Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to an I/O bank impedance calibration circuit having (a) a replica master resistor coupled to an external precision resistor, and (b) a control circuit configured to calibrate an output impedance of the master resistor to generate a calibrated code to control a replica slave resistor in each bank. In an illustrative example, a signal applied to the replica master resistor may be compared against a programmable reference signal. The control circuit may generate the calibrated code, in response to the comparison result, to calibrate the output impedance of the replica master resistor. By implementing the replica master resistor and the replica slave resistor, impedances of a large number of IOs or banks may be calibrated by the impedance calibration circuit using a single one reference pin.

Abstract: Embodiments of an IC protection circuit that protects low voltage supply transistors and circuits within the IC from excessive power supply levels and ESD events are described. A protection circuit situated between the IO pins of the IC and the internal circuitry of the IC includes a voltage drop network and a plurality of shunt circuits to protect the IC against excessive supply voltages and ESD voltages, or other excessive current conditions. Each shunt circuit includes an RC trigger stage and an NMOS shunt stage that are made using low-voltage devices. A protection circuit of the embodiments includes a high voltage IO pin, a voltage drop network to drop a high voltage on the IO pin to a low voltage level on a floating voltage rail, a first shunt circuit coupled between the floating supply rail and ground, an equalizer circuit coupled between the floating supply rail and a low voltage supply rail, and a second shunt circuit coupled to the equalizer circuit through the low voltage supply rail.

Abstract: Embodiments of an IC protection circuit that protects low voltage supply transistors and circuits within the IC from excessive power supply levels and ESD events are described. A protection circuit situated between the IO pins of the IC and the internal circuitry of the IC includes a voltage drop network and a plurality of shunt circuits to protect the IC against excessive supply voltages and ESD voltages. Each shunt circuit includes an RC trigger stage and an NMOS shunt stage that are made using low-voltage devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of an IC protection circuit that protects low voltage supply transistors and circuits within the IC from excessive power supply levels and ESD events are described. A protection circuit situated between the IO pins of the IC and the internal circuitry of the IC includes a voltage drop network and a plurality of shunt circuits to protect the IC against excessive supply voltages and ESD voltages, or other excessive current conditions. Each shunt circuit includes an RC trigger stage and an NMOS shunt stage that are made using low-voltage devices. A protection circuit of the embodiments includes a high voltage IO pin, a voltage drop network to drop a high voltage on the IO pin to a low voltage level on a floating voltage rail, a first shunt circuit coupled between the floating supply rail and ground, an equalizer circuit coupled between the floating supply rail and a low voltage supply rail, and a second shunt circuit coupled to the equalizer circuit through the low voltage supply rail.

Abstract: Embodiments of an IC protection circuit that protects low voltage supply transistors and circuits within the IC from excessive power supply levels and ESD events are described. A protection circuit situated between the IO pins of the IC and the internal circuitry of the IC includes a voltage drop network and a plurality of shunt circuits to protect the IC against excessive supply voltages and ESD voltages. Each shunt circuit includes an RC trigger stage and an NMOS shunt stage that are made using low-voltage devices.

Abstract: A driver circuit that outputs a data signal uses feedback of the data signal to the driver circuit to modulate a drive strength of the driver circuit. The driver circuit has a pull-up driver stage and a pull-down driver stage. The pull-up driver stage uses a pull-up control circuit to modulate a drive strength of the pull-up driver stage dependent on a voltage of the data signal. The pull-down driver stage uses a pull-down control circuit to modulate a drive strength of the pull-down driver stage dependent on the voltage of the data signal.

Abstract: A driver stage uses a primary driver and a secondary driver to balance drive current when transmitting a new data bit different than bits consecutively transmitted immediately previous to the new data bit. The primary driver activates one of a pull-down device and a pull-up device whenever transmitting a data bit. The secondary driver activates one of its pull-down device and a pull-up device when two or more consecutive are detected to be transmitted. In this case, current flow of the driver stage induced by the first of the consecutive bits is reduced by the secondary driver.

Abstract: A driver stage uses a primary driver and a secondary driver to balance drive current when transmitting a new data bit different than bits consecutively transmitted immediately previous to the new data bit. The primary driver activates one of a pull-down device and a pull-up device whenever transmitting a data bit. The secondary driver activates one of its pull-down device and a pull-up device when two or more consecutive are detected to be transmitted. In this case, current flow of the driver stage induced by the first of the consecutive bits is reduced by the secondary driver.

Abstract: A driver circuit that outputs a data signal uses feedback of the data signal to the driver circuit to modulate a drive strength of the driver circuit. The driver circuit has a pull-up driver stage and a pull-down driver stage. The pull-up driver stage uses a pull-up control circuit to modulate a drive strength of the pull-up driver stage dependent on a voltage of the data signal. The pull-down driver stage uses a pull-down control circuit to modulate a drive strength of the pull-down driver stage dependent on the voltage of the data signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for efficiently providing high-resolution single-ended source synchronous receivers. In an embodiment of the present invention, a source-synchronous receiver is disclosed. The receiver includes: a first amplifier to receive a clock signal and a data signal, the first amplifier providing a first output signal; a second amplifier to receive a complementary clock signal and the data signal, the second amplifier providing a second output signal; a third amplifier to receive the clock signal and the data signal, the third amplifier providing a third output signal, the second and third output signals being combined to provide a fifth output; and a fourth amplifier to receive the complementary clock signal and the data signal, the fourth amplifier providing a fourth output signal, the first and fourth output signals being combined to provide a sixth output signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for efficiently providing self-biased driver amplifiers for high-speed signaling interfaces. In an embodiment of the present invention, a self-biased amplifier driver is disclosed. The driver includes a sensing circuit to sense a presence of noise in a power supply signal. The sensing circuit may include a current source to adjust an output signal of the sensing circuit in accordance with the power supply noise. The driver may further include: an amplifier coupled to the sensing circuit to amplify the sensing circuit output signal, a pre-driver to receive a data signal, and a driver coupled to the amplifier and the pre-driver to receive an amplifier output signal and a pre-driver output signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for efficiently providing high-resolution single-ended source synchronous receivers. In an embodiment of the present invention, a source-synchronous receiver is disclosed. The receiver includes: a first amplifier to receive a clock signal and a data signal, the first amplifier providing a first output signal; a second amplifier to receive a complementary clock signal and the data signal, the second amplifier providing a second output signal; a third amplifier to receive the complementary clock signal and the data signal, the third amplifier providing a third output signal, the second and third output signals being combined to provide a fifth output; and a fourth amplifier to receive the clock signal and the data signal, the fourth amplifier providing a fourth output signal, the first and fourth output signals being combined to provide a sixth output signal.

Abstract: A sense amplifier type input receiver includes a differential receiver circuit operatively coupled to an output stage. The output stage includes a pass gate enabled latch. The differential receiver circuit may output a first differential output and a second differential output. The output stage may include a first pass gate operatively coupled between the first differential output and an output of the output stage, a second pass gate operatively coupled between the second differential output and the pass gate enabled latch, and the pass gate enabled latch may be operatively coupled to the output of the output stage.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for efficiently providing self-biased driver amplifiers for high-speed signaling interfaces. In an embodiment of the present invention, a self-biased amplifier driver is disclosed. The driver includes a sensing circuit to sense a presence of noise in a power supply signal. The sensing circuit may include a current source to adjust an output signal of the sensing circuit in accordance with the power supply noise. The driver may further include: an amplifier coupled to the sensing circuit to amplify the sensing circuit output signal, a pre-driver to receive a data signal, and a driver coupled to the amplifier and the pre-driver to receive an amplifier output signal and a pre-driver output signal.