Patent ID: 7719454
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A circuit for encoding an N-bit digital signal onto an electrical current, the circuit comprising: N switching components, each switching component including a first switching terminal, a second switching terminal, and a third switching terminal; N current limiting components, each current limiting component having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of each current limiting component being coupled to the first switching terminal of each of the corresponding N switching components; a common switching terminal coupled to the third switching terminal of all N switching components; an N-bit digital signal source, wherein each of the N bits is coupled with the second switching terminal of each of the corresponding N switching components; and an electrical current conductor coupled with the second terminal of all N current limiting components, wherein the N current limiting components are related to each other by a predetermined relationship, and wherein the N current limiting components are configured to allow, based on the predetermined relationship, a current flowing in the electrical current conductor to represent a value represented by the N-bit digital signal.