US6232792B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Terminating transmission lines using on-chip terminator circuitry
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
•
Filing: 1999-05-21
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Granted: 2001-05-15
•
Expires: 2019-05-21
Abstract
Abstract An information handling system is disclosed herein. The system includes at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance and a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of the system transmission lines. Each cluster comprises at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of the system transmission lines, and is coupled to a the system transmission line and a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of the cluster transmission lines. A method for operating the system provided herein includes designating one of the drivers as an active driver, designating each driver other than the active driver as a terminating driver, causing each terminating driver to be configured in a nonactive pull-up terminating configuration; and causing the active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which the active driver is connected.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan E. Starr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/4068; G06F13/4086; H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/0005; H04; H04L; H04L25/00; H04L25/02; H04L25/0264; H04L25/0298
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: an active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: an active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising at least one driver having a pull-down circuit, the pull-down circuit having an output resistance corresponding to the number of cluster transmission lines.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the output resistance of said pull-down circuit is within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) wherein Z 0 is the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, n is the total number of cluster transmission lines in the system, V dd is the voltage at an upper rail, V ss is the voltage at a lower rail, and V swing is the voltage swing desired at one of said second ends not having an active driver when each second end in the system is terminated to an upper rail.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the pull-up circuit comprises a PMOS transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the pull-up circuit comprises an NMOS transistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the pull-up circuit comprises the parallel combination of a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the pull-up circuit comprises the parallel combination of two PMOS transistors wherein a first one of said two PMOS transistors is diode connected and a second one of said two PMOS transistors is normally connected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the pull-down circuit comprises a PMOS transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the pull-down circuit comprises an NMOS transistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the pull-down circuit comprises the parallel combination of a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the pull-down circuit comprises the parallel combination of two NMOS transistors wherein a first one of said two NMOS transistors is diode connected and a second one of said two NMOS transistors is normally connected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
152 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: an active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
152 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: an active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The information handling system of claim 12 further comprising at least one driver having a pull-up circuit, the pull-up circuit having an output resistance corresponding to the number of cluster transmission lines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
The information handling system of claim 13 wherein the output resistance of said pull-up circuit is within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)/(n−1) wherein Z 0 is the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, n is the total number of cluster transmission lines in the system, V dd is the voltage at an upper rail, V ss is the voltage at a lower rail, and V swing is the voltage swing desired at one of said second ends not having an active driver when each second end in the system is terminated to a lower rail.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The information handling system of claim 13 wherein the pull-up circuit comprises a PMOS transistor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The information handling system of claim 13 wherein the pull-up circuit comprises an NMOS transistor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The information handling system of claim 13 wherein the pull-up circuit comprises the parallel combination of a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The information handling system of claim 13 wherein the pull-up circuit comprises the parallel combination of two PMOS transistors wherein a first one of said two PMOS transistors is diode connected and a second one of said two PMOS transistors is normally connected.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The information handling system of claim 12 wherein the pull-down circuit comprises a PMOS transistor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The information handling system of claim 12 wherein the pull-down circuit comprises an NMOS transistor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The information handling system of claim 12 wherein the pull-down circuit comprises the parallel combination of a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The information handling system of claim 12 wherein the pull-down circuit comprises the parallel combination of two NMOS transistors wherein a first one of said two NMOS transistors is diode connected and a second one of said two NMOS transistors is normally connected.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; designating one of said drivers as an active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to an upper rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; designating one of said drivers as an active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to an upper rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance corresponding to the total number of cluster transmission lines; designating one of said drivers having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance corresponding to the total number of cluster transmission lines as an active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to an upper rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance corresponding to the total number of cluster transmission lines; designating one of said drivers having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance corresponding to the total number of cluster transmission lines as an active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to an upper rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
309 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) wherein Z 0 is the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, n is the total number of cluster transmission lines in the system, V dd is the voltage at an upper rail, V ss is the voltage at a lower rail, and V swing is the voltage swing desired at one of said second ends not having an active driver when each second end in the system is terminated to an upper rail; designating one of said drivers having a pull-down circuit having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) as an active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to an upper rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
309 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) wherein Z 0 is the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, n is the total number of cluster transmission lines in the system, V dd is the voltage at an upper rail, V ss is the voltage at a lower rail, and V swing is the voltage swing desired at one of said second ends not having an active driver when each second end in the system is terminated to an upper rail; designating one of said drivers having a pull-down circuit having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) as an active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to an upper rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; designating one of said drivers as an active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to a lower rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; designating one of said drivers as an active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to a lower rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one driver including a pull-up circuit having an output resistance corresponding to the total number of cluster transmission lines; designating one of said drivers including a pull-up circuit having an output resistance corresponding to the total number of cluster transmission lines as the active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to a lower rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one driver including a pull-up circuit having an output resistance corresponding to the total number of cluster transmission lines; designating one of said drivers including a pull-up circuit having an output resistance corresponding to the total number of cluster transmission lines as the active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to a lower rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
309 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) wherein Z 0 is the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, n is the total number of cluster transmission lines in the system, V dd is the voltage at an upper rail, V ss is the voltage at a lower rail, and V swing is the voltage swing desired at one of said second ends not having an active driver when each second end in the system is terminated to a lower rail; designating one of said drivers having an output resistance within ten percent of having an output resistance within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) as the active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to a lower rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
309 words
A method for operating an information system comprising: providing at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance; providing a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of said at least one system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: a driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) wherein Z 0 is the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, n is the total number of cluster transmission lines in the system, V dd is the voltage at an upper rail, V ss is the voltage at a lower rail, and V swing is the voltage swing desired at one of said second ends not having an active driver when each second end in the system is terminated to a lower rail; designating one of said drivers having an output resistance within ten percent of having an output resistance within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) as the active driver; causing each second end not having an active driver connected thereto to be terminated to a lower rail using one of an chip terminator, an off-chip terminator a driver; and causing said active driver to drive a signal onto the transmission line to which said active driver is connected.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
205 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance Z 0 ; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines each having a characteristic impedance of, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance at least one said system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: and active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; at least one driver having a pull-down circuit, the pull-down circuit having an output resistance substantially equal to Z 0 /(n−1), where n equals the number of cluster transmission lines; and wherein said pull-up circuit further comprises a parallel combination of a plurality of transistors.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
205 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance Z 0 ; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines each having a characteristic impedance of, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance at least one said system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: and active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; at least one driver having a pull-down circuit, the pull-down circuit having an output resistance substantially equal to Z 0 /(n−1), where n equals the number of cluster transmission lines; and wherein said pull-up circuit further comprises a parallel combination of a plurality of transistors.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
84 words
The information handling system according to claim 29 , wherein: said output resistance of the said pull-down circuit is within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) wherein V dd is the voltage at an upper rail, V ss is the voltage at a lower rail, and V swing is the voltage swing desired at one of each said second ends not having an active driver when each second end in the system is terminated to an upper rail.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The information handling system according to claim 29 , wherein: said parallel combination of a plurality of transistors comprises one PMOS transistor and one NMOS transistor.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
47 words
The information handling system according to claim 29 , wherein: the said parallel combination of a plurality of transistors comprises two PMOS transistors wherein a first one of said two PMOS transistors is diode connected and a second one of said two PMOS transistors is normally connected.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
206 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance Z 0 ; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines each having a characteristic impedance of, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance at least one said system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: and active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; at least one driver having a pull-down circuit, the pull-down circuit having an output resistance substantially equal to Z 0 /(n−1), where n equals the number of cluster transmission lines; and wherein the said pull-down circuit further comprises a parallel combination of a plurality of transistors.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
206 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance Z 0 ; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines each having a characteristic impedance of, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance at least one said system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: and active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-up circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; at least one driver having a pull-down circuit, the pull-down circuit having an output resistance substantially equal to Z 0 /(n−1), where n equals the number of cluster transmission lines; and wherein the said pull-down circuit further comprises a parallel combination of a plurality of transistors.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
86 words
The information handling system according to claim 33 , wherein wherein the said output resistance of the said pull-down circuit is within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) wherein V dd is the voltage at an upper rail, V ss is the voltage at a lower rail, and V swing is the voltage swing desired at one of each said second ends not having an active driver when each second end in the system is terminated to an upper rail.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The information handling system according to claim 33 , wherein said parallel combination of a plurality of transistors comprises one PMOS transistor and one NMOS transistor.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
46 words
The information handling system according to claim 33 , wherein said parallel combination of a plurality of transistors comprises two PMOS transistors wherein a first one of said two PMOS transistors is diode connected and a second one of said two PMOS transistors is normally connected.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
The information handling system according to claim 36 , wherein: said parallel combination of a plurality of transistors comprises one PMOS transistor and one NMOS transistor.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
86 words
The information handling system according to claim 36 , wherein: wherein the said output resistance of the said pull-down circuit is within ten percent of [Z 0 ([(V dd −V ss )/V swing ]−1)]/(n−1) wherein V dd is the voltage at an upper rail, V ss is the voltage at a lower rail, and V swing is the voltage swing desired at one of each said second ends not having an active driver when each second end in the system is terminated to an upper rail.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
46 words
The information handling system according to claim 36 , wherein: said parallel combination of a plurality of transistors comprises two PMOS transistors wherein a first one of said two PMOS transistors is diode connected and a second one of said two PMOS transistors is normally connected.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
46 words
The information handling system according to claim 36 , wherein: said parallel combination of a plurality of transistors comprises two PMOS transistors wherein a first one of said two PMOS transistors is diode connected and a second one of said two PMOS transistors is normally connected.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
26 words
The information handling system according to claim 36 , wherein: said parallel combination of a plurality of transistors comprises one PMOS transistor and one NMOS transistor.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
204 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance Z 0 ; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines each having a characteristic impedance of, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance at least one said system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: and active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; at least one driver having a pull-up circuit, the pull-up circuit having an output resistance substantially equal to Z 0 /(n−1), where n equals the number of cluster transmission lines; and said pull-down circuit further comprises a parallel combination of a plurality of transistors.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
204 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance Z 0 ; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines each having a characteristic impedance of, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance at least one said system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: and active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; at least one driver having a pull-up circuit, the pull-up circuit having an output resistance substantially equal to Z 0 /(n−1), where n equals the number of cluster transmission lines; and said pull-down circuit further comprises a parallel combination of a plurality of transistors.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
204 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance Z 0 ; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines each having a characteristic impedance of, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance at least one said system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: and active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; at least one driver having a pull-up circuit, the pull-up circuit having an output resistance substantially equal to Z 0 (n−1), where n equals the number of cluster transmission lines; and said pull-up circuit further comprises a parallel combination of a plurality of transistors.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
204 words
An information handling system comprising: at least one system transmission line having a characteristic impedance Z 0 ; a plurality of clusters, each cluster being coupled to each other cluster through at least one of said system transmission lines each having a characteristic impedance of, each cluster comprising at least one cluster transmission line each having a characteristic impedance equal to the characteristic impedance at least one said system transmission line, each of said cluster transmission lines having a first end coupled to at least one of the system transmission lines and a second end coupled to a circuit chosen from the following: and active driver, an on-chip terminator, an off-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; each driver having a pull-down circuit having an output resistance matching the characteristic impedance of said cluster transmission lines, at least one second end being connected to one of the following: an on-chip terminator, an inactive driver in a termination configuration; at least one driver having a pull-up circuit, the pull-up circuit having an output resistance substantially equal to Z 0 (n−1), where n equals the number of cluster transmission lines; and said pull-up circuit further comprises a parallel combination of a plurality of transistors.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-14 | 2004-11-13 | 2005-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-14 | 2008-11-13 | 2009-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-14 | 2012-11-13 | 2013-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |