System and method for boosting a selective portion of a drive signal for chip-to-chip transmission

摘要

A system and method are provided for boosting a selective portion of a drive signal for chip-to-chip transmission across an interconnection interface. The system includes a driver unit generating a drive signal responsive to an input data signal. The drive signal is provided on to at least one output node for transmission through the device interconnection interface, and defines a peak amplitude during a drive period. A boosting unit is coupled to the driver unit for selectively boosting a portion of the drive signal. The boosting unit actuates responsive to the input data signal to selectively apply a boost signal in self-timed manner to the drive signal, so as to thereby augment the drive signal in amplitude over a selected portion of the drive period thereof. In this manner, the boosting unit maintains the peak amplitude of the drive signal at or above a predetermined level throughout the drive period.

主权项

1. A system for boosting a selective portion of a drive signal for chip-to-chip transmission across an interconnection interface comprising:
a driver unit generating a drive signal responsive to an input data signal, the drive signal being provided to at least one output node for transmission through the interconnection interface, the drive signal defining a peak amplitude during a drive period; and, a plurality of boosting units coupled to said driver unit for selectively boosting a portion of the drive signal, said boosting units being selectively enabled to cooperatively boost said selected portion of the drive signal, each said boosting unit actuating responsive to the input data signal to selectively apply a boost signal in a self-timed manner to the drive signal, each said boosting unit thereby augmenting the drive signal in amplitude over a selected portion of said drive period thereof; wherein said boosting units maintain said peak amplitude of the drive signal at or above a predetermined level throughout said drive period.