Patent Application
20060291572
Embodiments of the invention relate to chipset interface transmitters, and more specifically to a configurable Vcc reference and Vss reference differential current mode transmitter.
A chipset interface transmitter connects to an interface link of a receiver, such as in a memory. Typically, the single chipset interface transmitter is designed to interface with one specific type of interface link. A different chipset interface transmitter is used to connect to each different type of interface link. When there are multiple types of interface links, for example to connect to different memories, multiple chipset interface transmitters on multiple chips must be used.
The invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements.
Embodiments of a system and method for a configurable Vcc reference and Vss reference differential current mode transmitter are described. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
Referring to
System 100 includes a controller chip 102 to interface between a microprocessor 104 and one or more memories, such as 106 and 108. Memories 106 and 108 each have a receiver, such as 110 and 112, respectively. Receivers 110 and 112 may have different interface requirements based on signaling and electrical requirements. For example, receiver 110 may have a Vss reference interface requirement and receiver 112 may have a Vcc reference interface requirement. In one embodiment, Vcc is the power supply voltage and Vss is the chip ground voltage. Other names may be used, such as using Vdd instead of Vcc. In one embodiment, the Vss reference interface is a fully buffer DIMM (FBD) interface. The controller chip 102 has a combination transmitter 120 that can interface with any of such receivers 110 and 112 and is capable of toggling between a Vss reference interface and a Vcc reference interface to meet the interface requirements of the receiver. The toggling between any two different types of interface specifications is controlled by a controller circuit 116. When the Vss reference interface is selected, data 118 received by the combination transmitter 120 may be transmitted via Vss reference output signals, such as 126 and 128, to a receiver with a Vss reference interface requirement, such as receiver 110. When the Vcc reference interface is selected, data 118 received by the combination transmitter 120 may be transmitted via Vcc reference output signals, such as 136 and 138, to a receiver with a Vcc reference interface requirement, such as receiver 112.
Thus, a method and system for a configurable Vcc reference and Vss reference differential current mode transmitter has been described. While the invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.
