US6704818B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voltage-mode driver with pre-emphasis, slew-rate control and source termination
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 2000-12-29
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Granted: 2004-03-09
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Expires: 2020-12-29
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides an apparatus, method, and means for maintaining a constant slew rate while providing pre-emphasis, to adapt a push-pull voltage driver to the interconnect that it is driving. In an aspect, the invention modifies a driver output voltage amplitude, providing a small swing out for low frequency signals, and a large swing out for high frequency signals, such that low frequency signals and high frequency signals reach a receiver with equal amplitude. In an aspect, a slew rate control, having a delay mixer, selects and individually transmits to individual segments of a driver leg, at a desired time, one of output data and a signal for a pre-emphasis version of output data. In an aspect, the invention maintains a matched direct current termination impedance to the characteristic impedance of a transmission line being driven.
Inventors
- 👤 Aaron K. Martin
- 👤 Bryan K. Casper
- 👤 Joseph T. Kennedy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:32
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/16; H03K17/161; H03K17/162; H03K17/163; H03K17/164; H03K19/00; H03K19/0005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus comprising: a plurality of driver legs to drive a transmission line and provide pre-emphasis for data frequencies; and a slew-rate control circuit having an input for receiving data frequencies, connected with said driver legs, to sequentially switch states of said driver legs and maintain a constant slew rate for said pre-emphasis, said slew-rate control circuit having a plurality of delay mixers to select a delay for said driver legs; wherein said driver legs are to maintain a matched direct current termination impedance to the characteristic impedance of said transmission line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus comprising: a plurality of driver legs to drive a transmission line and provide pre-emphasis for data frequencies; and a slew-rate control circuit having an input for receiving data frequencies, connected with said driver legs, to sequentially switch states of said driver legs and maintain a constant slew rate for said pre-emphasis, said slew-rate control circuit having a plurality of delay mixers to select a delay for said driver legs; wherein said driver legs are to maintain a matched direct current termination impedance to the characteristic impedance of said transmission line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said driver legs having a positive-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) device, a negative-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) device, two resistors, a bias voltage, and a ground.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein, said slew-rate control circuit having an input control.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
26 words
A method comprising: receiving data frequencies; providing pre-emphasis for said data frequencies; and maintaining a constant slew rate by selecting a delay while providing said pre-emphasis.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
26 words
A method comprising: receiving data frequencies; providing pre-emphasis for said data frequencies; and maintaining a constant slew rate by selecting a delay while providing said pre-emphasis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as in claim 4 , further comprising driving a transmission line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as in claim 5 , further comprising maintaining a matched direct current termination impedance to the characteristic impedance of said transmission line.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
32 words
A apparatus comprising: means for receiving data frequencies; means for providing pre-emphasis for said data frequencies; and means for maintaining a constant slew rate by selecting a delay while providing said pre-emphasis.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
32 words
A apparatus comprising: means for receiving data frequencies; means for providing pre-emphasis for said data frequencies; and means for maintaining a constant slew rate by selecting a delay while providing said pre-emphasis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as in claim 7 , further comprising means for driving a transmission line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as in claim 8 , further comprising means for maintaining a matched direct current termination impedance to the characteristic impedance of said transmission line.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
128 words
A system comprising: a memory; an input/output (I/O) port; and a microprocessor; wherein said memory, said I/O port, and said microprocessor are connected by an address bus, a data bus and a control bus; and wherein said microprocessor includes a plurality of driver legs to drive a transmission line and provide pre-emphasis for data frequencies, and also includes a slew-rate control circuit having an input for receiving data frequencies, connected with said driver legs, to sequentially switch states of said driver legs and maintain a constant slew rate for said pre-emphasis, said slew-rate control circuit having a plurality of delay mixers to select a delay for said driver legs, wherein said driver legs maintain a matched direct current termination impedance to the characteristic impedance of said transmission line.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
128 words
A system comprising: a memory; an input/output (I/O) port; and a microprocessor; wherein said memory, said I/O port, and said microprocessor are connected by an address bus, a data bus and a control bus; and wherein said microprocessor includes a plurality of driver legs to drive a transmission line and provide pre-emphasis for data frequencies, and also includes a slew-rate control circuit having an input for receiving data frequencies, connected with said driver legs, to sequentially switch states of said driver legs and maintain a constant slew rate for said pre-emphasis, said slew-rate control circuit having a plurality of delay mixers to select a delay for said driver legs, wherein said driver legs maintain a matched direct current termination impedance to the characteristic impedance of said transmission line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as in claim 10 , wherein said driver legs having a positive-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) device, a negative-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) device, two resistors, a bias voltage, and a ground.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as in claim 10 , wherein, said slew-rate control circuit having an input control.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
68 words
A system comprising: a memory; an input/output (I/O) port; and a microprocessor; wherein said memory, said I/O port, and said microprocessor are connected by an address bus, a data bus and a control bus; and wherein said microprocessor includes means for receiving data frequencies, means for providing pre-emphasis for said data frequencies, and means for maintaining a constant slew rate while providing said pre-emphasis by selecting a delay.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
68 words
A system comprising: a memory; an input/output (I/O) port; and a microprocessor; wherein said memory, said I/O port, and said microprocessor are connected by an address bus, a data bus and a control bus; and wherein said microprocessor includes means for receiving data frequencies, means for providing pre-emphasis for said data frequencies, and means for maintaining a constant slew rate while providing said pre-emphasis by selecting a delay.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as in claim 13 , further comprising means for driving a transmission line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as in claim 14 , further comprising means for maintaining a matched direct current termination impedance to the characteristic impedance of said transmission line.
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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) | 2007-03-09 | 2007-09-08 | 2008-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-09 | 2011-09-08 | 2012-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-09 | 2015-09-08 | 2016-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |