Differential drive circuit and communication device

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Applications JP 2007-311134 and JP 2008-231338 respectively filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Nov. 30, 2007 and Sep. 9, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a differential drive circuit and a communication device which process a differential signal propagated on a differential transmission line or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Differential signals are widely used for long-distance transmission of data at high speed.

In particular, the push-pull driver described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-345259 is frequently used because the current necessary for driving a differential signal to the load is small.

In this type of circuit, the average voltage across the load does not stabilize unless the average values of a pull-up current and a pull-down current over a long period of time match each other. Thus, the current source is adjusted by using such feedback control that makes the common-mode voltage output constant.

Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-347860 discloses a technique for suppressing generation of a common-mode voltage by adjusting the driving timings of drive transistors.

However, the technique of adjusting the current source by using such feedback control that makes a common-mode voltage output constant is a slow-response control and only serves to keep the average voltage constant. The instantaneous value of a common-mode voltage fluctuates greatly due to variations in ON/OFF timing of a push-pull transistor.

Such fluctuation in common-mode voltage produces a pulsating electric current that is propagated on the differential transmission line and returns by passing through a line connecting between the ground potentials GND of the transmitter and the receiver, scattering large radiation noise.

As described above, the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-347860 suppresses generation of a common-mode voltage by adjusting the drive timings of drive transistors.

However, strictly speaking, this method is effective only when the rise time of a pull-up drive circuit and the fall time of a pull-down circuit are equal. In actuality, there is a difference between the rise and fall times, and hence it is difficult to suppress the common-mode voltage fluctuation to zero.

A more commonly employed method is to suppress common-mode voltage fluctuation by using a filter element called a common-mode filter or a pulse transformer for the output of a differential drive circuit that contain fluctuations in common-mode voltage.

However, disadvantageously, such a filter element is large in size, making it difficult to integrate the filter element onto a semiconductor substrate together with the drive circuit. Also, the filter element increases the number of parts and is inexpensive.

It is desirable to provide a differential drive circuit and a communication device which can output a differential signal with desired common-mode component even when the gate voltage-drain current characteristic of transistors is non-linear, or even when the characteristic differs between transistors of different polarities.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a differential drive circuit including at least one of a first drive system and a second drive system. The first drive system includes a first field effect transistor of a first conductivity type, a second field effect transistor of the first conductivity type, a first resistor and a second resistor, a first circuit that controls a source voltage of the first field effect transistor so as to be equal to a first drive target voltage that is supplied, and a second circuit that controls a source voltage of the second field effect transistor so as to be equal to a second drive target voltage that is supplied, the first field effect transistor having a source connected to a power supply potential source via the first resistor, and a drain connected to a first output node, the second field effect transistor having a source connected to the power supply potential source via the second resistor, and a drain connected to a second output node. The second drive system includes a third field effect transistor of a second conductivity type, a fourth field effect transistor of the second conductivity type, a third resistor and a fourth resistor, a third circuit that controls a source voltage of the third field effect transistor so as to be equal to a third drive target voltage that is supplied, and a fourth circuit that controls a source voltage of the fourth field effect transistor so as to be equal to a fourth drive target voltage that is supplied, the third field effect transistor having a source connected to a reference potential source via the third resistor, and a drain connected to the first output node, the fourth field effect transistor having a source connected to the reference potential source via the fourth resistor, and a drain connected to the second output node. The differential drive circuit drives a common-mode voltage so as to form a constant differential signal across a load resistance.

Preferably, the first drive target voltage and the second drive target voltage form a differential signal pair whose sum is constant, and in the second drive system, and the third drive target voltage and the fourth drive target voltage form a differential signal pair whose sum is constant.

Preferably, the first drive target voltage and the third drive target voltage are signals of the same waveform with an offset, and the second drive target voltage and the fourth drive target voltage are signals of the same waveform with an offset.

Preferably, an average voltage of the first drive target voltage and the second drive target voltage is biased so as to be lower than the power supply potential by a constant value, and an average voltage of the third drive target voltage and the fourth drive target voltage is biased so as to be higher than the reference potential by a constant value.

Preferably, the first circuit includes a first operational amplifier, the first operational amplifier having a first input terminal connected to a supply line of the first drive target voltage, a second input terminal connected to the source of the first field effect transistor, and an output connected to a gate of the first field effect transistor, the second circuit includes a second operational amplifier, the second operational amplifier having a third input terminal connected to a supply line of the second drive target voltage, a fourth input terminal connected to the source of the second field effect transistor, and an output connected to a gate of the second field effect transistor, the third circuit includes a third operational amplifier, the third operational amplifier having a fifth input terminal connected to a supply line of the third drive target voltage, a sixth input terminal connected to the source of the third field effect transistor, and an output connected to a gate of the third field effect transistor, and the fourth circuit includes a fourth operational amplifier, the fourth operational amplifier having a seventh input terminal connected to a supply line of the fourth drive target voltage, an eighth input terminal connected to the source of the fourth field effect transistor, and an output connected to a gate of the fourth field effect transistor.

Preferably, the first drive system further includes a fifth resistor connected between the source of the first field effect transistor and the source of the second field effect transistor, and the second drive system further includes a sixth resistor connected between the source of the third field effect transistor and the source of the fourth field effect transistor.

Preferably, the first drive system further includes a first differential amplifier that receives a differential voltage and generates the first drive target voltage and the second drive target voltage, supplies the generated first drive target voltage to the first circuit, and supplies the generated second drive target voltage to the second circuit, and the second drive system further includes a second differential amplifier that receives the differential voltage and generates the third drive target voltage and the fourth drive target voltage, supplies the generated third drive target voltage to the third circuit, and supplies the generated fourth drive target voltage to the fourth circuit.

Preferably, the first drive system further includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that generates the first drive target potential and the second drive target potential in accordance with inputted digital data, and the second drive system further includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that generates the third drive target potential and the fourth drive target potential in accordance with inputted digital data.

Preferably, the first drive system further includes a first DAC that generates the first drive target potential from a first addition/subtraction result of two numerical inputs, and a second DAC that generates the second drive target potential from a second addition/subtraction result of two numerical inputs, and the second drive system further includes a third DAC that generates the third drive target potential from a third addition/subtraction result of two numerical inputs, and a fourth DAC that generates the fourth drive target potential from a fourth addition/subtraction result of two numerical inputs.

Preferably, the first drive system further includes a stabilizing circuit that stabilizes outputs of the first DAC and the second DAC, and the second drive system further includes a stabilizing circuit that stabilizes outputs of the third DAC and the fourth DAC.

Preferably, the first drive system further includes a multiplier that multiplies a specific input by a coefficient specified so as to make an output of the DAC with respect to the input become a constant value, and inputs the multiplied input to the DAC, and the second drive system further includes a multiplier that multiplies a specific input by a coefficient specified so as to make an output of the DAC with respect to the input become a constant value, and inputs the multiplied input to the DAC.

Preferably, the first drive system further includes an offset adding circuit that adds an offset to each of the first drive target potential and the second drive target potential that are generated by the first differential amplifier, and the second drive system further includes an offset adding circuit that adds an offset to each of the third drive target potential and the fourth drive target potential that are generated by the second differential amplifier.

Preferably, the first drive system further includes a first resistance-adjusting field effect transistor that is connected in parallel with a load resistance of the first differential amplifier, and an adjusting circuit that adjusts a gate potential of the first resistance-adjusting field effect transistor, and the second drive system further includes a second resistance-adjusting field effect transistor that is connected in parallel with a load resistance of the second differential amplifier, and an adjusting circuit that adjusts a gate potential of the second resistance-adjusting field effect transistor.

Preferably, the differential drive circuit is connected with a common-mode feedback circuit that suppresses variation in common-mode voltage on the load side.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a communication device including a transmitter arranged on either end side of a differential transmission line. The transmitter includes a differential drive circuit that drives a common-mode voltage so as to form a constant differential signal across a load resistance. The differential drive circuit includes a first field effect transistor of a first conductivity type, a second field effect transistor of the first conductivity type, a third field effect transistor of a second conductivity type, a fourth field effect transistor of the second conductivity type, a first output node and a second output node, a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, and a fourth resistor, the first field effect transistor having a source connected to a power supply potential via the first resistor, and a drain connected to the first output node, the second field effect transistor having a source connected to the power supply potential via the second resistor, and a drain connected to the second output node, the third field effect transistor having a source connected to a reference potential via the third resistor, and a drain connected to the first output node, the fourth field effect transistor having a source connected to the reference potential via the fourth resistor, and a drain connected to the second output node, a first circuit that controls a source voltage of the first field effect transistor so as to be equal to a first drive target voltage that is supplied, a second circuit that controls a source voltage of the second field effect transistor so as to be equal to a second drive target voltage that is supplied, a third circuit that controls a source voltage of the third field effect transistor so as to be equal to a third drive target voltage that is supplied, and a fourth circuit that controls a source voltage of the fourth field effect transistor so as to be equal to a fourth drive target voltage that is supplied.

Preferably, the communication device further includes a receiver arranged in parallel with the transmitter with respect to the differential transmission line.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second resistors are respectively connected between the sources of the first and second field effect transistors and the power source potential, and the third and fourth resistors are respectively connected between the sources of the third and fourth field effect transistors and the reference potential.

Then, feedback control is applied such that the source voltages of the first and second field effect transistors and the source voltages of the third and fourth field effect transistors become equal to their respective drive target voltages, and gates of the first and second field effect transistors and the gates of the third and fourth field effect transistors are driven to extract outputs from the drains.

This differential drive circuit functions as a so-called differential push-pull driver.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a differential signal with desired common-mode component can be outputted by simple configuration, even when the gate voltage-drain current characteristic of transistors is non-linear, or even when the characteristic differs between transistors of different polarities.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of a state machine in FIG. 10 ;

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram showing a first configuration of a gain adjusting circuit in FIG. 17 ;

FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram showing a second configuration of the gain adjusting circuit in FIG. 17 ;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to a nineteenth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to a twentieth embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinbelow, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 according to this embodiment has a differential drive circuit 2 , a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 3 , a second DAC 4 , and a common-mode feedback (CMFB) circuit 5 .

The differential drive circuit 2 has a PMOS transistor Q 1 that is a first field effect transistor of a first conductivity type, for example, a p-channel type (P-type), and a PMOS transistor Q 2 that is a P-type second field effect transistor.

The differential drive circuit 2 has an NMOS transistor Q 3 that is a third field effect transistor of a second conductivity type, for example, an n-channel type (N-type), and an NMOS transistor Q 4 that is an N-type fourth field effect transistor.

The source of the first transistor Q 1 is connected to a power supply potential source VDD via a first resistor R 1 , and the drain is connected to a first output node NO 1 .

The source of the second transistor Q 2 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD via a second resistor R 2 , and the drain is connected to a second output node NO 2 .

The source of the third transistor Q 3 is connected to a reference potential source VSS via a third resistor R 3 , and the drain is connected to the first output node NO 1 .

The source of the fourth transistor Q 4 is connected to the reference potential source VSS via a fourth resistor R 4 , and the drain is connected to the second output node NO 2 .

The reference potential VSS includes a ground potential GND.

Further, the differential drive circuit 2 according to this embodiment has a first circuit 21 that controls a source voltage S 1 of the first transistor Q 1 so as to be equal to a first drive target voltage V 1 supplied from the DAC 3 .

The differential drive circuit 2 has a second circuit 22 that controls a source voltage S 2 of the second transistor Q 2 so as to be equal to a second drive target voltage V 2 supplied from the DAC 3 .

The differential drive circuit 2 has a third circuit 23 that controls a source voltage S 3 of the third transistor Q 3 so as to be equal to a third drive target voltage V 3 supplied from the DAC 4 .

The differential drive circuit 2 has a fourth circuit 24 that controls a source voltage S 4 of the fourth transistor Q 4 so as to be equal to a fourth drive target voltage V 4 that is supplied.

The differential drive circuit 2 drives, for example, a transmission line on the output side so that a common-mode voltage forms a constant differential signal across a load resistance Rload.

The first circuit 21 is configured by a first operational amplifier A 1 .

In the first circuit 21 , a non-inverting input terminal (+) as a first input terminal is connected to the supply line of the first drive target voltage V 1 , an inverting input terminal (−) as a second input terminal is connected to the source of the first transistor Q 1 , and the output is connected to the gate of the first transistor Q 1 .

The second circuit 22 is configured by a second operational amplifier A 2 .

In the second circuit 22 , a non-inverting input terminal (+) as a third input terminal is connected to the supply line of the second drive target voltage V 2 , an inverting input terminal (−) as a fourth input terminal is connected to the source of the second transistor Q 2 , and the output is connected to the gate of the second transistor Q 2 .

The third circuit 23 is configured by a third operational amplifier A 3 .

In the third circuit 23 , a non-inverting input terminal (+) as a fifth input terminal is connected to the supply line of the third drive target voltage V 3 , an inverting input terminal (−) as a sixth input terminal is connected to the source of the third transistor Q 3 , and the output is connected to the gate of the third transistor Q 3 .

The fourth circuit 24 is configured by a fourth operational amplifier A 4 .

In the fourth circuit 24 , a non-inverting input terminal (+) as a seventh input terminal is connected to the supply line of the fourth drive target voltage V 4 , an inverting input terminal (−) as an eighth input terminal is connected to the source of the fourth transistor Q 4 , and the output is connected to the gate of the fourth transistor Q 4 .

The DAC 3 receives an N-bit digital signal D to generate the first drive target voltage V 1 and the second drive target voltage V 2 , supplies the generated first drive target voltage V 1 to the first circuit 21 of the differential drive circuit 2 , and supplies the second drive target voltage V 2 to the second circuit 22 .

The DAC 4 receives the N-bit digital signal D to generate the third drive target voltage V 3 and the fourth drive target voltage V 4 , supplies the generated third drive target voltage V 3 to the third circuit 23 of the differential drive circuit 4 , and supplies the fourth drive target voltage V 4 to the fourth circuit 24 .

The DAC 3 has a resistor RA 1 connected between a first supply line LV 1 of the first drive target voltage V 1 and the power supply potential source VDD, and a current source I 31 connected between the first supply line LV 1 and the reference potential source VSS.

The DAC 3 has a resistor RA 2 connected between a second supply line LV 2 of the second drive target voltage V 2 and the power supply potential source VDD, and a current source I 32 connected between the second supply line LV 2 and the reference potential source VSS.

The DAC 3 has N power supplies I 3 - 0 to I 3 -N- 1 each connected to the reference potential source VSS and whose current values are weighted.

Further, the DAC 3 has switches SW 3 - 0 to SW 3 -N- 1 that selectively connect the individual current sources I 3 - 0 to I 3 -N- 1 and the first or second supply line LV 1 , LV 2 .

The reference potential VSS includes the ground potential GND.

The DAC 4 has a resistor RA 3 connected between a third supply line LV 3 of the third drive target voltage V 3 and the reference potential source VSS, and a current source I 41 connected between the third supply line LV 3 and the power potential source VDD.

The DAC 4 has a resistor RA 4 connected between a fourth supply line LV 4 of the fourth drive target voltage V 4 and the reference potential source VSS, and a current source I 42 connected between the fourth supply line LV 4 and the power potential source VDD.

The DAC 4 has N power supplies I 4 - 0 to I 4 -N- 1 each connected to the power supply potential VDD and whose current values are weighted.

Further, the DAC 4 has switches SW 4 - 0 to SW 4 -N- 1 that selectively connect the individual current sources I 4 - 0 to I 4 -N- 1 and the third or fourth supply line LV 3 , LV 4 .

The reference potential VSS includes the ground potential GND.

The common-mode feedback (CMFB) circuit 5 has a functional of absorbing excess current supplied to the load side.

The common-mode feedback (CMFB) circuit 5 has N-type field effect transistors Q 51 and Q 52 , an operational amplifier A 51 , resistors R 51 and R 52 , and a common voltage source V 51 .

The drain of the transistor Q 51 is connected to the first output node NO 1 side of the differential drive circuit 2 , the source is connected to the reference potential VSS (for example, the ground potential GND), and the gate is connected to the output of the operational amplifier A 51 .

The drain of the transistor Q 52 is connected to the second output node NO 2 side of the differential drive circuit 2 , the source is connected to the reference potential VSS (for example, the ground potential GND), and the gate is connected to the output of the operational amplifier A 51 .

The resistors R 51 and R 52 are connected in series between the first output node NO 1 and the second output node NO 2 of the differential drive circuit 2 . The junction of the two resistors is connected to the non-inverting input terminal (+) of the operational amplifier A 51 . The common voltage source V 51 is connected to the inverting input terminal (−) of the operational amplifier A 51 .

In the driver 1 having the configuration mentioned above, output voltage information given in a digital form is converted as follows in the DAC 3 and the DAC 4 .

That is, in the DAC 3 , the output voltage information is converted into the first drive target voltage V 1 and the second drive target voltage V 2 , which are analog voltages serving as the drive target values for the first and second transistors (PMOS transistors) Q 1 and Q 2 .

In the DAC 4 , the output voltage information is converted into the third drive target voltage V 3 and the fourth drive target voltage V 4 , which are analog voltages serving as the drive target values for the third and fourth transistors (NMOS transistors) Q 3 and Q 4 .

The first drive target voltage V 1 and the second drive target voltage V 2 are a differential signal pair whose sum is constant, and the third drive target voltage V 3 and the fourth drive target voltage V 4 are also a differential signal pair whose sum is constant.

The first drive target voltage V 1 and the third drive target voltage V 3 are signals with an offset but of the same waveform, and the second drive target voltage V 2 and the fourth drive target voltage V 4 are also signals of the same waveform with an offset.

The first drive target voltage V 1 and the second drive target voltage V 2 are each biased such that the average voltage becomes lower than the power supply potential VDD by a constant value.

The third drive target voltage V 3 and the fourth drive target voltage V 4 are each biased such that the average voltage becomes higher than the reference potential VSS by a constant value.

The instantaneous voltages of the first to fourth drive target voltages V 1 to V 4 are represented by the following equations that contain a single parameter V(t).

[Eq. 1]

V 1( t )= V bias P+V ( t )  (1)

V 2( t )= V bias P−V ( t )  (2)

V 3( t )= V bias N+V ( t )  (3)

V 4( t )= V bias N−V ( t )  (4)

An operational amplifier An (n=1 to 4) constitutes negative feedback (NFB) such that a source voltage Sn of a transistor Qn becomes equal to a drive target voltage Vn.

As a result, currents determined by V(t) flow to the resistors R 1 to R 4 , and equal currents flow to the drains of the transistors Q 1 to Q 4 .

Supposing that the resistance values of the resistors R 1 to R 4 are all R, a current Ipos that flows from the drain junction of the transistor Q 1 and the transistor Q 3 toward a load is represented by the following equation.

Likewise, a current Ineg that flows to the drain junction of the transistor Q 2 and the transistor Q 4 from a load is represented by the following equation.

The current Ipos and the current Ineg become equal to each other by setting the bias in the manner represented by the following equations.

[Eq. 4]

VDD−V bias P=V bias N   (7)

[Eq. 5]

I pos= I neg=−2 V ( t )/ R   (8)

This means that this circuit neither charges nor discharges an average voltage with respect to a load, and keeps the common-mode voltage constant.

In actual circuit, due to such factors as variation in device performance, it may be difficult for the bias to perfectly satisfy the relationship represented by Equation (7) mentioned above.

This problem can be overcome by setting the bias in such a way that the current Ipos becomes slightly but surely larger than the current Ineg, so that excess current supplied with the current Ipos is absorbed by the common-mode feedback (CMFB) circuit 5 .

The CMFB may be narrowband irrespective of the signal V(t). The load drive based on the AC component V(t) of the signal is balanced as indicated by Equation (5) and Equation (6) mentioned above, and has no common-mode component.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 A shown in FIG. 2 has the following differences from the driver 1 shown in FIG. 1 .

First, in a differential drive circuit 2 A, a fifth resistor R 5 is connected between the source of the first transistor Q 1 and the source of the second transistor Q 2 , and a sixth resistor R 6 is connected between the source of the third transistor Q 3 and the source of the fourth transistor Q 4 .

Second, a first differential amplifier 6 and a second differential amplifier 7 are provided instead of the DAC 3 and the DAC 4 .

The first differential amplifier 6 receives an analog differential voltage to generate the first drive target voltage V 1 and the second drive target voltage V 2 , supplies the generated first drive target voltage V 1 to the first circuit 21 , and supplies the second drive target voltage V 2 to the second circuit 22 .

The second differential amplifier 7 receives an analog differential voltage to generate the third drive target voltage V 3 and the fourth drive target voltage V 4 , supplies the generated third drive target voltage V 3 to the third circuit 23 , and supplies the fourth drive target voltage V 4 to the fourth circuit 24 .

The first differential amplifier 6 has NMOS transistors Q 61 and Q 62 that are field effect transistors of the second conductivity type, resistors RA 1 , RA 2 , and RA 61 , and current sources I 61 and I 62 .

The source of the NMOS transistor Q 61 is connected to the current source I 61 , the drain is connected to the power supply potential source VDD via the resistor RA 1 , and the gate is connected to the supply line of an analog differential voltage VinP.

The source of the NMOS transistor Q 62 is connected to the current source I 62 , the drain is connected to the power supply potential source VDD via the resistor RA 2 , and the gate is connected to the supply line of an analog differential voltage VinN.

The resistor R 61 is connected between the source of the NMOS transistor Q 61 and the source of the NMOS transistor Q 62 .

The second differential amplifier 7 has PMOS transistors Q 71 and Q 72 that are field effect transistors of the first conductivity type, resistors RA 3 , RA 4 , and RA 71 , and current sources I 71 and I 72 .

The source of the PMOS transistor Q 71 is connected to the current source I 71 , the drain is connected to the reference potential source VSS (for example, the ground potential GND) via the resistor RA 3 , and the gate is connected to the supply line of the analog differential voltage VinP.

The source of the PMOS transistor Q 72 is connected to the current source I 72 , the drain is connected to the reference potential source VSS via the resistor RA 4 , and the gate is connected to the supply line of the analog differential voltage VinN.

The resistor R 71 is connected between the source of the PMOS transistor Q 71 and the source of the PMOS transistor Q 72 .

In this example, the signal to be driven to the output is given by an analog differential voltage VinP−VinN.

This voltage is converted into the first to fourth drive target voltages V 1 to V 4 by the first and second differential amplifiers 6 and 7 .

For the first differential amplifier 6 and the second differential amplifier 7 to keep a good linearity, the peak values of the drain current ratios of the differential pair transistors Q 61 and Q 62 , and Q 71 and Q 72 may not be set very large.

For example, supposing that the ratio is 3:1, in the case of the differential drive circuit 2 not having the fifth resistor R 5 and the sixth resistor R 6 as in the first embodiment, the current ratio between the first transistor Q 1 and the second transistor Q 2 at the instant when the maximum current is supplied to the load is also 3:1. As a result, the ratio between a current consumed by the differential drive circuit (output circuit) and a current that can be extracted as an output is 4:2.

Since the output is a circuit that supplies a large current to the load, the fact that a current that is twice the maximum drive current is constantly consumed by the output circuit can be said to be a waste of electric power.

In the second embodiment, there are provided the fifth resistor R 5 that short-circuits the sources of the first transistor Q 1 and the second transistor Q 2 , and the sixth resistor R 6 that short-circuits the sources of the third transistor Q 3 and the fourth transistor Q 4 .

Since a potential difference of 2 V(t) is applied to the transistors R 5 and R 6 , the current ratio between the first transistor Q 1 and the second transistor Q 2 , and the current ratio between the third NMOS transistor Q 3 and the fourth NMOS transistor Q 4 exceed the current ratios of transistors within the differential amplifiers 6 and 7 .

As a result, the current that can be supplied to the load increases, so the current consumption by the output circuit for providing the same drive current decreases, thereby improving power efficiency.

A description of how the insertion of the fifth resistor R 5 and the sixth resistor R 6 improves the power efficiency of the differential drive circuit 2 A will be given by way of the following examples.

It is supposed here that the value of each of the first to fourth transistors R 1 to R 4 is R(Ω), and the value of each of the fifth and sixth transistors R 5 and R 6 is r(Ω).

First, a case is considered in which there are no fifth and sixth transistors R 5 and R 6 .

It is assumed that the potentials of the third drive target voltage V 3 and the fourth drive target voltage V 4 , that is, the potentials of the source voltage S 3 of the third transistor Q 3 and of the source voltage S 4 of the fourth transistor Q 4 are each given by a waveform having a maximum value of 0.6 (V) and a minimum value of 0.2 (V).

The reason why the minimum value may not be dropped to the ground potential GND is to keep good input/output linearity of the upstream circuit, for example.

At the instant when the source voltage S 3 is the maximum voltage 0.2 (V), current that the third transistor Q 3 draws in from the drain and passes to the third transistor R 3 through the source is 0.2/R(A). Since the source voltage S 4 becomes the maximum voltage 0.6 (V) at the same time, current that the fourth NMOS transistor Q 4 draws in from the drain and passes to the fourth transistor R 4 through the source is 0.6/R(A).

The circuit according to this embodiment is designed such that as for the currents discharged from the drains of the first transistor Q 1 and the second transistor Q 2 at this instant, the current from the first transistor Q 1 is 0.6/R(A), and the current from the second transistor Q 2 is 0.2/R(A).

As a result, the current that can be passed to the load is 0.4/R(A), which is equal to the current discharged from the first transistor Q 1 , minus the amount of current that can be fully drawn by the third transistor Q 3 .

This is also equal to the current that is drawn by the fourth transistor Q 4 , minus the amount of current that can be fully handled by the second transistor Q 2 .

On the other hand, since the total current that flows through the output circuit is 0.8/R(A), the current that can be passed to drive the load is half of the total consumption current.

Next, a case is considered in which there are the fifth and sixth resistors R 5 and R 6 .

It is supposed here that the maximum voltage and the minimum voltage of the source voltage S 3 of the third transistor Q 3 and the source voltage S 4 of the fourth transistor Q 4 are also 0.6 (V) and 0.2 (V).

The current that flows from the drain of the third transistor Q 3 to the source at the instant when the source voltage S 3 is the minimum voltage and the source voltage S 4 is the maximum voltage is the following value.

That is, the current that flows from the drain of the third transistor Q 3 to the source is a value obtained by subtracting a current of 0.4/r(A) that is supplied to the source of the third transistor Q 3 through the sixth resistor R 6 , from a current of 0.2/R(A) that flows to the ground potential GND through the source, for example.

The current that flows from the drain of the fourth transistor Q 4 to the source at the same instant is a value obtained by adding a current of 0.4/r(A) flowing through the sixth resistor R 6 , to a current of 0.6/R(A) flowing through the fourth resistor R 4 .

Since the current that flows out from the drain of the first transistor Q 1 is equal to the current that is drawn from the drain of the fourth transistor Q 4 , the current that is caused to flow into the load from the junction of the first transistor Q 1 and the third transistor Q 3 is 0.4/R+0.8/r(A).

Since the current that flows out from the drain of the second transistor Q 2 is equal to the current that is drawn from the drain of the third transistor Q 3 , the current that flows into the junction of the second transistor Q 2 and the fourth transistor Q 4 from the load is also 0.4/R+0.8/r(A).

While the total consumption current of the output circuit at this time is 0.8/R(A) that is the same as that when the fifth resistor R 5 and the sixth resistor R 6 are not provided, the current that can be passed to the load increases by 0.8/r(A).

In terms of calculation, when r=2R, the load driving current becomes equal to the circuit consumption current and the entirety of the consumption current can be made to contribute to driving the load. However, in actuality, the current of the transistor becoming 0 is not preferable because the feedback loop for making the source potential match a target potential becomes open.

The resistance r is adjusted so as to leave in the transistor at least a current for maintaining the feedback loop.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

A communication device 100 in FIG. 3 has in each of its transmitter a driver including a differential drive circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The communication device 100 has transmitters 120 and 130 arranged on both sides of a differential transmission line 110 , and is configured to be capable of two-way communication.

The transmitters 120 and 130 each include the above-described differential drive circuit 2 or 2 A according to the first or second embodiment.

The communication device 100 has receivers 140 and 150 arranged in parallel to the transmitters 120 and 130 , respectively, with respect to the differential transmission line 110 .

The differential transmission line 110 is connected with a terminating resistor Rterm at either end.

Since a differential drive circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention can output the same current as the target current to a load without regard to the voltage of the load, there is no interference with the output state of the transmitter at the other end.

Therefore, a perfect sum signal of signals to be outputted by the transmitters 120 and 130 at both ends is generated across the load.

Each of the receivers 140 and 150 provided at both ends of the differential transmission line 110 so as to be in parallel with the transmitters 120 and 130 can obtain a signal of the transmitter at the other end by subtracting the target output of each of the transmitters 120 and 130 arranged in parallel with the receivers 140 and 150 from the sum signal generated across the load.

As described above, this embodiment provides negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 1 to Q 4 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

This is advantageous in that in the case of, for example, two-way multiplexing performed in Ethernet (R) 1000 BASE-T, an accurate output current can be obtained independently of the reception waveform, and an accurate sum signal of transmission/reception signals can be generated without distortion.

Also, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be attained.

A differential signal with desired common-mode component can be outputted even when the gate voltage-drain current characteristic of MOS transistors (field effect transistor) is not linear or differs between PMOS and NMOS.

Also, in this embodiment, due to the good linearity between a drive target voltage given as an input and an output voltage, a waveform that is strictly regulated for restricting the bandwidth can be correctly sent to the load.

Further, this embodiment also has an advantage in that the ratio of the load driving current to the consumption current at the output stage can be set large, thus providing excellent power efficiency.

Also, current that is proportional to a target drive voltage can be outputted accurately independently of the condition of a load. By observing the voltage of the load, and subtracting away a constant multiple of target drive current by computation, it can be identified that the second drive circuit applies current to the load. This makes it possible to perform two-way communication by a single load, that is, a single transmission line.

Also, in the differential drive circuit according to this embodiment, there are only one transistor stage and one resistor between the output terminal (output node) and each of the reference potential VSS (for example, the ground potential GND) and the power supply potential VDD.

This enables operation by a lower voltage than in the case of the circuit disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2006-345259 or the like which employs a so-called vertical stacking of current source transistors and differential transistors.

In the foregoing, a driver including a differential drive circuit has been described as the first and second embodiments, and a communication device including the driver has been described as the third embodiment.

Hereinbelow, a description will be given of another configuration of the driver 1 including a differential drive circuit according to the first embodiment, another configuration of the driver 1 A including a differential drive circuit according to the second embodiment, and another configuration of the communication device 100 according to the third embodiment.

First, another configuration of the driver 1 including a differential drive circuit according to the first embodiment will be described as fourth to tenth embodiments, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 11 .

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 B according to the fourth embodiment differs from the driver 1 according to the first embodiment in that the drive of a load is performed by using only a pull-up circuit as a first drive system.

Specifically, the driver 1 B in FIG. 4 uses, among the components of the driver 1 in FIG. 1 , the PMOS transistors Q 1 and Q 2 , the first and second circuits 21 and 22 , the resistors R 1 and R 2 , and the DAC 3 to perform the drive of a load.

The drains of the PMOS transistors Q 1 and Q 2 are respectively connected to load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 , and the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 are connected to a power supply 8 of a bias voltage Vbias.

According to the fourth embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 1 and Q 2 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 C according to the fifth embodiment differs from the driver 1 according to the first embodiment in that the drive of a load is performed by using only a pull-down circuit as a second drive system.

Specifically, the driver 1 C in FIG. 5 uses, among the components of the driver 1 in FIG. 1 , the NMOS transistors Q 3 and Q 4 , the third and fourth circuits 23 and 24 , the resistors R 3 and R 4 , and the DAC 4 to perform the drive of a load.

The drains of the NMOS transistors Q 3 and Q 4 are respectively connected to load resistances Rload 3 and Rload 4 , and the load resistances Rload 3 and Rload 4 are connected to a power supply 9 of a bias voltage Vbias.

According to the fifth embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 3 and Q 4 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

Sixth Embodiment

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 D according to the sixth embodiment differs from the driver 1 according to the first embodiment in that the differential voltage and common-mode voltage of outputs are outputted in accordance with numerical values Ddiff and Dcom that are given.

Accordingly, the DAC 3 on the pull-up side is split into two DACs, a first DAC 3 - 1 and a second DAC 3 - 2 , and the DAC 4 on the pull-down side is split into two DACs, a third DAC 4 - 1 and a fourth DAC 4 - 2 .

Adder/subtractors 10 , 11 , 12 , and 13 that each add/subtract the numerical values Ddiff and Dcom are arranged at the input stages of the respective DACs 3 - 1 , 3 - 2 , 4 - 1 , and 4 - 2 . Thus, different numerical values are inputted to the respective DACs 3 - 1 , 3 - 2 , 4 - 1 , and 4 - 2 .

The first and second output nodes NO 1 and NO 2 of a differential drive circuit 2 D are respectively connected to the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 . The load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 are connected to the power supply 8 of a bias voltage Vbias.

The adder/subtractor 10 receives an input of the numerical value Ddiff as a negative input, and receives an input of the numerical value Dcom as a positive input. The adder/subtractor 10 obtains an N-bit numerical value [Dcom−Ddiff] by a computation on the inputs, and supplies this numerical value [Dcom−Ddiff] to the DAC 3 - 2 .

The adder/subtractor 11 receives an input of the numerical value Ddiff as a first positive input, and receives an input of the numerical value Dcom as a second positive input. The adder/subtractor 11 obtains an N-bit numerical value [Dcom+Ddiff] by a computation on the inputs, and supplies this numerical value [Dcom+Ddiff] to the DAC 3 - 1 .

The adder/subtractor 12 receives an input of the numerical value Ddiff as a positive input, and receives an input of the numerical value Dcom as a negative input. The adder/subtractor 12 obtains an N-bit numerical value [−Dcom+Ddiff] by a computation on the inputs, and supplies this numerical value [−Dcom+Ddiff] to the DAC 4 - 2 .

The adder/subtractor 13 receives an input of the numerical value Ddiff as a first negative input, and receives an input of the numerical value Dcom as a second negative input. The adder/subtractor 13 obtains an N-bit numerical value [−Dcom−Ddiff] by a computation on the inputs, and supplies this numerical value [−Dcom−Ddiff] to the DAC 4 - 1 .

The DAC 3 - 1 has switches SW 3 - 10 to SW 3 - 1 N- 1 , and current sources I 3 - 10 to I 3 - 1 N.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the current sources I 3 - 10 to I 3 - 1 N- 1 and the switches SW 3 - 10 to SW 3 - 1 N- 1 are connected serially in pairs between the power supply potential source VDD and the first supply line LV 1 . The current source I 3 - 1 N is connected between the power supply potential source VDD and the first supply line LV 1 .

The numerical value [Dcom+Ddiff] is supplied to the control gates of the current sources I 3 - 10 to I 3 - 1 N.

The DAC 3 - 2 has switches SW 3 - 20 to SW 3 - 2 N- 1 , and current sources I 3 - 20 to I 3 - 2 N.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the current sources I 3 - 20 to I 3 - 2 N- 1 and the switches SW 3 - 20 to SW 3 - 2 N- 1 are connected serially in pairs between the power supply potential source VDD and the second supply line LV 2 . The current source I 3 - 2 N is connected between the power supply potential source VDD and the second supply line LV 2 .

The numerical value [Dcom−Ddiff] is supplied to the control gates of the current sources I 3 - 20 to I 3 - 2 N.

The DAC 4 - 1 has switches SW 4 - 10 to SW 4 - 1 N- 1 , and current sources I 4 - 10 to I 4 - 1 N.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the current sources I 4 - 10 to I 4 - 1 N- 1 and the switches SW 4 - 10 to SW 4 - 1 N- 1 are connected serially in pairs between the power supply potential source VDD and the third supply line LV 3 . The current source I 4 - 1 N is connected between the power supply potential source VDD and the third supply line LV 3 .

The numerical value [−Dcom−Ddiff] is supplied to the control gates of the current sources I 4 - 10 to I 4 - 1 N.

The DAC 4 - 2 has switches SW 4 - 20 to SW 4 - 2 N- 1 , and current sources I 4 - 20 to I 4 - 2 N.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the current sources I 4 - 20 to I 4 - 2 N- 1 and the switches SW 4 - 20 to SW 4 - 2 N- 1 are connected serially in pairs between the power supply potential source VDD and the fourth supply line LV 4 . The current source I 4 - 2 N is connected between the power supply potential source VDD and the fourth supply line LV 4 .

The numerical value [−Dcom+Ddiff] is supplied to the control gates of the current sources I 4 - 20 to I 4 - 2 N.

In the driver 1 D, the drive target potential V 1 is given to the resistor R 1 and the PMOS transistor Q 1 that pull up the first output node NO 1 (output VoutP), and the drive target potential V 3 is given to the resistor R 3 and the NMOS transistor Q 3 that pull down the first output node NO 1 (output VoutP).

Also, the drive target potential V 2 is given to the resistor R 2 and the PMOS transistor Q 2 that pull up the second output node NO 2 (output VoutP), and the drive target potential V 4 is given to the resistor R 4 and the NMOS transistor Q 4 that pull down the second output node NO 2 (output VoutP).

The drive target potentials V 1 to V 4 are generated by the four DACs, the DACs 3 - 1 , 3 - 2 , 4 - 1 , and 4 - 2 .

As digital inputs to the DACs 3 - 1 , 3 - 2 , 4 - 1 , and 4 - 2 , [Dcom+Ddiff], [Dcom−Ddiff], [−Dcom−Ddiff], and [−Dcom+Ddiff] are given with respect to two pieces of numeric data Ddiff and Dcom.

Supposing that analog voltage values corresponding to Ddiff and Dcom are Vdiff and Vcom, the following relationships hold.

[Eq. 6]

VDD−V 1 =+V diff+ V com

VDD−V 2 =−V diff+ V com

V 3− GND=−V diff− V com

V 4− GND=+V diff− V com

When the resistance values of the resistors R 1 to R 4 are all R, an output current IQ 1 of the PMOS transistor Q 1 , an output current IQ 3 of the NMOS transistor Q 3 , and a current IVoutP that goes toward the load from the first output node NO 1 are given by the following equations.

[Eq. 7]

IQ 1=(+ V diff+ V com)/ R

IQ 3=(− V diff− V com)/ R

IV out P= 2·(+ V diff+ V com)/ R

Likewise, when the resistance values of the resistors R 1 to R 4 are all R, an output current IQ 2 of the PMOS transistor Q 2 , an output current IQ 4 of the NMOS transistor Q 4 , and a current IVoutN that goes toward the load from the second output node NO 2 are given by the following equations.

[Eq. 8]

IQ 2=(− V diff+ V com)/ R

IQ 4=(+ V diff− V com)/ R

IV out N= 2·(− V diff+ V com)/ R

The potential VoutP on the first output node NO 1 side, and the potential VoutN on the second output node NO 2 side are given by the following equations.

[Eq. 9]

V out P=V bias+2· R load·(+ V diff+ V com)/ R

V out N=V bias+2· R load·(− V diff+ V com)/ R

Therefore, a differential voltage VDPN and a common-mode voltage VIPN of the outputs VoutP and VoutN are as follows.

[Eq. 10]

VDPN= 4 ·R load· V diff/ R

VIPN=V bias+2 ·R load· V com/ R

This means that the differential voltage VDPN and the common-mode voltage VIPN of outputs are outputted in accordance with the numerical values Ddiff and Dcom.

Even when factoring in such common-mode voltage drive, the circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention accurately controls currents flowing through the resistors R 1 to R 4 , that is, currents outputted from the transistors Q 1 to Q 4 , so the differential output can be outputted accurately without being modulated or distorted depending on the level of the common-mode output.

According to the sixth embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 1 to Q 4 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

A differential signal with desired common-mode component can be outputted even when the gate voltage-drain current characteristic of MOS transistors (field effect transistor) is not linear or differs between PMOS and NMOS.

Also, in the sixth embodiment, due to the good linearity between a drive target voltage given as an input and an output voltage, a waveform that is strictly regulated for restricting the bandwidth can be correctly sent to the load.

Further, the sixth embodiment also has an advantage in that the ratio of the load driving current to the consumption current at the output stage can be set large, thus providing excellent power efficiency.

Also, a current that is proportional to a target drive voltage can be outputted accurately independently of the condition of the load.

Also, the differential output can be outputted accurately without being modulated or distorted depending on the level of the common-mode output.

Seventh Embodiment

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 E according to the seventh embodiment differs from the driver 1 D according to the sixth embodiment in that the drive of a load is performed by using only a pull-up circuit as the first drive system.

Specifically, the driver 1 E in FIG. 7 uses, among the components of the driver 1 D in FIG. 6 , the PMOS transistors Q 1 and Q 2 , the first and second circuits 21 and 22 , the resistors R 1 and R 2 , the DACs 3 - 1 and 3 - 2 , and the adder/subtractors 10 and 11 to perform the drive of a load.

The drains of the PMOS transistors Q 1 and Q 2 are respectively connected to the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 , and the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 are connected to the power supply 8 of a bias voltage Vbias.

According to the seventh embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 1 and Q 2 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

Also, the differential voltage VDPN and common-mode voltage VIPN of outputs can be outputted in accordance with the numerical values Ddiff and Dcom.

In this case, the differential output can be outputted accurately without being modulated or distorted depending on the level of the common-mode output.

Eighth Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 F according to the eighth embodiment differs from the driver 1 D according to the sixth embodiment in that the drive of a load is performed by using only a pull-down circuit as the second drive system.

Specifically, the driver 1 F in FIG. 8 uses, among the components of the driver 1 D in FIG. 6 , the NMOS transistors Q 3 and Q 4 , the third and fourth circuits 23 and 24 , the resistors R 3 and R 4 , the DACs 4 - 1 and 4 - 2 , and the adder/subtractors 12 and 13 to perform the drive of a load.

The drains of the NMOS transistors Q 3 and Q 4 are respectively connected to the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 , and the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 are connected to the power supply 8 of a bias voltage Vbias.

According to the eighth embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 3 and Q 4 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

Also, the differential voltage VDPN and common-mode voltage VIPN of outputs can be outputted in accordance with the numerical values Ddiff and Dcom.

In this case, the differential output can be outputted accurately without being modulated or distorted depending on the level of the common-mode output.

Ninth Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 G according to the ninth embodiment differs from the driver 1 F according to the eighth embodiment in that the driver 1 G has a stabilizing circuit 30 for DAC to stabilize the output.

The stabilizing circuit 30 for DAC has PMOS transistors QA and QB, operational amplifiers A 31 and A 32 , resistors RA 31 and RA 32 , and a referenced resistor Rext 31 , and a power supply V 31 .

The source of the PMOS transistor QA is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, the drain is connected to one end of the resistor RA 31 and the non-inverting input terminal (+) of the operational amplifier A 31 . The other end of the resistor RA 31 is connected to the reference potential source VSS.

The gate of the PMOS transistor QA is connected to the output of the operational amplifier A 31 .

The source of the PMOS transistor QB is connected to one end of the referenced resistor Rext 31 and the inverting input terminal (−) of the operational amplifier A 32 .

The drain of the PMOS transistor QB is connected to one end of the resistor RA 32 and the inverting input terminal (−) of the operational amplifier A 31 .

The gate of the PMOS transistor QB is connected to the output of the operational amplifier A 32 . The other end of the referenced resistor Rext 31 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, and the other end of the resistor RA 32 is connected to the reference potential source VSS.

The non-inverting input (+) of the operational amplifier A 32 is connected to the power supply V 31 that supplies a reference voltage Vref.

The DAC 4 - 1 has the switches SW 4 - 10 to SW 4 - 1 N- 1 , and PMOS transistors Q 4 - 10 to Q 4 - 1 N as current sources.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the PMOS transistors Q 4 - 10 to Q 4 - 1 N- 1 and the switches SW 4 - 10 to SW 4 - 1 N- 1 are connected serially in pairs between the power supply potential source VDD and the third supply line LV 3 . The source of the PMOS transistor Q 4 - 1 N is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, and the drain is connected to the third supply line LV 3 .

The gates of the PMOS transistors Q 4 - 10 to Q 4 - 1 N are connected to the output of the operational amplifier A 31 of the stabilizing circuit 30 .

The DAC 4 - 2 has the switches SW 4 - 20 to SW 4 - 2 N- 1 , and PMOS transistors Q 4 - 20 to Q 4 - 2 N as current sources.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the PMOS transistors Q 4 - 20 to Q 4 - 2 N- 1 and the switches SW 4 - 20 to SW 4 - 2 N- 1 are connected serially in pairs between the power supply potential source VDD and the fourth supply line LV 4 . The source of the PMOS transistor Q 4 - 2 N is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, and the drain is connected to the fourth supply line LV 4 .

The gates of the PMOS transistors Q 4 - 20 to Q 4 - 2 N are connected to the output of the operational amplifier A 31 of the stabilizing circuit 30 .

In the stabilizing circuit 30 , the transistor QA and the resistor RA 31 serve as replicas of the DACs 4 - 1 and 4 - 2 that produce the drive target voltages V 3 and V 4 . The stabilizing circuit 30 including these replicas outputs the same output VA as that outputted when a certain numeric input is given to each of the DACs 4 - 1 and 4 - 2 .

Negative feedback (NFB) is applied to the output VA so as to attain the relationship represented by the following equation.

[Eq. 11]

VA=V ref·( RA/R ext)

Therefore, the output when a specific numeric value is inputted to each of the DACs 4 - 1 and 4 - 2 also becomes VA.

The transconductance at the output stage is 1/R provided that R=R 3 =R 4 , so the output potential is as follows.

[Eq. 12]

VA·R load/ R=V ref·( RA/R )·( R load/ R ext)

Supposing that the resistor RA 31 and the resistors R 3 and R 4 are both resistances in the same integrated circuit and their ratio is substantially constant, and the load resistances Rloads 1 and 2 and the referenced resistor Rext 31 are both high-accuracy resistances outside the integrated circuit, their ratio is also constant.

Therefore, the output when a specific numerical value is inputted to each of the DACs 4 - 1 and 4 - 2 is an integer multiple of the reference voltage Vref.

If the reference voltage Vref is a stable voltage given by a bandgap reference output or a trimmed bias generating circuit, this means that the output of the driver 1 G according to the ninth embodiment when a specific numerical input is given is stabilized.

The same stabilizing circuit is also applicable to the driver 1 in FIG. 1 , the driver 1 B in FIG. 4 , the driver 1 C in FIG. 5 , the driver 1 D in FIG. 6 , and the driver 1 E in FIG. 7 .

According to the ninth embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 3 and Q 4 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

Also, the differential voltage VDPN and common-mode voltage VIPN of outputs can be outputted in accordance with the numerical values Ddiff and Dcom.

In this case, the differential output can be outputted accurately without being modulated or distorted depending on the level of the common-mode output.

Also, the output when a specific numeric input is given can be stabilized.

Tenth Embodiment

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 H according to the tenth embodiment differs from the driver 1 C according to the fifth embodiment in that a multiplier 14 that multiples an input by a coefficient C is arranged at an upstream stage of the DAC so that the output with respect to a specific numeric input becomes constant.

The coefficient C is generated by a stabilizing circuit 40 having the function of replicating the DAC.

The stabilizing circuit 40 has a PMOS transistor Q 41 , resistors RA 41 and RA 42 , a referenced resistor Rext 41 , operational amplifiers A 41 and A 42 , and a power supply V 41 .

The stabilizing circuit 40 further has switches SW 41 - 0 to SW 41 -N- 1 , current sources I 41 - 0 to I 41 -N, a supply line LV 41 , a multiplier 41 , and a state machine 42 .

The source of the PMOS transistor Q 41 is connected to one end of the reference transistor Rext 41 and the inverting input terminal (−) of the operational amplifier A 41 .

The drain of the PMOS transistor Q 41 is connected to one end of the resistor RA 41 and the inverting input terminal (−) of the operational amplifier A 42 .

The gate of the PMOS transistor Q 41 is connected to the output of the operational amplifier A 41 . The other end of the referenced resistor Rext 41 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, and the other end of the resistor RA 41 is connected to the reference potential source VSS.

The non-inverting input (+) of the operational amplifier A 41 is connected to the power supply V 41 that supplies the reference voltage Vref.

The non-inverting input (+) of the operational amplifier A 42 is connected to the supply line LV 41 .

One end of the resistor RA 42 is connected to the supply line LV 41 , and the other end is connected to the reference potential source VSS.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the current sources I 41 - 0 to I 41 -N- 1 and the switches SW 41 - 10 to SW 41 - 1 N- 1 are connected serially in pairs between the power supply potential source VDD and the supply line LV 41 . The current source I 41 - 1 N is connected between the power supply potential source VDD and the supply line LV 41 .

N-bit data for ON/OFF control, which is obtained by multiplying a fixed value by the coefficient C, is supplied to the control gates of the switches SW 41 - 10 to SW 41 - 1 N- 1 .

The multiplier 41 supplies the N-bit data obtained by multiplying a fixed value by the coefficient C, to the control gates of the switches SW 41 - 10 to SW 41 - 1 N- 1 .

The state machine 42 retrieves a value of the coefficient C at which the output level P of the operational amplifier A 42 as a comparator changes from 0 to 1, by scanning from the minimum value. The state machine 42 supplies the retrieved coefficient C to the multipliers 41 and 14 .

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of the state machine of the stabilizing circuit according to the tenth embodiment.

First, the state machine 42 sets the coefficient C to the minimum value (ST 1 ).

Next, the state machine 42 determines whether or not the output P of the operational amplifier A 42 is 0 or 1 (ST 2 ).

If it is determined in step ST 2 that the output P is 0, the state machine 42 determines whether or not the coefficient C is the maximum value (ST 3 ).

If it is determined in step ST 3 that the coefficient C is not the maximum value, the state machine 42 adds 1 to the value of the coefficient C, and repeats the process from step ST 2 .

Then, upon determining in step ST 2 that the output P is 1, the state machine 42 terminates the process.

The state machine 42 also terminates the process upon determining in step ST 3 that the coefficient C has reached the maximum value.

In this way, the state machine 42 scans the coefficient C from the minimum value, and finds a value of the coefficient C at which the comparator output changes from 0 to 1.

The output of the stabilizing circuit 40 including a DAC replica function to which a value obtained by multiplying a fixed value Fixed by the coefficient C is inputted is generally represented as follows.

[Eq. 13]

VA=V ref·( RA/R )

A differential drive circuit 2 H as an output circuit that is given the same numeric input as mentioned above also outputs the same voltage as VA for the drive target voltage V 3 or V 4 since the numerical value is multiplied by the coefficient C at the input of the DAC 4 . Supposing that R=R 3 =R 4 , the output voltage at that time is obtained as follows and is thus stabilized to a constant value.

[Eq. 14]

VA ·( R load/ R )= V ref·( RA/R )·( R load/ R ext)

The same stabilizing circuit is also applicable to the driver 1 in FIG. 1 , the driver 1 B in FIG. 4 , the driver 1 C in FIG. 5 , the driver 1 D in FIG. 6 , and the driver 1 E in FIG. 7 .

According to the tenth embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 3 and Q 4 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

In this case, the differential output can be outputted accurately without being modulated or distorted depending on the level of the common-mode output.

Also, the output when a specific numeric input is given can be stabilized.

In the foregoing, other configurations of the driver 1 including a differential drive circuit according to the first embodiment have been described.

Next, other configurations of the driver 1 A including a differential drive circuit according to the second embodiment will be described as eleventh to sixteenth embodiments with reference to FIGS. 12 to 19 .

Eleventh Embodiment

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 I according to the eleventh embodiment differs from the driver 1 A according to the second embodiment in that the drive of a load is performed by using only a pull-up circuit as the first drive system.

Specifically, the driver 1 I in FIG. 12 uses, among the components of the driver 1 A in FIG. 2 , the PMOS transistors Q 1 and Q 2 , the first and second circuits 21 and 22 , the resistors R 1 and R 2 , and the differential amplifier 6 to perform the drive of a load.

The drains of the PMOS transistors Q 1 and Q 2 are respectively connected to the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 , and the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 are connected to the power supply 8 of a bias voltage Vbias.

According to the eleventh embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 1 and Q 2 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

Twelfth Embodiment

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 J according to the twelfth embodiment differs from the driver 1 A according to the second embodiment in that the drive of a load is performed by using only a pull-down circuit as the second drive system.

Specifically, the driver 1 J in FIG. 13 uses, among the components of the driver 1 A in FIG. 2 , the NMOS transistors Q 3 and Q 4 , the third and fourth circuits 23 and 24 , the resistors R 3 and R 4 , and the differential amplifier 7 to perform the drive of a load.

The drains of the NMOS transistors Q 3 and Q 4 are respectively connected to the load resistances Rload 3 and Rload 4 , and the load resistances Rload 3 and Rload 4 are connected to the power supply 9 of a bias voltage Vbias.

According to the twelfth embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 3 and Q 4 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential. At the same time, an intended common-mode voltage can be accurately outputted.

Thirteenth Embodiment

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 K according to the thirteenth embodiment differs from the driver 1 A according to the second embodiment in that the driver 1 K has an offset adding circuit 50 that adds an offset to each of the drive target potentials V 1 to V 4 .

The first and second output nodes NO 1 and NO 2 of a differential drive circuit 2 K are respectively connected to the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 , and the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 are connected to the power supply 8 of a bias voltage Vbias.

The offset adding circuit 50 has a differential amplifier 51 , current mirror circuits 52 and 53 , and a resistor R 51 .

The differential amplifier 51 has PMOS transistors QP 51 and QP 52 , the resistor R 51 , and current sources I 51 and I 52 .

The current mirror circuit 52 has NMOS transistors QN 51 to QN 53 , and a current source I 53 .

The current mirror circuit 53 has NMOS transistors QN 54 and QN 55 , PMOS transistors QP 53 to QP 55 , and a current source I 54 .

The source of the PMOS transistor QP 51 of the differential amplifier 51 is connected to the current source I 51 , and the drain is connected to the drain of the NMOS transistor QN 54 of the current mirror circuit 52 and to the gates of the NMOS transistors QN 54 and QN 55 .

The source of the PMOS transistor QP 52 is connected to the current source I 52 , and the drain is connected to the drain of the NMOS transistor QN 51 of the current mirror circuit 52 .

The resistor R 51 is connected between the source of the PMOS transistor QP 51 and the source of the PMOS transistor QP 52 .

The gate of the PMOS transistor QP 51 is connected to the supply line of a voltage VcomP. The gate of the PMOS transistor QP 52 is connected to the supply line of a voltage VcomN.

In the current mirror circuit 52 , the drain of the NMOS transistor QN 51 is connected to the current source I 53 , the gate of the NMOS transistor QN 51 itself, and the gates of the NMOS transistors QN 52 and QN 53 , and the source is connected to the reference potential source VSS.

The source of the NMOS transistor QN 52 is connected to the reference potential source VSS, and the drain is connected to the output part of the drive target potential V 1 of the first differential amplifier 6 , that is, to the junction between the resistor RA 1 and the drain of the NMOS transistor Q 61 .

The source of the NMOS transistor QN 53 is connected to the reference potential source VSS, and the drain is connected to the output part of the drive target potential V 2 of the first differential amplifier 6 , that is, to the junction between the resistor RA 2 and the drain of the NMOS transistor Q 62 .

In the current mirror circuit 53 , the sources of the NMOS transistors QN 54 and QN 55 are connected to the reference potential source VSS.

The drain of the NMOS transistor QN 55 is connected to the drain of the PMOS transistor QP 53 and the current source I 54 .

The source of the PMOS transistor QP 53 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, and the drain is connected to the gate of the PMOS transistor QP 53 itself and to the gates of the PMOS transistors QP 54 and QP 55 .

The source of the PMOS transistor QP 54 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, and the drain is connected to the output part of the drive target potential V 4 of the second differential amplifier 7 , that is, to the junction between the resistor RA 4 and the drain of the PMOS transistor Q 72 .

The source of the PMOS transistor QP 55 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, and the drain is connected to the output part of the drive target potential V 3 of the second differential amplifier 7 , that is, to the junction between the resistor RA 3 and the drain of the PMOS transistor Q 71 .

In the driver 1 K, an offset is given to each of the drive target potentials V 1 to V 4 by the differential amplifier 51 that is an added differential pair.

As compared with when the voltages VcomP and VcomN given to the differential amplifier 51 are balanced, when a signal given as [VcomP−VcomN] is positive, currents flowing to the first and second differential amplifiers 6 and 7 change.

That is, when the signal given as [VcomP−VcomN] is positive, currents flowing through the resistors RA 1 and RA 2 of the first differential amplifier 6 increase, and currents flowing through the resistors RA 3 and RA 4 of the second differential amplifier 7 decrease.

As a result, the drive target potential V 1 and the drive target potential V 2 drop, and the currents flowing through the resistors R 1 and R 2 of the differential drive circuit 2 K increase. Since the drive target potential V 3 and the drive target potential V 4 drop, the currents flowing through the resistors R 3 and R 4 decrease.

That is, pull-up currents outputted from the first and second transistor Q 1 and Q 2 increase, and pull-down currents outputted from the third and fourth transistor Q 3 and Q 4 decrease, so the common-mode voltage of the outputs VoutP and VoutN rises.

However, since the increases in output of the first and second transistors Q 1 and Q 2 are the same, and the decreases in output of the third and fourth transistors Q 3 and Q 4 are also the same, there is no change in differential voltage.

That is, this circuit is also capable of an accurate differential output that is independent of the level of the common-mode voltage.

According to the thirteenth embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 1 to Q 4 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

A differential signal with desired common-mode component can be outputted even when the gate voltage-drain current characteristic of MOS transistors (field effect transistor) is not linear or differs between PMOS and NMOS.

Also, in the thirteenth embodiment, due to the good linearity between a drive target voltage given as an input and an output voltage, a waveform that is strictly regulated for restricting the bandwidth can be correctly sent to the load.

Further, the thirteenth embodiment also has an advantage in that the ratio of the load driving current to the consumption current at the output stage can be set large, thus providing excellent power efficiency.

Also, a current that is proportional to a target drive voltage can be outputted accurately independently of the condition of the load.

Also, the differential output can be outputted accurately without being modulated or distorted depending on the level of the common-mode output.

Fourteenth Embodiment

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 L according to the fourteenth embodiment differs from the driver 1 K according to the thirteenth embodiment in that the drive of a load is performed by using only a pull-up circuit as the first drive system.

Specifically, the driver 1 L in FIG. 15 uses, among the components of the driver 1 K in FIG. 14 , the PMOS transistors Q 1 and Q 2 , the first and second circuits 21 and 22 , the resistors R 1 and R 2 , the differential amplifier 6 , the differential amplifier 51 , and the current mirror circuit 52 to perform the drive of a load.

The drains of the PMOS transistors Q 1 and Q 2 are respectively connected to the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 , and the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 are connected to the power supply 8 of a bias voltage Vbias.

It should be noted, however, that the drain of the PMOS transistor QP 51 of the differential amplifier 51 is connected to the reference potential source VSS.

According to the fourteenth embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 1 and Q 2 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

Also, the differential output can be outputted accurately without being modulated or distorted depending on the level of the common-mode output.

Fifteenth Embodiment

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 M according to the fifteenth embodiment differs from the driver 1 K according to the thirteenth embodiment in that the drive of a load is performed by using only a pull-down circuit as the second drive system.

Specifically, the driver 1 M in FIG. 16 uses, among the components of the driver 1 K in FIG. 14 , the NMOS transistors Q 3 and Q 4 , the third and fourth circuits 23 and 24 , the resistors R 3 and R 4 , the differential amplifier 7 , the differential amplifier 51 , and the current mirror circuit 53 to perform the drive of a load.

The drains of the NMOS transistors Q 3 and Q 4 are respectively connected to the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 , and the load resistances Rload 1 and Rload 2 are connected to the power supply 8 of a bias voltage Vbias.

It should be noted, however, that the drain of the PMOS transistor QP 52 of the differential amplifier 51 is connected to the reference potential source VSS.

Also, in the current mirror circuit 53 , the NMOS transistors QN 54 and QN 55 in FIG. 14 are not used, and the drain of the PMOS transistor QP 51 of the differential amplifier 51 is connected to the current source I 54 and the drain of the PMOS transistor QP 53 .

According to the fifteenth embodiment, there is provided negative feedback (NFB) that matches the source potential of each of the transistors Q 1 and Q 2 as output transistors with a drive target voltage value. Thus, a target current can be accurately outputted even in the event of disturbances in drain potential.

Also, the differential output can be outputted accurately without being modulated or distorted depending on the level of the common-mode output.

Sixteenth Embodiment

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a driver including a differential drive circuit according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.

A driver 1 N according to the sixteenth embodiment has the following components added to the configuration of the driver 1 I according to the twelfth embodiment.

That is, the driver 1 N has PMOS transistors QA 61 and QA 62 for resistance adjustment that are connected in parallel with the load resistances RA 1 and RA 2 of the differential amplifier 6 at the first stage. A gate potential Vadj of each of the PMOS transistors QA 61 and QA 62 is controlled by a gain adjusting circuit 60 .

The driver 1 N has at the output stage a transconductance circuit that outputs a current that is proportional to the drive target potentials V 1 and V 2 and is inversely proportional to the resistances R 1 and R 2 .

A total gain Gtot from a differential input [VinP−VinN] to the differential amplifier 6 at the first stage, to a differential output [VoutP−VoutN] of the differential drive circuit 2 N is represented by the following equation, supposing that the gain of the differential amplifier 6 at the first stage is Gamp.

[Eq. 15]

G tot= G amp (1 /R )· R load

Here, R denotes a combined resistance value determined by resistors R 1 , R 2 , and R 12 of the differential drive circuit 2 N. Since each resistor R is placed inside the integrated circuit, if the load resistance Rload is placed outside the integrated circuit, the ratio between R and Rload is not constant. The gain of the differential amplifier 6 also varies in accordance with the device characteristics or temperature of the integrated circuit.

Therefore, the total gain is also subject to large manufacturing variability and temperature drift of the integrated circuit.

Accordingly, the circuit shown in FIG. 17 adopts the above-described configuration to keep the total gain Gtot constant.

That is, in the circuit in FIG. 17 , the PMOS transistors QA 61 and QA 62 for resistance adjustment are connected in parallel with the load resistances RA 1 and RA 2 of the differential amplifier 6 at the first stage, forming an amplifying stage (level shifter) 6 A.

The circuit in FIG. 17 is configured such that the gate potential Vadj thereof is controlled by the gain adjusting circuit 60 .

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram showing a first configuration of the gain adjusting circuit 60 shown in FIG. 17 .

A gain adjusting circuit 60 A in FIG. 18 has a replica circuit 61 at the amplifying stage 6 A, and a reference voltage and offset voltage supplying section (hereinafter, referred to as a voltage supplying section) 62 .

The gain adjusting circuit 60 A further has an offset adding circuit 63 that adds an offset to the output of the replica circuit 61 , and a feedback amp (error amp) 64 that balances the replica output with an offset.

The replica circuit 61 has the same configuration as that of the amplifying stage 6 A.

That is, the replica circuit 61 has NMOS transistors QN 61 and QN 62 , resistors RB 1 , RB 2 , and RB 61 , current sources IB 61 and IB 62 , and PMOS transistors QP 61 and QP 62 .

In the replica circuit 61 , the source of the NMOS transistor QN 61 is connected to the current source IB 61 , the drain is connected to one end of the resistor RB 1 and the drain of the PMOS transistor QP 61 , and a node ND 61 is formed by the junction thereof. The other end of the resistor RB 1 and the source of the PMOS transistor QP 61 are connected to the power supply potential source VDD.

The source of the NMOS transistor QN 62 is connected to the current source IB 62 , the drain is connected to one end of the resistor RB 2 and the drain of the PMOS transistor QP 62 , and a node ND 62 is formed by the junction thereof. The other end of the resistor RB 2 and the source of the PMOS transistor QP 62 are connected to the power supply potential source VDD.

The resistor RB 61 is connected between the drain of the NMOS transistor QN 61 and the drain of the NMOS transistor QN 62 .

The gates of the NMOS transistors QN 61 and QN 62 are connected to a reference voltage supplying section of the voltage supplying section 62 .

The output of the error amp 64 is feedback supplied to the gates of the PMOS transistors QP 61 and QP 62 .

The output of the error amp 64 is given as the gate potential Vadj of each of the PMOS transistors QA 61 and QA 62 at the amplifying stage 6 A.

The voltage supplying section 62 has a reference voltage source V 61 , a monitor resistor Rpoly, a referenced resistor Rext, and operational amplifiers A 61 and A 62 .

The voltage supplying section 62 has PMOS transistors QP 63 to QP 66 , an NMOS transistor QN 63 , and resistors R 62 and R 63 on the reference voltage output side.

One end of the monitor resistor Rpoly is connected to the non-inverting input terminal (+) of the operational amplifier A 61 and to the drain of the PMOS transistor QP 63 , and the other end is connected to the reference potential source VSS (for example, the ground potential GND).

The source of the PMOS transistor QP 63 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, and the gate is connected to the output of the operational amplifier A 61 .

The source of the PMOS transistor QP 64 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, the drain is connected to one end of the resistor R 62 , and a connecting node ND 63 thereof is connected to the gate of the NMOS transistor QN 61 of the replica circuit 61 .

One end of the resistor R 62 is connected to one end of the resistor R 63 , and a connecting node ND 64 thereof is connected to the gate of the NMOS transistor QN 62 of the replica circuit 61 . The other end of the resistor R 63 is connected to the reference potential source VSS.

The respective inverting input terminals (−) of the operational amplifiers A 61 and A 62 are commonly connected to the reference voltage source V 61 .

One end of the referenced resistor Rext is connected to the non-inverting input terminal (+) of the operational amplifier A 62 and to the drain of the PMOS transistor QP 65 . The sources of the PMOS transistors QP 65 and QP 66 are connected to the power supply potential source VDD, and the respective gates thereof are connected to the output of the operational amplifier A 62 .

The drain of the PMOS transistor QP 66 is connected to the drain and gate of the NMOS transistor QN 63 , and a connecting node ND 65 thereof is connected to the input section of the offset adding circuit 63 .

The offset voltage adding section 63 has PMOS transistors QP 67 and QP 68 , NMOS transistors QN 64 and QN 65 , and resistors R 64 and R 65 .

In the offset adding circuit 63 , the source of the PMOS transistor QP 67 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, the drain is connected to one end of the resistor R 64 , and the gate is connected to the node ND 62 on the high output side (VH) of the replica circuit 61 .

The other end of the resistor R 64 is connected to the drain of the NMOS transistor QN 64 , and a connecting node ND 66 thereof is connected to the inverting input terminal (−) of the error amp 64 . The source of the NMOS transistor QN 64 is connected to the reference potential source VSS.

The source of the PMOS transistor QP 68 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD, the drain is connected to one end of the resistor R 65 , and a connecting node ND 67 thereof is connected to the non-inverting input terminal (+) of the error amp 64 .

The gate of the PMOS transistor QP 68 is connected to the node ND 61 on the low output side (VL) of the replica circuit 61 .

The other end of the resistor R 65 is connected to the drain of the NMOS transistor QN 65 , and the source of the NMOS transistor QN 64 is connected to the reference potential source VSS.

The gates of the NMOS transistors QN 64 and QN 65 are commonly connected to the node ND 65 on the offset voltage output side of the voltage supplying section 62 .

Here, the referenced resistor Rext is a resistance that is outside the integrated circuit and maintains its ratio to the load resistance with high accuracy. The monitor resistor Rpoly is a resistance inside the integrated circuit and maintains an accurate ratio to R at all times.

In the circuit in FIG. 18 , a state in which the reference potential Vref is applied to the monitor resistor Rpoly is realized by negative feedback (NFB).

A current flowing through the monitor resistor Rpoly in that state flows through the bias resistor R 62 at the input of the differential pair of the replica circuit due to a current mirror including the PMOS transistor QP 64 . As a result, the differential input of a differential amplifier formed by the NMOS transistors QN 61 and QN 62 of the replica circuit 61 becomes α·Vref.

Here, α is a ratio between the monitor resistor Rpoly and the bias resistor R 62 . If these resistors are fabricated into the same integrated circuit, α becomes a substantially constant value at all times.

The referenced resistor Rext is also in a state applied with the reference voltage Vref, and the same current as that flowing through the referenced resistor Rext is also passed to the output offset resistors R 64 and R 65 .

By also fabricating the output offset resistors R 64 and R 65 into the same integrated circuit with the monitor resistor Rpoly, the ratio β therebetween can be also made substantially constant.

With this configuration, the output offset voltage is proportional to the reference voltage Vref multiplied by the ratio between the monitor resistor Rpoly and the referenced resistor Rext.

The output of the differential amplifier of the replication circuit 61 to which an offset is given is inputted to the error amp 64 , and NFB is applied so that the inputs of the error amp 64 are balanced by operating the gates of the load-adjusting PMOS transistors QP 61 and QP 62 of the differential amplifier.

If this balance is established, this means that the gain Gamp of the differential amplifier is adjusted as follows.

[Eq. 16]

G amp=( V ref*β* R poly/ R ext)/(α* V ref)=(1/α)*β* R poly/ R ext

Since R is also a combined resistance of integrated circuit resistances, R maintains a constant ratio to the monitor resistor Rpoly.

Rewriting the equation for total gain supposing that R=Rpoly/γ gives the following equation.

G tot=(1/α)*β*γ* R load/ R ext

Since α, β, and γ are each a resistance ratio within the same integrated circuit as described above, and hence has a substantially constant value that is affected by neither manufacturing variability nor temperature.

The ratio Rload/Rext is also constant provided that Rload and Rext are resistances outside the integrated circuit and with accurate absolute values and small temperature characteristics.

Therefore, this equation indicates that the circuit according to the sixteenth embodiment gives a stable total gain that is affected by neither manufacturing variability nor temperature.

By switching the polarity of this gain adjusting circuit, it is possible to perform the gain adjustment of the pull-down drive circuit shown in FIG. 13 .

As for the push-pull drive circuit according to the second embodiment, adjustment is possible by using both of the circuit shown in FIG. 17 and the reversed polarity circuit thereof.

FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram showing a second configuration of the gain adjusting circuit 60 shown in FIG. 17 .

A gain adjusting circuit 60 B in FIG. 19 differs from the gain adjusting circuit 60 A in FIG. 18 as follows.

That is, the current ratio in a current mirror circuit that causes current having flown through the monitor resistor Rpoly to flow to the input bias resistor R 62 of the operational amplifier of the replica circuit 61 is changed slightly by a control signal TRIM.

Specifically, in a voltage supplying section 62 A, PMOS transistors QP 70 to QP 73 are connected in parallel with the PMOS transistor QP 64 forming the current mirror circuit.

The drain of the PMOS transistor QP 70 is connected to the node ND 63 , the source is connected to the drain of the PMOS transistor QP 72 , and the source of the PMOS transistor QP 72 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD.

The drain of the PMOS transistor QP 71 is connected to the node ND 63 , the source is connected to the drain of the PMOS transistor QP 73 , and the source of the PMOS transistor QP 73 is connected to the power supply potential source VDD.

The gates of the PMOS transistors QP 70 and QP 71 are connected to the output of the operational amplifier A 61 , commonly with the gate of the PMOS transistor QP 64 .

The gate of the PMOS transistor QP 72 is connected to the supply line of a control signal TRIM 1 , and the gate of the PMOS transistor QP 73 is connected to the supply line of a control signal TRIM 2 .

In the voltage supplying section 62 A, the ratio of current passed to the input bias resistor R 62 by the current mirror circuit is changed slightly by opening/closing the PMOS transistors QP 72 and QP 73 by the control signals TRIM 1 and TRIM 0 .

This is equivalent to adjusting the ratio α between the monitor resistor Rpoly and the bias resistor R 62 . As a result, the total gain can be also adjusted.

Even through the resistance ratios α, β, and γ within an integrated circuit are substantially constant, there are slight errors due to manufacturing variability. If a large number of integrated circuits are manufactured, in rare instances, there may be one with a large error.

In the gain adjusting circuit 60 B in FIG. 19 , the total gain caused by a resistance ratio error due to manufacturing variability can be corrected by the control signals TRIM 1 and TRIM 0 .

Reversing the polarity of the circuit in FIG. 19 , and combined use with the reversed polarity circuit enable application to the circuit shown in FIG. 13 according to the fourteenth embodiment and the circuit according to the second embodiment.

In the foregoing, a description has been given of another configuration of the driver 1 A including a differential drive circuit according to the second embodiment.

Next, another configuration of the communication device 100 according to the third embodiment will be described as seventeenth to twentieth embodiments with reference to FIGS. 20 to 23 .

Seventeenth Embodiment

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention.

A communication device 100 A according to the seventeenth embodiment has, in addition to the configuration of the communication device 100 according to the third embodiment, a transmitter 160 arranged on the transmitter 120 side, and a receiver 170 and a bias power supply 180 arranged on the transmitter 130 side.

One end side of the differential transmission line 110 is terminated by a single terminating resistor Rterm 1 near the transmitter 120 , and the output of the transmitter 160 is connected to the differential transmission line 110 via two terminating resistors Rterm 2 .

The other end side of the differential transmission line 110 is terminated by a single terminating resistor Rterm 1 near the transmitter 130 , and the output of the transmitter 160 is connected to the DC bias power supply 180 via two terminating resistors Rterm 2 .

The receiver 170 is connected to the other end side of the differential transmission line 110 .

The transmitters 120 and 130 include the above-described differential drive circuit 2 or 2 A according to the first or second embodiment, for example.

The differential drive circuit (output circuit) according to this embodiment outputs an accurate differential current at all times irrespective of the potential of the output. Therefore, even when another signal at a common-mode potential is superimposed on the differential signal pair, there are no disturbances in the differential signal, and there is little leakage to the common-mode signal accompanying differential signal drive which causes noise for the common-mode signal.

As described above, in the communication device 100 A according to the seventeenth embodiment, the differential transmission line 110 is terminated in parallel by a single resistor Rterm 1 and two serial resistors Rterm 2 (−1, −2). The node of each transistor Rterm 2 is applied with a low impedance signal voltage on the transmitter 120 side, and is biased with a DC voltage on the transmitter 130 side.

As for the impedance when the transmitter is seen from the differential transmission line 110 side, the parallel resistances of the terminating resistors Rterm 1 and Rterm 2 , and two parallel resistors of the terminating resistor Rterm 1 and the terminating resistor Rterm 2 in differential mode, and two parallel resistors Rterm 2 are seen in differential mode and common mode, respectively.

For example, supposing that the terminating resistor Rterm 1 is 1 kΩ, and the terminating resistor Rterm 2 is 56Ω, this means that the differential transmission line 110 is terminated with approximately 100Ω in differential mode, and with 28Ω in common mode, thus realizing impedance matching to 100Ω in the differential mode and 30Ω in the common mode, which are typical for a paired transmission line with electromagnetic coupling.

When a common-mode voltage signal is sent to such a transmission line from the transmitter 160 , the receiver 170 can receive a signal as the average voltage of a differential pair.

This transmission is realized without interference with differential signal transmission from the transmitter 120 to the receiver 150 and differential signal transmission from the transmitter 130 to the receiver 140 .

Eighteenth Embodiment

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

In a communication device 100 B according to the eighteenth embodiment, a receiver 200 is arranged in parallel with the transmitter 160 on one end side of the differential transmission line 110 , and a transmitter 190 and a transmitter 210 are likewise connected in parallel on the other end side.

In the communication device 100 B, common-mode signal transmission is also realized without the two-way communications from the transmitter 160 to the receiver 210 and from the transmitter 190 to the receiver 200 coming into interference with each other in a simultaneous, parallel manner.

Nineteenth Embodiment

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to a nineteenth embodiment of the present invention.

A communication device 100 C according to the nineteenth embodiment differs from the communication device 100 A according to the eighteenth embodiment in that the driver 1 D according to the sixth embodiment or the driver 1 K according to the thirteenth embodiment is applied to a transmitter 120 C on one end side of the differential transmission line 110 .

Also, the communication device 100 C has a bias power supply 220 instead of the transmitter 160 , and one end side of the differential transmission line 110 is biased with a DC voltage through the resistors Rterm 2 .

Twentieth Embodiment

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to a twentieth embodiment of the present invention.

A communication device 100 D according to the twentieth embodiment differs from the communication device 100 C according to the nineteenth embodiment in that the driver 1 D according to the sixth embodiment or the driver 1 K according to the thirteenth embodiment is also applied to a transmitter 130 D on the other end side of the differential transmission line 110 .

A receiver 230 is connected in parallel with the transmitter 120 C.

According to the twentieth embodiment, simultaneous two-way transmission of a common-mode signal can be performed by using the driver 1 D according to the sixth embodiment or the driver 1 K according to the thirteenth embodiment.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.