as described in claim 22 wherein said subcircuit is for increasing an effective output impedance of said driving transistors of said driving circuitry.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A communication network as described in claim 22 wherein said common mode current signals over said twisted pair cable are for conveying speed signal information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
A communication network as described in claim 22 wherein said subcircuit comprises two amplifiers coupled in a feedback arrangement.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A communication network as described in claim 22 wherein said driving transistors of said driving circuitry are current drivers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A communication network as described in claim 22 wherein said driving transistors of said driving circuitry are small channel length p-type transistors.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a communication device, a method of communicating information over a twisted pair cable, said method comprising the steps of: generating differential voltage signals over said twisted pair cable, said differential voltage signals representative of digital information for transmission, said step of generating differential voltage signals performed by a single driver circuit; generating common mode voltage signal over said twisted pair cable, said common mode voltage signal for signaling communication speed information, said step of generating common mode voltage signal also performed by said single driver circuit; monitoring a bias voltage of said single driver circuit; and minimizing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable in response to variations of said bias voltage from a reference bias voltage level.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a communication device, a method of communicating information over a twisted pair cable, said method comprising the steps of: generating differential voltage signals over said twisted pair cable, said differential voltage signals representative of digital information for transmission, said step of generating differential voltage signals performed by a single driver circuit; generating common mode voltage signal over said twisted pair cable, said common mode voltage signal for signaling communication speed information, said step of generating common mode voltage signal also performed by said single driver circuit; monitoring a bias voltage of said single driver circuit; and minimizing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable in response to variations of said bias voltage from a reference bias voltage level.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of communicating information as described in claim 28 wherein said step of minimizing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable comprises the step of increasing a common mode early voltage characteristic of said single driver circuit in response to said variations of said bias voltage.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of communicating information as described in claim 28 wherein said steps of monitoring said bias voltage of said single driver circuit and minimizing common mode current flow over said twisted pair cable are implemented with amplifiers coupled in a feedback arrangement.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of communicating information as described in claim 28 wherein said step of generating differential voltage signals and said step of generating common mode voltage signal may be performed simultaneously over said twisted pair cable.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of communicating information as described in claim 28 further comprising the step of receiving a set of digital signal inputs for generating high, low and null differential voltage signals and wherein said step of generating differential voltage signals is responsive to said set of digital signal inputs.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of communicating information as described in claim 32 wherein said step of generating differential voltage signals utilizes switchable current sources that are electrically coupled to or decoupled from said twisted pair cable in response to said set of digital signal inputs.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of communicating information as described in claim 31 further comprising the step of receiving a set of digital signal inputs for generating said common mode voltage signal and also for generating high, low, and null differential voltage signals and wherein said step of generating said common mode voltage signal is responsive to said set of digital signal inputs.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of communicating information as described in claim 34 wherein said step of generating common mode voltage signal utilizes switchable current sources that are electrically coupled to or decoupled from said twisted pair cable in response to said set of digital signal inputs.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-07 | 2000-07-08 | 2001-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-07 | 2004-07-08 | 2005-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-07 | 2008-07-08 | 2009-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |