The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 17, 1997
J Patrick Kawamura, Richardson, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A selectable low power signal line (10) is provided that includes a driver circuit (12) connected to receive an input signal for transmission and to receive a mode select signal (SELECT). The driver circuit (12) has a low power mode and a full power mode selectable responsive to the mode select signal (SELECT). The driver circuit (12) is operable, when in the full power mode, to drive an output signal at a full swing of the input signal. When in the low power mode, the driver circuit (12) is operable to drive the output signal at a fraction of the full swing of the input signal. A physical signal line (14) is connected to receive the output signal of the driver circuit (12) and to carry the output signal. A receiver circuit (16) is connected to receive the signal on the physical signal line (14) and is also connected to receive the mode select signal (SELECT). The receiver circuit (16) has a low power and full power mode selectable responsive to the mode select signal (SELECT). The receiver circuit (16) is operable, when in the full power mode, to drive an output signal at a full swing of the signal on the physical signal line (14). When in the low power mode, the receiver circuit (16) is operable to convert the signal on the physical signal line (14) from a fraction of the full swing of the input signal to a full swing of the input signal and to drive the output signal at the full swing.