Patent ID: 7289572
Filing Date: 2007-10-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A predriver to driver interface comprising: a data source; a plurality of predrivers, each predriver being coupled to the data source and coupled to only a single corresponding enable signal, each predriver to predrive a data signal from the data source only responsive to the single corresponding enable signal being asserted; a plurality of drivers, each driver being coupled to a corresponding predriver, each driver to receive a corresponding predriven data signal from the corresponding predriver and being connected to the single enable signal coupled to the corresponding predriver, each driver for driving an output with the predriven data signal only responsive to the single enable signal coupled to the corresponding predriver being asserted; and a controller coupled to the plurality of predrivers and the plurality of drivers, the controller configured to dynamically change assertion of each enable signal to provide variable output drive capability of the data signal to the output, wherein the controller is further configured to monitor a power level consumption the plurality of predrivers and the plurality of drivers being asserted though a corresponding enable signal and provide a warning or error condition responsive to the power level consumption exceeding a pre-determined threshold power consumption ceiling.