Voltage mode transmitter

This application claims priority to China Application Serial Number 201510396948.8 filed Jul. 8, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference.

The invention relates to a voltage mode transmitter, and more particularly, to a voltage mode transmitter including a resistor ladder circuit.

Nowadays, a current mode transmitter or a voltage mode transmitter is generally used as the signal transmitter of a high-speed transmission interface. Referring to FIG. 1A , FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a current mode transmitter 110 and a current mode signal receiver 120 . The current mode transmitter 110 includes a current source 111 having a current I 1 , transistors T 1 and T 2 forming a differential pair, a resistor R 1 and a resistor R 2 . The current mode signal receiver 120 includes a resistor R 3 and a resistor R 4 , in which resistance values of the resistor R 1 -R 4 are all equal to R. The transistors T 1 and T 2 are respectively controlled by a differential signal D 1 and a differential signal D 2 . When the transistor T 1 is turned on by the differential signal D 1 and the transistor T 2 is turned off by the differential signal D 2 , the current of I 1 passes through the transistor T 1 , in which a current of I 1 / 2 flows to the transistor T 1 through the resistor R 3 and a channel CH 1 of the current mode signal receiver 120 , so as to enable the resistor R 3 in the current mode signal receiver 120 to generate a voltage drop of (R×I 1 )/2.

In another aspect, referring to FIG. 1B , FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing a voltage mode transmitter 130 and a voltage mode signal receiver 140 . The voltage mode transmitter 130 includes a transistor T 3 , a transistor T 4 , a transistor T 5 and a transistor T 6 . The voltage mode signal receiver 140 includes a resistor R 5 . When the transistors T 3 and T 6 are turned on by the differential signals D 3 and D 4 , a current of I 2 flows to the resistor R 5 (a resistance value of which is equal to 2R) in the voltage mode signal receiver 140 through a channel CH 1 and then flows to the transistor T 6 of the voltage mode transmitter 130 through a channel CH 2 to enable the resistor R 5 in the voltage mode signal receiver 140 to generate a voltage drop of 2R×I 2 .

When the resistors of the current mode signal receiver 120 and the voltage mode signal receiver 140 have the same voltage drops, i.e., (R×I 1 )/2=2R×I 2 ; I 1 =4×I 2 , to enable the voltage mode transmitter 130 and the voltage mode signal receiver 14 to have the same signal strength, the voltage mode transmitter 130 consumes a smaller current. Therefore, the voltage mode transmitter 130 has an advantage of low power consumption in comparison with the current mode transmitter 110 .

In another aspect, channels between a signal transmitter and a signal receiver cause frequency-dependent attenuation, and the frequency-dependent attenuation causes Inter-symbol-interference (ISI). Referring to FIG. 2 , FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing output signals Vo 1 , Vo 2 passing through channels CH 1 and CH 2 and input signals Vi 1 , Vi 2 . Taking the voltage mode transmitter and the voltage mode signal receiver as an example, the channels CH 1 and CH 2 are used to connect the voltage mode transmitter with the voltage mode signal receiver, and each of the channels CH 1 and CH 2 is actually similar to a low-pass filter. In other words, high frequency portions of the output signal Vo 1 and the output signal Vo 2 of the voltage mode transmitter 130 are greatly attenuated after passing through the channels CH 1 and CH 2 , and low frequency portions of the output signals Vo 1 and Vo 2 are slightly attenuated after passing through the channels CH 1 and CH 2 . As shown in FIG. 2 , when the output signals Vo 1 and Vo 2 of the voltage mode transmitter are square waves and pass through the channels CH 1 and CH 2 , they are changed to the input signals Vi 1 and Vi 2 of the voltage mode signal receiver, in which high frequency portions of the input signals Vi 1 and Vi 2 has been attenuated, and a serious signal distortion is raised accordingly. Therefore, how to avoid the signal distortion of a high frequency portion of a signal is one of the current research and development topics.

In order to solve the aforementioned problems, one aspect of the present invention is related to a voltage mode transmitter. The voltage mode transmitter includes a control unit and a resistor ladder circuit. The control unit is configured to receive a first signal and delay an inverse of the first signal for a time period to obtain a second signal. The resistor ladder circuit is configured to sum up products of the first signal or the second signal and a plurality of weights, thereby generating an output signal. The resistor ladder circuit includes an output terminal, a plurality of first resistors and a second resistor. The output terminal is configured to output the output signal. Each of the first resistors is electrically coupled between the output terminal and the control unit, and receives the first signal or the second signal, and the second resistor is electrically coupled between the output terminal and a ground terminal, in which resistance values of the first resistors are 2R, 4R . . . and 2 n R respectively, and a resistance value of the second resistor is 2 n R, and n is a positive integer greater than 1 and R is a reference resistance.

In an embodiment, the control unit includes an inverter and a delay unit. The first signal is changed to the second signal after passing through the inverter and the delay unit.

In another embodiment, the control unit further includes selection units, each of which provides the first signal or the second signal to a corresponding one of the first resistors according to a selection signal.

In further another embodiment, each of the selection units is a switch unit or a multiplexer.

In still another embodiment, the voltage mode transmitter is a single-ended voltage mode transmitter, and transmits the output signal to a single-ended signal receiver through a channel.

An aspect of the present invention is related to a voltage mode transmitter. The voltage mode transmitter includes a first control unit, a first resistor ladder circuit, a second control unit and a second resistor ladder circuit. The first control unit is configured to receive a first signal and delay an inverse of the first signal for a time period to obtain a second signal. The first resistor ladder circuit is configured to sum up products of the first signal or the second signal and a plurality of weights, thereby generating a first output signal. The second control unit is configured to receive a third signal and delay an inverse of the third signal for a time period to obtain a fourth signal. The second resistor ladder circuit is configured to sum up products of the third signal or the fourth signal and a plurality of weights, thereby generating a second output signal. The second resistor ladder circuit includes an output terminal, a plurality of first resistors and a second resistor. The output terminal is configured to output the second output signal. Each of the first resistors is electrically coupled between the output terminal and the second control unit, and receives the third signal or the fourth signal, wherein resistance values of the first resistors are 2R, 4R . . . and 2 n R respectively. The second resistor is electrically coupled between the output terminal and a ground terminal, and a resistance value of the second resistor is 2 n R, and n is a positive integer greater than 1 and R is a reference resistance.

In an embodiment, the second control unit includes an inverter and a delay unit. The third signal is changed to the fourth signal after passing through the inverter and the delay unit.

In another embodiment, the second control unit further includes a plurality of selection units, each of which provides the third signal or the fourth signal to a corresponding one of the first resistors according to a selection signal.

In further another embodiment, each of the selection units is a switch unit or a multiplexer.

In still another embodiment, the voltage mode transmitter is a differential voltage mode transmitter, and transmits the first output signal and the second output signal to a differential signal receiver through a first channel and a second channel.

As mentioned above, the voltage transmitters provided by the embodiments of the present invention can not only compensate for the high frequency distortion caused by channels, but also properly adjust the output signals with respect to different channels.

The disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a current mode transmitter and a current mode signal receiver;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing a voltage mode transmitter and a voltage mode signal receiver;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing output signals channels and input signals;

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing output signals passing through channels and input signals;

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram showing output signals passing through channels and input signals;

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing a voltage mode transmitter and a voltage mode signal receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram showing the voltage mode transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a schematic circuit diagram showing a voltage mode transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing time sequences of signals of the voltage mode transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a schematic circuit diagram showing a voltage mode transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram showing time sequences of signals of the voltage mode transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a voltage mode transmitter and a voltage mode signal receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments are shown. However, this invention will be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set fourth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be through and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements. However, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Therefore, a first element maybe called a second element in the following descriptions without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present.

Referring to FIG. 3A together with FIG. 3B , FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are schematic diagrams respectively showing output signals Vo 3 -Vo 6 passing through channels CH 1 , CH 2 and input signals Vi 3 -Vi 6 , in which the output signals Vo 3 -Vo 6 are signals outputted by a signal transmitter, and the input signals Vi 3 -Vi 6 are signals inputted to a signal receiver. In a general environment of wired transmission, the channels CH 1 and CH 2 often have a low-pass frequency response.

In comparison with the output signals Vo 1 and Vo 2 , high frequency portions of the output signals Vo 3 and Vo 4 in FIG. 3 a and high frequency portions of the output signals Vo 5 and Vo 6 in FIG. 3 b are enhanced. Therefore, after the output signals Vo 3 , Vo 5 and output signals Vo 4 , Vo 6 respectively pass through the channels CH 1 and CH 2 , the input signals Vi 3 , Vi 5 and the input signals Vi 4 , Vi 6 are generated. In comparison with the input signal Vi 1 and Vi 2 , the input signals Vi 3 , Vi 5 and the input signals Vi 4 , Vi 6 have a lower signal distortion rate. In some embodiments, the output signals Vo 3 , Vo 4 have a waveform property of de-emphasis, and the output signals Vo 5 , Vo 6 have a waveform property of preshoot.

Referring to FIG. 4A together with FIG. 4B to achieve the waveforms shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B . FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing a voltage mode transmitter 400 and a voltage mode signal receiver 430 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The voltage mode transmitter 400 is configured to generate the waveforms of the output signals Vo 3 -Vo 6 shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B . In this embodiment, the voltage mode transmitter 400 is a single-ended voltage mode transmitter 400 , and includes a control unit 410 and a resistor ladder circuit 420 electrically coupled to the control unit 410 .

The control unit 410 receives a first signal S 1 and a control signal C, and the control signal C can be used to determine signals outputted from the control unit 410 to the resistor ladder circuit 420 , thereby enabling the resistor ladder circuit 420 to generate an output signal Vout having the waveform property of de-emphasis or preshoot. The output signal Vout is then transmitted to the voltage mode signal receiver 430 through a channel CH, in which the voltage mode signal receiver 430 includes a resistor R 6 .

Referring to FIG. 4B , FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram showing the voltage mode transmitter 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 410 of the voltage mode transmitter 400 includes a plurality of selection units 411 a , 411 b , 411 c , 411 d and a delay inversion unit 412 . The delay inversion unit 412 is configured to perform an inverse function on and delay the first signal S 1 to obtain a second signal S 2 . In other words, the second signal S 2 is an inverse of the first signal S 1 , and the first signal S 1 and the second signal S 2 have a time period difference. Each of the selection units 411 a , 411 b , 411 c and 411 d receives the first signal S 1 and the second signal S 2 . In addition, the selection units 411 a , 411 b , 411 c and 411 d are further configured to respectively receive control signals C 1 , C 2 , C 3 and C 4 , and to determine output signals Va, Vb, Vc and Vd from the first signal S 1 and the second signal S 2 , in which the control signal C in FIG. 4A includes the control signals C 1 , C 2 , C 3 and C 4 , and voltage levels of the output signals Va, Vb, Vc and Vd can also be represented by the element references Va, Vb, Vc and Vd.

For example, when the control signal C 1 is an enable signal (e.g., the control signal is at a high voltage level), the output signal Va of the selection unit 411 a is the first signal S 1 . In contrast, when the control signal C 1 is a disable signal I (e.g., the control signal is at a low voltage level), the output signal Va of the selection unit 411 a is the second signal S 2 . In this embodiment, multiplexers are used as an example for implementing the selection units 411 a , 411 b , 411 c and 411 d , but the selection units 411 a , 411 b , 411 c and 411 d are not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the selection units 411 a , 411 b , 411 c and 411 d can be implemented by a plurality of switch units.

The resistor ladder circuit 420 includes an output terminal OUT, first resistors 421 a - 421 d and a second resistor 422 . The output terminal OUT is configured to output the output signal Vout, in which a voltage level of the output signal Vout is also represented by the reference number Vout.

Each of the first resistors 421 a - 421 d is electrically coupled between the output terminal OUT and the control unit 410 , and is configured to receive the first signals S 1 or the second signals S 2 outputted by the selection units 411 a , 411 b , 411 c and 411 d , in which resistance values of the first resistors 421 d , 421 c , 421 b and 421 are respectively equal to 2R, 4R, 8R and 16R. The second resistor 422 is electrically coupled between the output terminal OUT and a ground terminal GND, and a resistance value of the second resistor 422 is equal to 16R. In this embodiment, the number of the first resistors 421 a - 421 d is exemplified by 4, but is not limited thereto. Therefore, when the number of the first resistors is n, the resistance values of the first resistors can be 2R, 4R . . . and 2 n R respectively, and the resistance value of the second resistor is 2 n R, in which n is a positive integer greater than 1.

It is noted that equivalent resistors along a direction from a node a to the ground GND and a direction from the node a to the control unit 411 a can be considered as the first resistor 421 a and the second resistor 422 coupled in parallel, i.e., 8R. Regarding a node b, a resistance value of equivalent resistors along a direction to the ground GND and a direction to the control unit 411 b can be considered to be 4R, i.e., 8R is coupled to the first resistor 421 b in parallel. Regarding a node c, a resistance value of equivalent resistors along a direction to the ground GND and a direction to the control unit 411 c can be considered to be 2R, i.e., 4R is coupled to the first resistor 421 c in parallel. Regarding a node d, a resistance value of equivalent resistors along a direction to the ground GND and a direction to the control unit 411 d can be considered to be R, i.e., 2R is coupled to the first resistor 421 d in parallel. Therefore, an output resistance of the voltage mode transmitter 400 is equal to R. In another aspect, it can be understood from the aforementioned connection relationship that a relationship between the output signal Vout of the output terminal OUT and the four output signals Va, Vb, Vc and Vd of the selection units 411 a , 411 b , 411 c and 411 d is Vout=(Va+2Vb+4Vc+8Vd)/16.

In some embodiments, R is equal to 50 ohm.

To sum up, through adjustment of the control signal C 1 , C 2 , C 3 and C 4 , the four output signals Va, Vb, Vc and Vd of the control units 411 a , 411 b , 411 c and 411 d are effectively controlled, thereby enabling the output terminal OUT to output the output signal Vout having the waveform property of de-emphasis or preshoot.

Referring to FIG. 5A together with FIG. 5B , FIG. 5A is a schematic circuit diagram showing a voltage mode transmitter 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In comparison with the delay inversion unit 412 in FIG. 4B , the delay inversion unit 412 in FIG. 5A further includes an inverter 501 and a delay unit 502 . The inverter 501 is configured to perform an inverse function on the first signal S 1 , and the delay unit 502 is configured to delay the inverse first signal S 1 for a time period to obtain the second signal S 2 . The selection unit 411 a , the selection unit 411 c and the selection unit 411 d output the first signals S 1 by the control signals C 1 , C 3 and C 4 , and the selection unit 411 b outputs the second signal 32 by the control signal C 2 . Through the above settings, the output signal Vout of the voltage mode transmitter 500 has the waveform property of de-emphasis.

Referring to FIG. 5B , FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing time sequences of signals of the voltage mode transmitter 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a high voltage level of the first signal S 1 can be, for example Vp, and a low voltage level of the first signal S 1 can be, for example −Vp, and a high voltage level and a low voltage level of the inverse and delayed second signal S 2 can be, for example Vp and −Vp, respectively.

At first, in a time period between a time point t 0 and a time point t 1 , a voltage level of the output signal Vout can be obtained from the following equation:

V out=( Va+ 2 Vb+ 4 Vc+ 8 Vd )/16=( S 1+2× S 2+4× S 1+8× S 1)/16=( Vp+ 2×0+4× Vp+ 8× Vp )/16=(13 Vp )/16

In a time period between the time point t 1 and a time point t 2 , a voltage level of the output signal Vout can be obtained from the following equation:

V out=( Va+ 2 Vb+ 4 Vc+ 8 Vd )/16=( S 1+2× S 2+4× S 1+8× S 1)/16=((− Vp )+2×(− Vp )+4×(− Vp )+8×(− Vp ))/16=(−15 Vp )/16

In a time period between the time points t 2 and a time point t 3 , a voltage level of the output signal Vout can be obtained from the following equation:

V out=( Va+ 2 Vb+ 4 Vc+ 8 Vd )/16=( S 1+2× S 2+4× S 1+8× S 1)/16=( Vp+ 2× Vp+ 4× Vp+ 8× Vp )/16=(15 Vp )/16

In a time period between the time point t 3 and a time point t 4 , a voltage level of the output signal Vout can be obtained from the following function:

V out=( Va+ 2 Vb+ 4 Vc+ 8 Vd )/16=( S 1+2× S 2+4× S 1+8× S 1)/16=( Vp+ 2×(− Vp )+4× Vp+ 8× Vp )/16=(11 Vp )/16

Variations of the output signal after the time point t 4 (i.e., signal variations at the time point t 4 , a time point t 5 , a time point t 6 , a time point t 7 , a time point t 8 and a time point t 9 ) can be calculated by using equations similar to the aforementioned equations, and thus are not described again herein. It can be understood from FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B that the voltage mode transmitter 500 can enable the output signal Vout to have the waveform property of de-emphasis through the settings of the control signals C 1 , C 2 , C 3 and C 4 .

It is noted that the settings of the control signals C 1 , C 2 , 03 and C 4 are not limited to the above embodiments. For example, when the output signal Vout generated by the voltage mode transmitter 500 is desired to have a more significant waveform property of de-emphasis, the control signals C 1 , C 2 , C 3 and C 4 can be set to enable the selection unit 411 a , the selection unit 411 b and the selection unit 411 d to output the first signals S 1 , and enable the selection unit 411 d to output the second signal S 2 .

Referring FIG. 6A together with FIG. 6B , FIG. 6A is a schematic circuit diagram showing a voltage mode transmitter 600 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6A , the second signal S 2 is generated when the first signal S 1 passes through the inverter 501 and the delay unit 502 . The selection unit 411 c outputs the first signal S 1 , and the selection unit 411 a , the selection unit 411 b and the selection unit 411 d output the second signals S 2 . Through the above settings, the output signal of the voltage mode transmitter 600 has the waveform property of preshoot.

Referring to FIG. 6B , FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram showing time sequences of signals of the voltage mode transmitter 600 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a high voltage level of the first signal S 1 can be, for example Vp, and a low voltage level of the first signal S 1 can be, for example −Vp. At first, in a time period between time points t 0 -t 1 , a voltage level of the output signal Vout can be obtained from the following function:

V out=( Va+ 2 Vb+ 4 Vc+ 8 Vd )/16=( S 2+2× S 2+4× S 1+× S 2)/16=(0+2×0+4×(− Vp )+8×0)/16=(−4 Vp )/16

In a time period between time points t 1 -t 2 , a voltage level of the output signal Vout can be obtained from the following function:

V out=( Va+ 2 Vb+ 4 Vc+ 8 Vd )/16=( S 2+2× S 2+4× S 1+8× S 2)/16=( Vp+ 2× Vp+ 4× Vp+ 8× Vp )/16=(15 Vp )/16

In a time period between time points t 2 -t 3 , a voltage level of the output signal Vout can be obtained from the following function:

V out=( Va+ 2 Vb+ 4 Vc+ 8 Vd )/16=( S 2+2× S 2+4× S 1+8× S 2)/16=((− Vp )+2×(− Vp )+4×(− Vp )+8×(− Vp ))/16=(−15 Vp )/16

In a time period between time points t 3 -t 4 , a voltage level of the output signal Vout can be obtained from the following function:

V out=( Va+ 2 Vb+ 4 Vc+ 8 Vd )/16=( S 2+2× S 2+4× S 1+8× S 2)/16=( Vp+ 2× Vp+ 4×(− Vp )+8× Vp )/16=(7 Vp )/16

Variations of the output signal after the time point t 4 (i.e., signal variations at the time point t 4 , a time point t 5 , a time point t 6 , a time point t 7 , a time point t 8 and a time point t 9 ) can be calculated by using functions similar to the above functions, and thus it is not repeated herein. It can be understood from FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B that the voltage mode transmitter 600 can enable the output signal Vout to have the waveform property of preshoot through the settings of the control signals C 1 , C 2 , C 3 and C 4 .

It is noted that the settings of the control signals C 1 , C 2 , C 3 and C 4 are not limited to the above embodiments. For example, when the output signal Vout generated by the voltage mode transmitter 600 is desired to have a less significant waveform property of de-emphasis, the control signals C 1 , C 2 , C 3 and C 4 can be set to enable the selection unit 411 a , the selection unit 411 c and the selection unit 411 d to output the second signals S 2 , and enable the selection unit 411 b to output the first signal S 1 .

As mentioned above, the voltage mode transmitters 400 , 500 and 600 can generate the output signals Vout having a waveform property of de-emphasis or preshoot to effectively compensate for a loss of a high frequency portion thereof when the output signals Vout pass through an actual channel, and enable the voltage mode signal receiver 430 to more correctly receive the signals transmitted by the voltage mode transmitters 400 , 500 and 600 .

Referring to FIG. 7 , FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a voltage mode transmitter 700 and a voltage mode signal receiver 750 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The voltage mode transmitter 700 includes a first control unit 710 , a first resistor ladder circuit 720 , a second control unit 730 and a second resistor ladder circuit 740 . The voltage mode signal receiver 750 includes a resistor R 7 . The first control unit 710 is electrically coupled to the first resistor ladder circuit 720 , and the second control unit 730 is electrically coupled to the second resistor ladder circuit 740 . In comparison with the single-ended voltage mode transmitter 400 shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B , the voltage mode transmitter 700 is a differential voltage mode transmitter, and thus inner structure of the first control unit 710 and the second control unit 730 is similar to that of the control unit 410 , and inner structure of the first resistor ladder circuit 720 and the second resistor ladder circuit 740 is similar to that of the resistor ladder 420 .

The first control unit 710 receives the first signal S 1 (for example, a differential signal) and a control signal CD 1 , and the second control unit 730 receives the second signal S 2 (for example, a differential signal) and a control signal CD 2 . The control signals CD 1 and CD 2 are used to respectively control the outputs of the first control unit 710 and the second control unit 730 , thereby enabling output signals respectably outputted by the first resistor ladder circuit 720 and the second resistor ladder circuit 740 to have a waveform property of de-emphasis or preshoot. Therefore, the output signal of the voltage mode transmitter 700 can be effectively compensated for losses of high frequency portions caused by the channels CH 1 and CH 2 , and transmitted to the voltage mode signal receiver 750 to enable the voltage mode signal receiver 750 to more correctly receive the signals transmitted by the voltage mode transmitters 700 .

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.