Abstract: An offset cancellation circuit and method are provided where successive stages of cascaded amplifiers are operated in a saturated state. Biasing is provided, by a feedback amplifier, connected in a feedback loop for each cascaded amplifier, so as to be responsive, in a non-saturated state, to the input of an associated amplifier stage operating in the saturated state.

Abstract: An isolator device (200) includes a differential transmitter, a differential receiver, and a pair of differential signal lines between the differential transmitter and the differential receiver. The isolator device also comprises isolation circuitry along the pair of differential signal lines, wherein the isolation circuitry includes a transmitter-side capacitor for each differential signal line, a receiver-side capacitor for each differential signal line, and at least one common-mode voltage regulation component.

Abstract: A driver includes first and second resistors coupled to a supply voltage and coupled to pairs of main transistors at positive and negative output nodes. The first and second pairs of main transistors provide emphasis and de-emphasis on the positive and negative output nodes. The driver also includes a delay inverter, a pull up booster and a pull down booster. The delay inverter delays and inverts each of a pair of differential input signals to provide delayed and inverted differential signals. The pull up booster provides a bypass current path that bypasses the first and second resistors but includes at least some of the first and second pairs of main transistors. The pull down booster provides an additional current path from the supply voltage through the first or second resistor to ground.

Abstract: Driving a back-gate of a transistor with a follower signal that corresponds to an information signal. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: passing an information signal from a drain terminal to a source terminal of a main field effect transistor (FET), the information signal has a peak-to-peak voltage; generating a follower signal that corresponds to the information signal, the follower signal electrically isolated from the information signal, and the follower signal has a peak-to-peak voltage lower than the peak-to-peak voltage of the information signal; and applying the follower signal to a back-gate of the main FET.

Abstract: A driver includes first and second resistors coupled to a supply voltage and coupled to pairs of main transistors at positive and negative output nodes. The first and second pairs of main transistors provide emphasis and de-emphasis on the positive and negative output nodes. The driver also includes a delay inverter, a pull up booster and a pull down booster. The delay inverter delays and inverts each of a pair of differential input signals to provide delayed and inverted differential signals. The pull up booster provides a bypass current path that bypasses the first and second resistors but includes at least some of the first and second pairs of main transistors. The pull down booster provides an additional current path from the supply voltage through the first or second resistor to ground.

Abstract: A differential receiver with reduced common mode induced propagation delay variance. One implementation of a differential receiver includes a first differential amplifier, a second differential amplifier, and a first current source. The first differential amplifier includes a first transistor pair. The second differential amplifier includes a second transistor pair. The first current source is coupled to a drain node of a first transistor of the first transistor pair. The first current source is configured to generate a variable first current at the drain node as of function of a sum of a variable tail current of the first differential amplifier and a variable tail current of the second differential amplifier.

Abstract: A driver includes first and second resistors coupled to a supply voltage and coupled to pairs of main transistors at positive and negative output nodes. The first and second pairs of main transistors provide emphasis and de-emphasis on the positive and negative output nodes. The driver also includes a delay inverter, a pull up booster and a pull down booster. The delay inverter delays and inverts each of a pair of differential input signals to provide delayed and inverted differential signals. The pull up booster provides a bypass current path that bypasses the first and second resistors but includes at least some of the first and second pairs of main transistors. The pull down booster provides an additional current path from the supply voltage through the first or second resistor to ground.

Abstract: Driving a back-gate of a transistor with a follower signal that corresponds to an information signal. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: passing an information signal from a source terminal to an drain terminal of a main field effect transistor (FET), the information signal has a peak-to-peak voltage; generating a follower signal that corresponds to the information signal, the follower signal electrically isolated from the information signal, and the follower signal has a peak-to-peak voltage lower than the peak-to-peak voltage of the information signal; and applying the follower signal to a back-gate of the main FET.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus generally comprises a plurality of pairs of differential transmission lines. The plurality of pairs of differential transmission lines includes a set of pairs of differential transmission lines with each pair of differential transmission lines from the set of pairs of differential transmission lines including at least one twist to alternate current direction. Also, the plurality of differential transmission lines are arranged such that alternating current directions substantially eliminate cross-talk across the plurality of pairs of differential transmission lines.

Abstract: A system is provided for use with circuit layout design data having a set of differential pairs and a set of bond wire pairs. A layout portion can receive the circuit layout design data. A crosstalk calculating portion can determine a first amount of crosstalk in a circuit corresponding to the circuit layout design data. A modifier can modify the circuit layout design data into modified circuit layout design data such that one of the set of differential pairs and the set of bond wire pairs includes a crossover. The crosstalk calculating portion can further determine a second amount of crosstalk in a circuit corresponding to the modified circuit layout design data. An optimizer can compare the first amount of crosstalk with the second amount of crosstalk to generate optimized circuit layout design data. A layout designer can output the optimized circuit layout design data.

Abstract: A system is provided for use with circuit layout design data having a set of differential pairs and a set of bond wire pairs. A layout portion can receive the circuit layout design data. A crosstalk calculating portion can determine a first amount of crosstalk in a circuit corresponding to the circuit layout design data. A modifier can modify the circuit layout design data into modified circuit layout design data such that one of the set of differential pairs and the set of bond wire pairs includes a crossover. The crosstalk calculating portion can further determine a second amount of crosstalk in a circuit corresponding to the modified circuit layout design data. An optimizer can compare the first amount of crosstalk with the second amount of crosstalk to generate optimized circuit layout design data. A layout designer can output the optimized circuit layout design data.

Abstract: A differential receiver with reduced common mode induced propagation delay variance. One implementation of a differential receiver includes a first differential amplifier, a second differential amplifier, and a first current source. The first differential amplifier includes a first transistor pair. The second differential amplifier includes a second transistor pair. The first current source is coupled to a drain node of a first transistor of the first transistor pair. The first current source is configured to generate a variable first current at the drain node as of function of a sum of a variable tail current of the first differential amplifier and a variable tail current of the second differential amplifier.

Abstract: An apparatus for equalizing channels is provided, which is generally transparent to link training. The apparatus generally includes equalization paths formed by an input circuit, a crossbar, and an output circuit and a controller. Each equalization path is coupled to at least one of the channels, and a controller has a VGA loop, a crossbar loop, and a driver loop. The AGC loop receives a first reference voltage and provides a gain control signal to the input circuit, and the gain control network comprises a replica of at least one of the equalization paths. The crossbar loop receives a second reference voltage and provides a crossbar control signal to the crossbar. The driver loop receives a third reference voltage and provides a driver control signal for the output circuit.

Abstract: In versions 1.1a and 1.2 of the DISPLAYPORT™ standard, capacitors are used between a sourcing circuit and a switch for the auxiliary channel. As a result, these capacitors are generally uncharged when the switch activates the auxiliary channel, which can result in errors. Here, a switch is employed that uses precharge circuits to precharge these capacitors. Thus, errors due to charging of these capacitors can be reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for equalizing channels is provided, which is generally transparent to link training. The apparatus generally includes equalization paths formed by an input circuit, a crossbar, and an output circuit and a controller. Each equalization path is coupled to at least one of the channels, and a controller has a VGA loop, a crossbar loop, and a driver loop. The AGC loop receives a first reference voltage and provides a gain control signal to the input circuit, and the gain control network comprises a replica of at least one of the equalization paths. The crossbar loop receives a second reference voltage and provides a crossbar control signal to the crossbar. The driver loop receives a third reference voltage and provides a driver control signal for the output circuit.

Abstract: Quadrature clocking schemes are widely used in modern communications systems, but often suffer from phase imbalance. Conventional solutions that attempt to address this phase imbalance, however, are generally large and use a substantial amount of power. Here, however, a correction circuit is provided that can locally correct for phase imbalance without the need for bulky and high power consuming circuitry.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus generally comprises a plurality of pairs of differential transmission lines. The plurality of pairs of differential transmission lines includes a set of pairs of differential transmission lines with each pair of differential transmission lines from the set of pairs of differential transmission lines including at least one twist to alternate current direction. Also, the plurality of differential transmission lines are arranged such that alternating current directions substantially eliminate cross-talk across the plurality of pairs of differential transmission lines.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide an equalizer for analog adaptive control are disclosed. An example equalizer described herein includes a high frequency amplifier to receive an input signal and to amplify a high frequency portion of the input signal, a low frequency amplifier to receive the input signal and to amplify a low frequency portion of the input signal, and a weight factor controller to control a gain of the high frequency amplifier and a gain of the low frequency amplifier.

Abstract: Quadrature clocking schemes are widely used in modern communications systems, but often suffer from phase imbalance. Conventional solutions that attempt to address this phase imbalance, however, are generally large and use a substantial amount of power. Here, however, a correction circuit is provided that can locally correct for phase imbalance without the need for bulky and high power consuming circuitry.

Abstract: In versions 1.1a and 1.2 of the DISPLAYPORT™ standard, capacitors are used between a sourcing circuit and a switch for the auxiliary channel. As a result, these capacitors are generally uncharged when the switch activates the auxiliary channel, which can result in errors. Here, a switch is employed that uses precharge circuits to precharge these capacitors. Thus, errors due to charging of these capacitors can be reduced.