Patent ID: 6204716
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: G01R,H03K

Abstract:
An apparatus including a transient signal detector for monitoring a signal and indicating when such signal has a magnitude which extends in either direction outside of a range defined by positive and negative threshold values, comprising:a differential buffer circuit that following reception of a differential signal selectively provides first and second currents, whereinsaid first and second currents are mutually exclusive,said first current is provided when said differential signal has a first polarity and a magnitude which exceeds a first threshold value,said second current is provided when said differential signal has a second polarity and a magnitude which exceeds a second threshold value, andeach of said first and second currents is substantially zero when said differential signal has said first polarity and said differential signal magnitude is less than said first threshold value and when said differential signal has said second polarity and said differential signal magnitude is less than said second threshold value;an output circuit that selectively conveys a third current following reception thereof; anda current sinking circuit that is coupled to said differential buffer circuit and said output circuit and thatsinks said first current via a common current path when said differential signal has said first polarity and said differential signal magnitude exceeds said first threshold value,sinks said second current via said common current path when said differential signal has said second polarity and said differential signal magnitude exceeds said second threshold value,sinks said third current via said common current path when said differential signal has said first polarity and said differential signal magnitude is less than said first threshold value, andsinks said third current via said common current path when said differential signal has said second polarity and said differential signal magnitude is less than said second threshold value,whereby one of said first, second and third currents exclusively is sunk by said current sinking circuit via said common current path.