Patent ID: 6087861
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A network driver for generating a waveform between first and second nodes, said network driver comprising:a first driver circuit coupled to said first node wherein said first driver circuit sources first and second discrete currents to the first node and sinks said first and second discrete currents from the first node wherein said first and second discrete currents are different wherein said first driver circuit includes a first sourcing current source coupled between the first node and a first reference voltage, wherein the first sourcing current source sources current to the first node when activated, and a first sinking current source coupled between the first node and a second references voltage, wherein the first sinking current source sinks current from the first output node when activated;a second driver circuit coupled to the second node wherein said second driver circuit sources said first and second discrete currents to said second node and sinks said first and second discrete currents from the second node wherein said second driver circuit includes a second sourcing current source coupled between the second node and the first reference voltage, wherein the second sourcing current source sources current to the second node when activated, and a second sinking current source coupled between the second node and the second reference voltage, wherein the second sinking current source sinks current from the second node when activated; anda controller which controls said driver circuits so that said first driver circuit sources and said second driver circuit sinks said first current during a first period of time followed by said first driver circuit sourcing and said second driver circuit sinking said second current during a second period of time and so that said first driver circuit sinks and said second driver circuit sources said first current during a third period of time followed by said first driver circuit sinking and said second driver circuit sourcing said second current during a fourth period of time wherein said first, second, third, and fourth periods of time do not overlap wherein said controller activates said current sources in pairs so that said first sourcing current source and said second sinking current source are commonly activated, and so that said second sourcing current source and said first sinking current source are commonly activated, and wherein said controller provides that said first sourcing and sinking current sources are not activated concurrently and wherein said controller provides that said second sourcing and sinking current sources are not activated concurrently so that current is not concurrently sourced and sunk to and from either of the respective nodes by current sources coupled to the respective nodes.