Patent ID: 7733128
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: H03K,H04L

Abstract:
1. A transmitting apparatus for transmitting a digital signal by changing a direction of flow of a current signal that is output to a pair of resistor-terminated differential transmission lines, the transmitting apparatus comprising: a main buffer circuit, which has a first main output terminal and a second main output terminal connected to the differential transmission lines, outputs a current signal flowing from the first main output terminal to the second main output terminal via the differential transmission lines when a digital signal to be transmitted is at an H level, and outputs a current signal flowing from the second main output terminal to the first main output terminal via the differential transmission lines when the digital signal to be transmitted is at an L level; and a pre-emphasis buffer circuit, which has a first output terminal connected to the first main output terminal, a second output terminal connected to the second main output terminal, a first current source and a second current source each generating a constant current, and a switch circuit for switching the relation of connection among the first current source, the second current source, the first output terminal, and the second output terminal, wherein the pre-emphasis buffer circuit connects, by means of the switch circuit, the first current source and the first output terminal to each other and connects the second current source and the second output terminal to each other to output a current signal flowing from the first output terminal to the second output terminal via the differential transmission lines, and connects, by means of the switch circuit, the first current source and the second output terminal to each other and connects the second current source and the first output terminal to each other to output a current signal flowing from the second output terminal to the first output terminal via the differential transmission lines, wherein during a first time interval starting from a time point when the level of the digital signal to be transmitted is switched from the L level to the H level, the pre-emphasis buffer circuit connects the first current source and the first output terminal to each other and connects the second current source and the second output terminal to each other by means of the switch circuit to output the current signal flowing from the first output terminal to the second output terminal via the differential transmission lines, during a second time interval starting from a time point when the level of the digital signal to be transmitted is switched from the H level to the L level, the pre-emphasis buffer circuit connects the first current source and the second output terminal to each other and connects the second current source and the first output terminal to each other by means of the switch circuit to output the current signal flowing from the second output terminal to the first output terminal via the differential transmission lines, and during a third time interval other than the first time interval and the second time interval the pre-emphasis buffer circuit separates the first current source from both the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and separates the second current source from both the first output terminal and the second output terminal by means of the switch circuit, wherein the pre-emphasis buffer circuit further has a voltage-holding circuit that keeps a potential of a first connection point between the first current source and the switch circuit constant, and keeps a potential of a second connection point between the second current source and the switch circuit constant.