Binary to multistate bus driver, receiver and method

Abstract

A binary to multistate line driver and remote receiver includes a line driver comprising first and second injection logic encoder circuits. The circuits have current injectors and are connected to receive respective first and second binary signals to provide analog outputs at a signal output terminal in response to the input signals. The encoder circuits each have current injectors with substantially similar structural characteristics. The line driver further includes a reference channel circuit connected to a reference terminal to provide a reference to the encoded signals. The reference circuit has a current injector with structural characteristics substantially similar to the encoder circuit current injectors. A remote receiver has reference and signal inputs connected to the corresponding driver outputs and includes a reference level circuit for generating predetermined threshold reference levels from the reference signal, an input circuit for receiving signals and generating plural replicated outputs and a threshold detector circuit having two binary outputs and further having plural input nodes connected to the threshold signal level and the replicated outputs. The inputs at the threshold detector nodes are compared and the threshold detector circuit provides a binary output from the encoded input signal which is a replica of the binary signal inputs.