Patent ID: 6243776
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A circuit for transmitting data in an information handling system, comprising:a bus, wherein the data may be transmitted on said bus using either a single-ended protocol or a differential protocol;a selectable driver circuit for driving the data on said bus, wherein said selectable driver circuit may be configured to drive the data according to either the single-ended protocol or the differential protocol, and wherein said selectable driver circuit uses substantially the same circuitry to drive the data regardless of which protocol is used;a selectable receiver circuit for receiving the data from said bus, wherein said selectable receiver circuit may be configured to receive the data according to either the single-ended protocol or the differential protocol, and wherein said selectable receiver circuit uses substantially the same circuitry to receive the data regardless of which protocol is used; anda selection signal input to said selectable driver circuit and said selectable receiver circuit, wherein said selection signal determines whether said selectable driver circuit drives the data on said bus using the single-ended protocol or the differential protocol, and wherein said selection signal determines whether said selectable receiver circuit receives the data using the single-ended protocol or the differential protocol.