Via Technologies, Inc.

Wen-Bo Liu

Ken-Ming Li

Vai-Hang Au

Yu-Feng Cheng

Zhen-Yu Song

Dual-function drivers capable of outputting LVDS or TMDS differential signals by sharing output terminals under differential modes. In the dual-function driver, an input control unit receives a first input signal compliant with a first specification in a first mode and a second input signal compliant with a second specification in a second mode by sharing a pair of input terminals, and a current steering circuit comprises first and second differential pairs. The input control unit enables the first and second differential pairs to output a first differential signal compliant with the first specification through a pair of output terminals during the first mode, and the input control unit disables the first differential pair and enables the second differential pair to output a second differential signal compliant with the second specification on the pair of output terminals during the second mode.

Dual-function drivers

A combined transmission unit for TMDS signals and LVDS signals. A first (LVDS) transmission unit comprises a set of first input terminals to receive first data, and a second (TMDS) transmission unit comprises a set of second input terminals to receive second data. A switching controller enables the first transmission unit to transmit the first data to the first external input units through a pair of signal lines coupled to a set of common output line or enables the second transmission unit to transmit the second data to the second external input units through a pair of signal lines coupled to the set of common output line, according to a mode selection signal.

Combined transmitter

A LVDS and TMDS dualfunction transmitter for both LVDS and TMDS output channels is disclosed, including an encoder and a serializer. The encoder encodes twenty eight bits of LVDS signals to thirty bits of TMDS signals. The serializer includes four serializer channels for converting the LVDS signals to a serial signal when a LVDS mode is enabled, or converting the TMDS signals to the serial signal when a TMDS mode is enabled. Wherein a first serializer channel is coupled to seven bits of the LVDS signals and outputting a first pair of differential signals. Second, third and fourth serializer channel are coupled to seven bits of the LVDS signals and ten bits of TMDS signals, and outputting a second, third and fourth pair of differential signals, respectively.

LVDS and TMDS dualfunction device

A combined transmission unit for TMDS signals and LVDS signals. First (LVDS) and second (TMDS) transmission units are both coupled to a first set of input terminals. A switching controller, according to a mode selection signal, enables the first transmission unit to transmit the first data on the set of input terminals to first external input units through a pair of first signal lines or enables the second transmission unit to transmit the first data on the set of input terminals to the second external input units through a pair of second signal lines.

A combined output driver for TMDS signals and LVDS signals. First and second output drivers output first and second differential signals to a first external input unit and a second external input unit, respectively, through a pair of signal lines according to first and second input signals. In the second output driver, a driver buffer is coupled to a first voltage and a first node respectively to generate two control signals according to the second input signals. An output unit generates the second differential signal according to the two control signals. A power supply provides a second voltage higher than the first voltage to power the driver buffer and the output unit when the first output driver outputs the first differential signal to the first external input unit.

Combined output driver

A combined output driver for TMDS signals and LVDS signals. A first output driver includes a first differential unit generating a first differential according to first input signals in a first mode and a first clamping device coupled between the first node and the first differential unit to clamp potentials at two power terminals below a second power voltage. The second output driver includes a second differential unit generating a second differential signal according to second input signals in a second mode and a second clamping device to clamp potentials at two output terminals of the second differential unit below the second power voltage.

A combined transmission unit for TMDS signals and LVDS signals. A first (LVDS) transmission unit includes a set of first input terminals to receive first data, and a second (TMDS) transmission unit includes a set of second input terminals to receive second data. A phase locked loop (PLL) generates a first set of output clock signals to the first transmission unit in a first mode and a second set of output clock signals to the second transmission unit in a second mode according to a mode selection signal. The first and second transmission units are able to transmit the first data to the first and second external input units in the first and second modes respectively, according to the mode selection signal and the first and second sets of output clock signals.

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Taipei, Taiwan

Wen-Bo Liu