CURRENT MODE INTERFACE FOR OFF-CHIP HIGH SPEED COMMUNICATION

摘要

A transceiver interface for data transfer between two integrated circuits (ICs or "chips") utilizes a current mode technique rather than conventional voltage mode differential signaling techniques. A current pulse is injected into one of two transmission wires based on a signal value to be transmitted (e.g., logic "0" or "1") by a driver on a transmitting chip. The current pulse is received as a differential current signal at a receive block in a receiving chip. The differential current signal is converted to a low swing differential voltage signal by current comparators. The differential voltage signal may be detected by an op-amp receiver which outputs the appropriate signal value.