DC-coupled differential circuit front end

摘要

A front-end of a first differential circuit is DC-coupled to a second differential circuit. The front-end comprises a resistive element, a voltage sensor and a current adjustor. The resistive element has a resistivity between a first end that is DC-coupled to the second circuit and a second end that is DC-coupled to the first circuit and accepts a programmable current passing therethrough to impose a voltage across the element that varies in direction and amplitude according to the current value. The voltage sensor senses a difference between a DC voltage at the second end of the resistive element and a desired reference voltage of the first circuit. The current adjustor adjusts a direction and amplitude of the programmable current so that the voltage of the first circuit matches the desired reference voltage of the first circuit. The first circuit may be a receiver circuit and the second circuit may be a transmitter circuit. The front-end may further comprise a current canceller comprising a second resistive element connected at a first end to the output of the second circuit. The current canceller senses the programmable current and generates a current of equal amplitude through the second resistive element and away from the output of the second circuit. The current canceller may be implemented in digital or analog form and/or in differential or common-mode operation.

主权项

1. A front-end of a first differential circuit that is DC-coupled to a second differential circuit, comprising:
a resistive element, having a resistivity between a first end that is DC-coupled to the second circuit and a second end that is DC-coupled to the first circuit, for accepting a programmable current passing therethrough to impose a voltage thereacross, that varies in direction and amplitude according to the current value; a voltage sensor for sensing a difference between a DC voltage at the second end of the resistive element and a desired reference voltage of the first circuit; and a current adjustor for adjusting a direction and amplitude of the programmable current so that the DC voltage of the first circuit matches the desired reference voltage of the first circuit.