Patent Publication Number: US-2023148367-A1

Title: System and method for multi-mode receiver

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/278,172, which was filed Nov. 11, 2021, is titled “Autodetecting Single-Ended And Differential Input Topology,” and is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Different applications can involve using different transmission modes to communicate information (e.g., data and/or clock). Tradeoffs can exist between different transmission modes. For example, the different transmission modes can include a differential transmission mode and a single-ended transmission mode. Relative to the single-ended transmission mode, the differential transmission mode can provide applications with higher frequency transmissions, lower signal levels, higher noise immunity, and/or higher transmission distances. The differential transmission mode can involve higher circuit power relative to the single-ended transmission mode to provide such higher transmission distances. A broader range of applications can be supported by supporting multiple transmission modes. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with at least one example of the description, a multimode (MM) receiver includes a single-ended mode (SEM) receiver, a differential mode (DM) receiver, and a MM input interface. The SEM receiver having a SEM input. The DM receiver having a first DM input and a second DM input. The SEM receiver and the DM receiver being configured to support different transmission modes. The MM input interface having a first MM input and a second MM input. The MM input interface adapted to be coupled to a driver. The first MM input coupled to the SEM input and the first DM input. The second MM input coupled to the second DM input. 
     In accordance with at least one example of the description, a system includes a controller and a display device. The controller having a driver circuit. The display device having a first spatial light modulator (SLM) and a second SLM. The first SLM including a multimode (MM) receiver with a transmission mode (TM) detector coupled to the driver circuit. The TM detector is configured to set an operational mode of the MM receiver responsive to a transmission mode of a received input signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an example system for communicating information. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating a differential transmission mode, in accordance with various examples. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram of example waveforms showing voltage as a function of time. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram of an example waveform showing voltage as a function of time. 
         FIG.  5    is a block diagram of an example implementation of a portion of a multimode receiver. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram of an example implementation of a transmission mode (TM) detector. 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic diagram of an example implementation of a TM detector. 
         FIG.  8    is a block diagram of an example implementation of a portion of a multimode receiver. 
         FIG.  9    is a block diagram of an example system that includes a multimode receiver. 
         FIG.  10    is a flow diagram of an example method for communicating information. 
         FIG.  11    is a block diagram of an imaging system, in accordance with various examples. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As described above, supporting multiple transmission modes can facilitate supporting a broader range of applications. However, supporting multiple transmission modes can also involve supporting different input interfaces. Aspects of this description relate to a multimode receiver that supports multiple transmission modes. In at least one example, the multimode receiver can include a multimode input interface with one input (e.g., a shared input) coupled to different receivers that support different transmission modes (e.g., a single-ended transmission mode and a differential transmission mode. Coupling the shared input of the multimode input interface to different receivers that support different transmission modes can be useful to reduce pin count and/or die size. For example, supporting multiple transmission modes on a single input (e.g., the shared input) of the multimode input interface can facilitate avoiding pin count increases and/or die size increases associated with implementing different interfaces for different transmission modes to maintain separation between the different transmission modes. Coupling the shared input of the multimode input interface to different receivers that support different transmission modes can also be useful to support multiple transmission modes using a single integrated circuit or semiconductor die. Supporting multiple transmission modes using a single integrated circuit or semiconductor die via the shared input of the multimode input interface can facilitate avoiding costs associated with supporting multiple transmission modes using multiple integrated circuits, such as inventory control measure costs for managing different integrated circuits, or separate development/support costs for each different integrated circuit. 
     In at least one example, the multimode receiver can include a multimode input interface with one input (e.g., a detection input) coupled to a transmission mode detector and to one receiver among the different receivers of the multimode receiver. The transmission mode detector can be configured to automatically detect a transmission mode of an input signal received at the multimode input interface. Automatically detecting the transmission mode of the input signal by the transmission mode detector can be useful to adaptively set an operational mode of the multimode receiver responsive to the detected transmission mode. Adaptively setting an operational mode of the multimode receiver responsive to the detected transmission mode can be useful to provide increased design flexibility. Adaptively setting an operational mode of the multimode receiver responsive to the detected transmission mode can involve disabling different receivers of the multimode receiver in different operational modes to facilitate reducing power consumption within the multimode receiver. 
       FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an example system  100  for communicating information (e.g., data or clock). At least some implementations of the system  100  are representative of an application environment for a multimode receiver with transmission mode autodetection to support multiple transmission modes on a shared input. The system  100  can include a driver  110  and a multimode receiver (MM receiver)  120  having a multimode input interface (MM input interface)  121  adapted to be coupled to the driver  110 . The driver  110  may be implemented by a microcontroller, a processor, a microcomputer, digital circuitry, analog circuitry, field programmable gate array, an application specific integrated circuit, memory and/or software. The driver  110  can be connected to a single conductor or a multi-conductor bus to facilitate communications with the MM receiver  120 . The MM input interface  121  can include a first multimode input (first MM input)  122  and a second multimode input (second MM input)  123 . The MM receiver  120  can also include a single-ended mode (SEM) receiver  124 , a differential mode (DM) receiver  125 , a transmission mode detector (TM detector) 126 , and a multimode output (MM output)  127 . The system  100  can also include a load  130  adapted to be coupled to the MM output  127 . The MM receiver  120  can be configured to provide output signals at the MM output  127  that modify operation of the load  130  responsive to input signals (e.g., data signals and/or clock signals) received at the MM input interface  121  by the driver  110 . In at least one example, a single integrated circuit implements the MM input interface  121 , the SEM receiver  124 , and the DM receiver  125 . 
     In an example architecture of the system  100 , one input (e.g., a shared input) of the MM input interface  121  can be coupled to both the SEM receiver  124  and the DM receiver  125 . Coupling one input of the MM input interface  121  to both the SEM receiver  124  and the DM receiver  125  can be useful to support multiple transmission modes on a shared input. Another input (e.g., a detection input) of the MM input interface  121  can be coupled to both the TM detector  126  and the DM receiver  125 . Coupling another input of the MM input interface  121  to both the TM detector  126  and the DM receiver  125  can be useful to adaptively set an operational mode of the MM receiver  120  responsive to a transmission mode of an input signal received at the MM input interface  121 . 
     In an example operation of the system  100 , an input signal (e.g., a data signal and/or a clock signal) transmitted by the driver  110  can be received at the MM input interface  121 . The TM detector  126  is configured to automatically detect a transmission mode of the input signal received at the MM input interface  121  using a threshold voltage (V T ). In at least one example, the TM detector  126  can be configured to automatically detect the transmission mode of the input signal absent handshake-related signals being exchanged between the driver  110  and the MM receiver  120 . In at least one example, V T  is an internal threshold voltage that is received by the MM receiver  120 . Automatically detecting the transmission mode of the input signal at the MM receiver  120  can be useful to conserve bandwidth. For example, automatically detecting the transmission mode of the input signal at the MM receiver  120  can mitigate consumption of bandwidth by handshake-related signals exchanged between the driver  110  and the MM receiver  120 . 
     Responsive to detecting the transmission mode of the input signal, the TM detector  126  can provide a receiver select signal (SEL signal) to a SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and a DM control interface of the DM receiver  125 . The SEL signal provided by the TM detector  126  sets an operational mode of the MM receiver  120 . The SEL signal can set the operational mode of the MM receiver  120  to a first operational mode when the transmission mode detected by the TM detector  126  is a single-ended transmission mode supported by the SEM receiver  124 . Setting the operational mode of the MM receiver  120  to the first operational mode can enable the SEM receiver  124  and disable the DM receiver  125 . In the first operational mode, the SEM receiver  124  can be configured to provide an output signal at the MM output  127  based on the input signal received at the MM input interface  121 . The SEL signal can set the operational mode of the MM receiver  120  to a second operational mode when the transmission mode detected by the TM detector  126  is a differential transmission mode supported by the DM receiver  125 . Setting the operational mode of the MM receiver  120  to the second operational mode can enable the DM receiver  125  and disable the SEM receiver  124 . In the second operational mode, the DM receiver  125  can be configured to provide an output signal at the MM output  127  based on the input signal received at the MM input interface  121 . Disabling different receivers in different operational modes of the MM receiver  120  can be useful to reduce power consumption. 
     As described above, the TM detector  126  can be configured to automatically detect a transmission mode of an input signal received at the MM input interface  121  using V T . Providing the TM detector  126  with V T  having a value that distinguishes one transmission mode from another transmission mode can be useful to support multiple transmission modes on a shared input of the MM receiver  120 . Different transmission modes can involve driving a different number of inputs of the MM input interface  121  to communicate information (e.g., data or clock). Different transmission modes can also involve using different reference voltages to interpret communicated information. Such differences can be useful to distinguish one transmission mode from another transmission mode. 
     By way of example, a single-ended transmission mode (e.g., Low Voltage Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (LVCMOS) signaling) can involve driving one input (e.g., the first MM input  122 ) of the MM input interface  121  to communicate information (e.g., data or clock). In this example, the single-ended transmission mode can also involve using a fixed voltage reference (e.g., a ground voltage potential) applied to another input (e.g., the second MM input  123 ) of the MM input interface  121  to interpret communicated information. 
     As another example, a differential transmission mode (e.g., Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) and/or Sub-Low Voltage Differential Signaling (sub-LVDS)) can involve driving two inputs (e.g., the first MM input  122  and the second MM input  123 ) of the MM input interface  121  to communicate information (e.g., data or clock). With reference to  FIG.  2   , a voltage (V IN+ ) driving the first MM input  122  and a voltage (V IN− ) driving the second MM input  123  can form an input signal (e.g., a differential input signal) having a differential component  202  and a common mode component  204 . The differential component  202  can represent a voltage difference (V ID ) between V IN+  driving the first MM input  122  and V IN−  driving the second MM input  123 . The common mode component  204  can be a voltage (V CM ) that is common to both the first MM input  122  and the second MM input  123 . In at least one example, V CM  can be determined according to: 
       ( V   IN+   +V   IN− )/2  (1)
 
     The common mode component  204  can represent a voltage offset of the differential component  202  with respect to ground. In this example, the differential transmission mode can also involve using a value of V IN+  and a value of V IN−  to interpret communicated information. In at least one example, a value of V IN+  can be determined according to: 
         V   CM +|½ *V   ID |  (2)
 
     In at least one example, a value of V IN−  can be determined according to: 
         V   CM −|½ *V   ID |  (3)
 
     In at least one example, a value of V IN+  driving the first MM input  122  can vary between V CM +|½*V ID | and V CM −|½*V ID |. In at least one example, a value of V IN−  driving the second MM input  123  can vary between V CM +|½*V ID | and V CM −|½*V ID |. 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram  300  of example waveforms that show temporal variance of input voltages driving two inputs (e.g., the first MM input  122  and the second MM input  123 ) of the MM input interface  121  to form an input signal. A transmission mode of the input signal formed in the diagram  300  can be a differential transmission mode. The diagram  300  includes waveforms  302  and  304 . Waveform  302  corresponds to V IN+  as a function of time. Waveform  304  corresponds to V IN−  as a function of time. V ID  between waveforms  302  and  304  can correspond to a differential component (e.g., differential component  202  of  FIG.  2   ) of the input signal shown in the diagram  300 . The diagram  300  further includes V CM    306  that can correspond to a common mode component (e.g., common mode component  204  of  FIG.  2   ) of the input signal shown in the diagram  300 . 
     Prior to time  308 , V IN−  has a first value  310  and V IN+  has a second value  312  that exceeds the first value  310 . When V IN+  exceeds V IN− , the input signal shown in the diagram  300  can be in a first state (e.g., a high state). Between time  308  and time  314 , V IN−  can transition from the first value  310  to the second value  312  and V IN+  can transition from the second value  312  to the first value  310 . When V IN−  exceeds V IN+ , the input signal shown in the diagram  300  can be in a second state (e.g., a low state). Between time  316  and time  318 , V IN−  can transition from the second value  312  to the first value  310  and V IN+  can transition from the first value  310  to the second value  312 . The input signal shown in the diagram  300  can transition from the second state to the first state between time  316  and time  318 . 
     The diagram  300  shows V IN+  and VIN transitioning within a range of values that extends between the first value  310  and the second value  312  to form the input signal. The differential transmission mode of the input signal shown in the diagram  300  can have an input voltage range  320  that extends beyond the first value  310  and the second value  312 . In the diagram  300 , a minimum input voltage (V min )  322  and a maximum input voltage (V max )  324  can represent a lower bound and an upper bound of the input voltage range  320 , respectively. V IN+  and/or V IN−  can transition within the input voltage range  320  to form the input signal shown in the diagram  300 . In at least one example, a value of V min    322  can be determined according to: 
         V   CM,min −|½ *V   ID,max |  (4)
 
     where V CM,min  and V ID,max  denote a minimum common mode voltage and a maximum voltage difference of the differential transmission mode of the input signal shown in the diagram  300 , respectively. In at least one example, a value of V max    324  can be determined according to: 
         V   CM,max +|½ *V   ID,max |  (5)
 
     where V CM,max  denotes a maximum common mode voltage of the differential transmission mode of the input signal shown in the diagram  300 . In at least one example, the differential transmission mode of the input signal shown in the diagram  300  can be LVDS. In this example, V CM,min  can have a value of about 1.125 volts and V ID,max  can have a value of about 0.6 volts. In at least one example, the differential transmission mode of the input signal shown in the diagram  300  can be sub-LVDS. In this example, V CM,min  can have a value of about 0.8 volts and V ID,max  can have a value of about 300 millivolts. 
     Providing V T  having a value based on the input voltage range  320  can be useful to distinguish the differential transmission mode of the input signal formed in the diagram  300  from another transmission mode (e.g., a single-ended transmission mode). In at least one example, a value of V T  based on the input voltage range  320  can be determined using one or more of V min    322 , V CM,max , and V ID,max . In at least one example, a value of V T  based on the input voltage range  320  can be between V min    322  and a ground voltage potential. In at least one example, a value of V T  can be below V min    322  with V min    322  being determined according to equation (4). 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram  400  of an example waveform  402  that shows temporal variance of an input voltage driving one input (e.g., the first MM input  122 ) of the MM input interface  121  to form an input signal. A transmission mode of the input signal formed in the diagram  400  can be a single-ended transmission mode. The input voltage driving the one input of the MM input interface  121  can be interpreted with respect to a fixed voltage reference (e.g., a ground voltage potential) applied to another input (e.g., the second MM input  123 ) of the MM input interface  121 . Waveform  402  can correspond to V IN+  as a function of time. Between time  404  and time  406 , V IN+  can transition from a first value  408  (e.g., a ground voltage potential of about 0 volts) to a second value  410  (e.g., a voltage (V DD ) provided by a voltage supply). Between time  412  and time  414 , V IN+  can transition from the second value  410  to the first value  408 . When V IN+  is below a third value  416  (e.g., about 0.3*V DD ), the input signal shown in the diagram  400  can be in a first state (e.g., a low state). When V IN+  is above a fourth value  418  (e.g., 0.8*V DD ), the input signal shown in the diagram  400  can be in a second state (e.g., a high state). When V IN+  is between the third value  416  and the fourth value  418 , the input signal shown in the diagram  400  can be in a third state (e.g., an indeterminate state). 
       FIG.  5    is a block diagram of an example implementation of a portion of the MM receiver  120 . In at least some examples,  FIG.  5    is representative of a block-level implementation of, at least, a portion of the MM receiver  120  as shown in  FIG.  1   . For example, the MM receiver  120  as shown in  FIG.  5    includes the MM input interface  121 , the SEM receiver  124 , the DM receiver  125 , and the TM detector  126 . In at least some examples, the first MM input  122  and the second MM input  123  can represent a shared input and a detection input of the MM input interface  121 , respectively. In an example architecture of the MM receiver  120 , the first MM input  122  can be coupled to both a SEM input of the SEM receiver  124  and a first DM input (e.g., a positive or non-inverting input) of the DM receiver  125 . The second MM input  123  can be coupled to both a second DM input (e.g., a negative or inverting input) of the DM receiver  125  and a detector input of the TM detector  126 . A detector output of the TM detector  126  can be coupled to a SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and a DM control interface of the DM receiver  125 . 
     In at least one example, the SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and the DM control interface of the DM receiver  125  are coupled to a common enabling line. The SEL signal provided at the detector output of the TM detector  126  can drive the common enabling line. A voltage (V SEL ) of the SEL signal can be provided to the SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and the DM control interface of the DM receiver  125  via the common enabling line. Coupling the SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and the DM control interface of the DM receiver  125  to the detector output of the TM detector  126  via the common enabling line can be useful to enable one receiver (e.g., the SEM receiver  124 ) of the MM receiver  120  while disabling another receiver (e.g., the DM receiver  125 ) of the MM receiver  120 . 
     In at least one example, an SEM output of the SEM receiver  124  and/or a DM output of the DM receiver  125  are adapted to be coupled to a logic circuit  500  of the MM receiver  120 . In this example, the logic circuit  500  can be configured to set a state of an output signal provided at the MM output  127  responsive to a value of V SEM  provided at the SEM output of the SEM receiver  124  and a value of V DM  provided at the DM output of the DM receiver  125 . In at least one example, the logic circuit  500  can include a logic gate  502 . The logic gate  502  can be an OR logic gate or otherwise provide the functionality of an OR logical operation on a value of V SEM  provided at the SEM output of the SEM receiver  124  and/or a value of V DM  provided at the DM output of the DM receiver  125 . 
     In an example operation of the MM receiver  120 , an input signal (e.g., a data signal and/or a clock signal) can be received at the MM input interface  121 . The input signal received at the MM input interface  121  can provide V IN+  at the first MM input  122  and V IN−  at the second MM input  123 . Providing V IN+  at the first MM input  122  can provide V IN+  at the SEM input of the SEM receiver  124  and the first DM input of the DM receiver  125 . Providing V IN−  at the second MM input  123  can provide V IN−  at the second DM input of the DM receiver  125  and at the detector input of the TM detector  126 . Responsive to providing V IN−  at the detector input, the TM detector  126  can automatically detect a transmission mode of the input signal using V T  obtained by the MM receiver  120 . In at least one example, V T  is an internal threshold voltage that is obtained by the MM receiver  120 . In at least one example where V T  is an internal threshold voltage, V T  can be obtained by the MM receiver  120  using V REF  of a voltage divider of the TM detector  126  or using a gate-source voltage (V gs ) of a transistor of the TM detector  126 , as described in greater detail below. In at least one example, the TM detector  126  can be configured to automatically detect the transmission mode of the input signal absent handshake-related signals being exchanged between the driver  110  and the MM receiver  120 . The TM detector  126  can provide V SEL  at the detector output responsive to detecting the transmission mode of the input signal provided at the MM input interface  121 . A value of V SEL  provided at the detector output can be provided at the SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and the DM control interface of the DM receiver  125  to set an operational mode of the MM receiver  120 . 
     For example, the transmission mode of the input signal can be a single-ended transmission mode when V IN−  provided at the detector input has a value at or below a value of V T  obtained by the MM receiver  120 . The single-ended transmission mode can be supported by the SEM receiver  124 . The TM detector  126  can provide V SEL  having a first value (e.g., a low value) at the detector output responsive to detecting the single-ended transmission mode. In this example, V SEL  having the first value can be provided at the SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and the DM control interface of the DM receiver  125 . Providing V SEL  having the first value at the SEM control interface and the DM control interface can enable (e.g., turn on) the SEM receiver  124  and disable (e.g., turn off) the DM receiver  125 , respectively. Responsive to enabling the SEM receiver  124  and disabling the DM receiver  125 , the operational mode of the MM receiver  120  can be a first operational mode. In the first operational mode, a SEM output of the SEM receiver  124  can provide a voltage (V SEM ) based on a value of V IN+  provided at the first MM input  122 . A value of V SEM  provided at the SEM output can set a state of an output signal provided at the MM output  127  of the MM receiver  120  in the first operational mode. 
     As another example, the transmission mode of the input signal can be a differential transmission mode when V IN−  provided at the detector input has a value that exceeds a value of V T  obtained by the MM receiver  120 . The differential transmission mode can be supported by the DM receiver  125 . The TM detector  126  can provide V SEL  having a second value (e.g., a high value) at the detector output responsive to detecting the differential transmission mode. In this example, V SEL  having the second value can be provided at the SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and the DM control interface of the DM receiver  125 . Providing V SEL  having the second value at the SEM control interface and the DM control interface can disable (e.g., turn off) the SEM receiver  124  and enable (e.g., turn on) the DM receiver  125 , respectively. Responsive to disabling the SEM receiver  124  and enabling the DM receiver  125 , the operational mode of the MM receiver  120  can be a second operational mode. In the second operational mode, a DM output of the DM receiver  125  can provide a voltage (V DM ) based on a value of V IN+  provided at the first MM input  122  and the value of V IN−  provided at the second MM input  123 . A value of V DM  provided at the DM output can set a state of an output signal provided at the MM output  127  of the MM receiver  120  in the second operational mode. 
     As described above, providing the TM detector  126  with V T  having a value that distinguishes one transmission mode from another transmission mode can be useful to support multiple transmission modes on a shared input of the MM receiver  120 . Distinctions between different transmission modes can include driving a different number of inputs to communicate information (e.g., data or clock) and/or using different reference voltages to interpret communicated information. By way of example, providing the TM detector  126  with V T  having a value based on an input voltage range of a differential transmission mode can be useful to distinguish input signals of the differential transmission mode from input signals of another transmission mode (e.g., a single-ended transmission mode). In at least one example, the TM detector  126  can be provided with V T  having a value based on an input voltage range of a differential transmission mode where the input voltage range can be compatible with multiple transmission modes that include: LVCMOS, LVDS, and sub-LVDS. 
       FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram of an example implementation of the TM detector  126 . A gate-source voltage (V gs ) of transistors or semiconductor devices of a particular (e.g., desired) process technology can be below an input voltage range of a transmission mode (e.g., a differential transmission mode). For example, the transmission mode can be sub-LVDS where V CM,min  can have a value of about 0.8 volts and V ID,max  can have a value of about 300 millivolts. If determined according to equation (4), V min  of the transmission mode can be about 0.65 volts. Semiconductor devices of the particular process technology can have V gs  values that are below V min  (e.g., V min    322  of  FIG.  3   ) of the transmission mode. Such devices can be useful to provide V T  having a value (e.g., 0.6 volts) that distinguishes input signals of the transmission mode from input signals of another transmission mode (e.g., a single-ended transmission mode). 
     In at least some examples, the TM detector  126  can include a resistor  602 , an inverter  604 , a capacitor  606 , and a transistor  608  or other switching device, such as a field-effect transistor (FET), a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), or a bipolar junction transistor (BJT). The inverter  604  can be configured to control a polarity of the SEL signal provided at the SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and the DM control interface of the DM receiver  125 . In at least one example, the TM detector  126  lacks the inverter  604 . In this example, the respective polarities shown in  FIG.  6    for the SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and the DM control interface of the DM receiver  125  can be transposed. The capacitor  606  can be configured to reduce or filter spurious signals (e.g., glitches) at the second MM input  123  responsive to an input signal being received at the MM input interface  121 . In an example architecture of the TM detector  126 , a gate of the transistor  608  can be coupled to IN−  123  of the MM input interface  121 . In this example architecture, the second MM input  123  of the MM input interface  121  can represent a detection input of the MM receiver  120 . As the detection input of the MM receiver  120 , the second MM input  123  of the MM input interface  121  can be coupled to both the TM detector  126  and the DM receiver  125 . A source of the transistor  608  can be coupled to ground and a first terminal of the capacitor  606 . A drain of the transistor  608  can be coupled to a first terminal of the resistor  602 , a second terminal of the capacitor  606 , and an input of the inverter  604 . A second terminal of the resistor  602  can be adapted to be coupled to V DD . 
     In an example operation of the TM detector  126 , V IN−  driving the second MM input  123  of the MM input interface  121  can be provided to the gate of the transistor  608  responsive to an input signal being received at the MM input interface  121 . A value V IN−  driving the second MM input  123  relative to a gate-source voltage (V gs,608 ) of the transistor  608  can control operation of the TM detector  126 . In this example operation, V T  is an internal threshold voltage that is obtained by the TM detector  126  via V gs,608  of the transistor  608 . A value of V gs,608  can be useful to provide the TM detector  126  with V T  having a value that distinguishes one transmission mode from another transmission mode. 
     For example, V IN−  driving the second MM input  123  can be provided by a fixed voltage reference (e.g., a ground voltage potential) when a transmission mode of the input signal is a single-ended transmission mode. In this example, the value of V IN−  can be a value (e.g., about 0 volts) of the fixed voltage reference. A value of V gs,608  can exceed the value of the fixed voltage reference providing V IN−  when the transmission mode of the input signal is the single-ended transmission mode. Responsive to the value of V gs,608  exceeding the value of the fixed voltage reference, the transistor  608  can be inactive (e.g., turned off). With the transistor  608  being inactive, V SEL  having a first value (e.g., a low value) can be provided at an output of the inverter  604 . As described above, providing V SEL  having the first value can enable (e.g., turn on) the SEM receiver  124  and disable (e.g., turn off) the DM receiver  125 , respectively. Responsive to enabling the SEM receiver  124  and disabling the DM receiver  125 , the operational mode of the MM receiver  120  can be a first operational mode. 
     As another example, V IN−  driving the second MM input  123  can transition within an input voltage range (e.g., input voltage range  320  of  FIG.  3   ) to form the input signal when a transmission mode of the input signal is a differential transmission mode. A value of V gs,608  can be below V min  (e.g., V min    322  of  FIG.  3   ) of the input voltage range such that a value of V IN−  exceeds the value of V gs,608 . Responsive to the value of V IN−  exceeding the value of V gs,608 , the transistor  608  can be active (e.g., turned on). With the transistor  608  being active, V SEL  having a second value (e.g., a high value) can be provided at the output of the inverter  604 . As described above, providing V SEL  having the second value can enable (e.g., turn on) the DM receiver  125  and disable (e.g., turn off) the SEM receiver  124 , respectively. Responsive to enabling the DM receiver  125  and disabling the SEM receiver  124 , the operational mode of the MM receiver  120  can be a second operational mode. 
       FIG.  7    is a schematic diagram of another example implementation of the TM detector  126 . V gs  of transistors or semiconductor devices of a particular (e.g., desired) process technology can be within an input voltage range of a transmission mode (e.g., a differential transmission mode). For example, the transmission mode can be LVDS where V CM,min  can have a value of about 1.125 volts and V ID,max  can have a value of about 0.6 volts. If determined according to equation (4), V min  of the transmission mode can be about 0.825 volts. Semiconductor devices of the particular process technology can have V gs  values that exceed the V min  of about 0.825 volts. With V min  representing a lower bound of the input voltage range, V gs  values that exceed V min  can be within the input voltage range of the transmission mode. V gs  values within the input voltage range of the transmission mode can be less than useful to provide the TM detector  126  with V T  having a value that distinguishes the transmission mode from another transmission mode. In such instances, the example implementation shown by  FIG.  7    can be useful to provide V T  having a value (e.g., a value below V min  of the input voltage range) that distinguishes input signals of the transmission mode from input signals of another transmission mode (e.g., a single-ended transmission mode). In at least one example, the transmission mode can be LVDS or sub-LVDS. 
     In at least some examples, the TM detector  126  can include a resistor  702 , a resistor  704 , and a comparator  706 . In an example architecture of the TM detector  126 , the resistor  702  can be coupled to the resistor  704  to form a voltage divider  708 . The voltage divider  708  can be coupled between V DD  and ground. A first comparator input of the comparator  706  can be coupled between the resistor  702  and the resistor  704 . A second comparator input of the comparator  706  can be coupled to the second MM input  123  of the MM input interface  121 . 
     In an example operation of the TM detector  126 , V IN−  driving the second MM input  123  can be provided to the second comparator input of the comparator  706  responsive to an input signal being provided at the MM input interface  121 . A value V IN−  driving the second MM input  123  relative to a reference voltage (V REF ) of the voltage divider  708  can control operation of the TM detector  126 . In this example operation, V T  is an internal threshold voltage that is obtained by the TM detector  126  via V REF  of the voltage divider  708 . In at least one example, respective resistance values of the resistor  702  and the resistor  704  forming the voltage divider  708  can be useful to determine a value of V REF . A value of V REF  can be useful to provide the TM detector  126  with V T  having a value that distinguishes one transmission mode from another transmission mode. In at least one example, a resistance value of the resistor  702  and/or a resistance value of the resistor  704  is an adjustable resistance value that can be useful to tune a value of V T  that is provided to the TM detector  126  by V REF  of the voltage divider  708 . 
     V IN−  driving the second MM input  123  can be provided by a fixed voltage reference (e.g., a ground voltage potential) when a transmission mode of the input signal is a single-ended transmission mode. In this example operation, the value of V IN−  can be a value (e.g., about 0 volts) of the fixed voltage reference. A value of V REF  provided by the voltage divider  708  can exceed the value of the fixed voltage reference providing V IN−  when the transmission mode of the input signal is the single-ended transmission mode. Responsive to the value of V REF  exceeding the value of the fixed voltage reference, V SEL  having a first value (e.g., a low value) can be provided at a comparator output of the comparator  706 . As described above, providing V SEL  having the first value can enable (e.g., turn on) the SEM receiver  124  and disable (e.g., turn off) the DM receiver  125 , respectively. Responsive to enabling the SEM receiver  124  and disabling the DM receiver  125 , the operational mode of the MM receiver  120  can be a first operational mode. 
     V IN−  driving the second MM input  123  can also transition within an input voltage range (e.g., input voltage range  320  of  FIG.  3   ) to form the input signal when a transmission mode of the input signal is a differential transmission mode. A value of V REF  provided by the voltage divider  708  can be below V min  (e.g., V min    322  of  FIG.  3   ) of the input voltage range such that a value of V IN−  exceeds the value of V REF . In at least one example, V min  can be determined according to equation (4). Responsive to the value of V IN−  exceeding the value of V REF , V SEL  having a second value (e.g., a high value) can be provided at the comparator output of the comparator  706 . As described above, providing V SEL  having the second value can enable (e.g., turn on) the DM receiver  125  and disable (e.g., turn off) the SEM receiver  124 , respectively. Responsive to enabling the DM receiver  125  and disabling the SEM receiver  124 , the operational mode of the MM receiver  120  can be a second operational mode. 
       FIG.  8    is a block diagram of an example implementation of a portion of the MM receiver  120 . In at least some examples,  FIG.  8    is representative of a block-level implementation of, at least, a portion of the MM receiver  120  as shown in  FIG.  1   . For example, the MM receiver  120  as shown in  FIG.  8    includes the MM input interface  121 , the SEM receiver  124 , the DM receiver  125 , and the TM detector  126 . In at least some examples, the first MM input  122  and the second MM input  123  can represent a detection input and a shared input of the MM input interface  121 , respectively. In an example architecture of the MM receiver  120 , the second MM input  123  can be coupled to both an SEM input of the SEM receiver  124  and a second DM input (e.g., a negative or inverting input) of the DM receiver  125 . The first MM input  122  can be coupled to both a first DM input (e.g., a positive or non-inverting input) of the DM receiver  125  and a first detector input of the TM detector  126 . A second detector input of the TM detector  126  can be coupled to V T . A detector output of the TM detector  126  can be coupled to the SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and the DM control interface of the DM receiver  125 . 
     In an example operation of the MM receiver  120 , an input signal (e.g., a data signal and/or a clock signal) can be received at the MM input interface  121 . The input signal received at the MM input interface  121  can provide V IN+  at the first MM input  122  and V IN−  at the second MM input  123 . Providing V IN−  at the second MM input  123  can provide V IN−  at the SEM input of the SEM receiver  124  and the second DM input of the DM receiver  125 . Providing V IN+  at the first MM input  122  can provide V IN+  at the first DM input of the DM receiver  125  and the first detector input of the TM detector  126 . Responsive to providing V IN+  at the first detector input, the TM detector  126  can automatically detect a transmission mode of the input signal using V T  provided at the second detector input. In at least one example, the TM detector  126  can be configured to automatically detect the transmission mode of the input signal absent handshake-related signals being exchanged between the driver  110  and the MM receiver  120 . The TM detector  126  can provide V SEL  at the detector output responsive to detecting the transmission mode of the input signal provided at the MM input interface  121 . A value of V SEL  provided at the detector output can be provided at the SEM control interface of the SEM receiver  124  and the DM control interface of the DM receiver  125  to set an operational mode of the MM receiver  120 . 
       FIG.  9    is a block diagram of an example system  900  that includes the system  100  for communicating information (e.g., data or clock). At least some implementations of the system  900  are representative of application environments for the system  100 , such as an automobile, an appliance, a personal electronic device, or other application environments that implement a system with a multimode receiver with transmission mode autodetection to support multiple transmission modes on a shared input. In at least some examples, the system  900  includes a printed circuit board  902  having a first semiconductor package  904  and a second semiconductor package  906 . The printed circuit board  902  may include one or more conductors (e.g., traces) that couple the first semiconductor package  904  and the second semiconductor package  906 . The printed circuit board  902  may include one or more conductors (e.g., traces) that couple the first semiconductor package  904 , the second semiconductor package  906 , and the load  130 . The first semiconductor package  904  and the second semiconductor package  906  may each include one or more discrete semiconductor devices or integrated circuits that implement the driver  110  and the MM receiver  120 , respectively. 
       FIG.  10    is a block diagram of an example method  1000  for communicating information (e.g., data or clock). In at least one example, the method  1000  is performed within the system  100  by the MM receiver  120 . At block  1010 , a MM receiver receives, at an MM input interface, an input signal (e.g., a data signal and/or a clock signal) transmitted by a driver. At block  1020 , a TM detector of the MM receiver automatically detects a transmission mode of the input signal using V T . In at least one example, V T  is an internal threshold voltage that is obtained by the MM receiver, such as using V REF  of a voltage divider (e.g., voltage divider  708 ) of the TM detector or using a gate-source voltage (V gs ) of a transistor (e.g., transistor  608 ) of the TM detector. With V T  being an internal threshold voltage, the transmission mode of the input signal can be automatically detected by the TM detector absent handshake-related signals being exchanged between the driver and the MM receiver. 
     At block  1030 , the TM detector sets an operational mode of the MM receiver responsive to the detected transmission mode. At block  1040 , a first receiver of the MM receiver is enabled and a second receiver of the MM receiver is disabled according to the operational mode set in block  1030 . The first receiver of the MM receiver supports the detected transmission mode. The second receiver of the MM receiver does not support the detected transmission mode. For example, the transmission mode detected by the TM detector can be a single-ended transmission mode supported by a SEM receiver of the MM receiver. In this example, the TM detector can set the operational mode of the MM receiver to a first operational mode. Setting the operation mode of the MM receiver to the first operational mode can involve enabling the SEM receiver and disabling a DM receiver of the MM receiver that does not support the single-ended transmission mode. As another example, the transmission mode detected by the TM detector can be a differential transmission mode supported by the DM receiver of the MM receiver. In this example, the TM detector can set the operational mode of the MM receiver to a second operational mode. Setting the operation mode of the MM receiver to the second operational mode can involve enabling the DM receiver and disabling the SEM receiver. Disabling the second receiver of the MM receiver that does not support the detected transmission mode can be useful to reduce power consumption. At block  1050 , an MM output of the MM receiver provides an output signal responsive to the input signal received at the MM input interface using the first receiver. 
       FIG.  11    is a block diagram of a projection system  1100 , in accordance with various examples. The projection system  1100  may be part of the system  100 . Implementing a MM receiver that supports multiple transmission modes in the projection system  1100  can be useful for a number of reasons. For example, implementing a MM receiver in the projection system  1100  can be useful to: reduce power consumption within the projection system  1100 ; reduce a pin count of a spatial light modulator (SLM) of the projection system  1100 ; reduce a die size of a SLM of the projection system  1100 ; avoid costs associated with inventory control measures for managing different types of receivers to support different transmission modes; and/or avoid separate development/support costs associated with providing different types of receivers, as described in greater detail below. 
     The projection system  1100  is configured to process image data for displaying respective images. The projection system  1100  can include a controller  1110  having an image input interface  1112  and a driver circuit  1114 . The controller  1110  may be implemented by a microcontroller, a processor, a microcomputer, digital circuitry, analog circuitry, field programmable gate array, an application specific integrated circuit, memory and/or software. The image input interface  1112  can be configured to receive image (or video) signals that include the image data. In at least one example, the image input interface  1112  can include a wired communication interface (e.g., a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) interface, a display serial interface (DSI) interface, a flat panel display (FPD) interface, and/or a parallel red, green and blue (RGB) interface) and/or a wireless communication interface (e.g., a Wi-Fi interface and/or a Bluetooth interface). 
     The controller  1110  is configured to process the image data included in the image signals received at the image input interface  1112  to provide processed image data. The driver circuit  1114  can be connected to a multi-conductor bus  1120  to communicate with a display device  1130 . The driver circuit  1114  is configured to communicate the processed image data to the display device  1130  for displaying respective images. The driver circuit  1114  can use different transmission modes to communicate the processed image data to the display device  1130  via the multi-conductor bus  1120 . The different transmission modes can include a differential transmission mode (e.g., LVDS and/or sub-LVDS) and a single-ended transmission mode (e.g., LVCMOS). 
     The display device  1130  is configured to display stereoscopic images using the processed image data received via the multi-conductor bus  1120 . For example, the display device  1130  may be a near-eye display, such as an augmented reality (AR) headset or a virtual reality (VR) headset. The processed image data received via the multi-conductor bus  1120  can be provided to an SLM, such as a digital mirror device (DMD), liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS), liquid crystal display (LCD), or a micro light-emitting diode (microLED), of the display device  1130  to display the stereoscopic images. To that end, the display device  1130  can include SLM  1132  and SLM  1134 . The SLM  1132  can be configured to display left-eye images of the stereoscopic images. The SLM  1134  can be configured to display right-eye images of the stereoscopic images. 
     The SLM  1132  can include a MM receiver  1136  that supports multiple transmission modes, such as a differential transmission mode (e.g., LVDS and/or sub-LVDS) and a single-ended transmission mode (e.g., LVCMOS). The MM receiver  1136  can be configured to process left input signals transmitted by the driver circuit  1114  via the multi-conductor bus  1120 . The left input signals can include a subset of the processed image data that corresponds to the left-eye images of the stereoscopic images. The MM receiver  1136  can be an example of the MM receiver  120 . Accordingly, the MM receiver  1136  can include a MM interface, a SEM receiver, a DM receiver, and a TM detector, as described above with respect to the MM receiver  120 . For example, the MM receiver  1136  can include a TM detector configured to automatically detect a transmission mode of a received left input signal received at a MM interface of the MM receiver  1136  using a threshold voltage. In this example, the TM detector can also be configured to set an operational mode of the MM receiver  1136  responsive to the detected transmission mode of the received left input signal. Setting the operational mode of the MM receiver  1136  can involve enabling one receiver (e.g., a SEM receiver) of the MM receiver  1136  that supports the detected transmission mode. The MM receiver  1136  can process the received left input signal using the enabled receiver. Setting the operational mode of the MM receiver  1136  can also involve disabling another receiver (e.g., a DM receiver) of the MM receiver  1136  that does not support the detected transmission mode. 
     The SLM  1134  can include a MM receiver  1138  that supports multiple transmission modes, such as a differential transmission mode (e.g., LVDS and/or sub-LVDS) and a single-ended transmission mode (e.g., LVCMOS). The MM receiver  1138  can be configured to process right input signals transmitted by the driver circuit  1114  via the multi-conductor bus  1120 . The right input signals can include a subset of the processed image data that corresponds to the right-eye images of the stereoscopic images. The MM receiver  1138  can be an example of the MM receiver  120 . Accordingly, the MM receiver  1138  can include a MM interface, a SEM receiver, a DM receiver, and a TM detector, as described above with respect to the MM receiver  120 . For example, the MM receiver  1138  can include a TM detector configured to automatically detect a transmission mode of a received right input signal received at a MM interface of the MM receiver  1138  using a threshold voltage. In this example, the TM detector can also be configured to set an operational mode of the MM receiver  1138  responsive to the detected transmission mode of the received right input signal. Setting the operational mode of the MM receiver  1138  can involve enabling one receiver (e.g., a DM receiver) of the MM receiver  1138  that supports the detected transmission mode. The MM receiver  1138  can process the received right input signal using the enabled receiver. Setting the operational mode of the MM receiver  1138  can also involve disabling another receiver (e.g., a SEM receiver) of the MM receiver  1138  that does not support the detected transmission mode. 
     In at least one example, a first distance (e.g., about 15 centimeters (cm)) between the SLM  1132  and the driver circuit  1114  can be less than a second distance (e.g., about 40 cm) between the SLM  1134  and the driver circuit  1114 . In this example, the driver circuit  1114  can transmit the left input signals to the MM receiver  1136  using a single-ended transmission mode (e.g., LVCMOS) and transmit the right input signals to the MM receiver  1138  using a differential transmission mode (e.g., LVDS and/or sub-LVDS). Transmitting signals using the single-ended transmission mode may consume less power than transmitting signals using the differential transmission mode. Accordingly, transmitting the left input signals to the MM receiver  1136  using the single-ended transmission mode instead of the differential transmission mode can be useful to reduce power consumption within the projection system  1100 . 
     In at least one example, the MM receiver  1136  and the MM receiver  1138  can each be implemented using the same MM receiver (e.g., the MM receiver  120 ). Implementing the MM receiver  1136  and the MM receiver  1138  using the same type of MM receiver can facilitate avoiding the inventory control measures and/or separate development/support costs described above with respect to supporting multiple transmission modes using multiple integrated circuits. 
     As described above, the MM receiver  120  can facilitate avoiding pin count increases and/or die size increases associated with supporting multiple transmission modes using a single integrated circuit with different interfaces for different transmission modes. Implementing the MM receiver  1136  using the MM receiver  120  can be useful to avoiding such pin count increases and/or die size increases in the SLM  1132 . Stated differently, implementing the MM receiver  1136  using the MM receiver  120  can be useful to reduce pin count and/or die size of the SLM  1132 . Implementing the MM receiver  1138  using the MM receiver  120  can be useful to avoiding such pin count increases and/or die size increases in the SLM  1134 . Stated differently, implementing the MM receiver  1138  using the MM receiver  120  can be useful to reduce pin count and/or die size of the SLM  1134 . 
     The term “couple” is used throughout the specification. The term may cover connections, communications, or signal paths that enable a functional relationship consistent with this description. For example, if device A generates a signal to control device B to perform an action, in a first example device A is coupled to device B, or in a second example device A is coupled to device B through intervening component C if intervening component C does not substantially alter the functional relationship between device A and device B such that device B is controlled by device A via the control signal generated by device A. 
     A device that is “configured to” perform a task or function may be configured (e.g., programmed and/or hardwired) at a time of manufacturing by a manufacturer to perform the function and/or may be configurable (or re-configurable) by a user after manufacturing to perform the function and/or other additional or alternative functions. The configuring may be through firmware and/or software programming of the device, through a construction and/or layout of hardware components and interconnections of the device, or a combination thereof. 
     A circuit or device that is described herein as including certain components may instead be adapted to be coupled to those components to form the described circuitry or device. For example, a structure described as including one or more semiconductor elements (such as transistors), one or more passive elements (such as resistors, capacitors, and/or inductors), and/or one or more sources (such as voltage and/or current sources) may instead include only the semiconductor elements within a single physical device (e.g., a semiconductor die and/or integrated circuit (IC) package) and may be adapted to be coupled to at least some of the passive elements and/or the sources to form the described structure either at a time of manufacture or after a time of manufacture, for example, by an end-user and/or a third-party. 
     While certain components may be described herein as being of a particular process technology, these components may be exchanged for components of other process technologies. Circuits described herein are reconfigurable to include the replaced components to provide functionality at least partially similar to functionality available prior to the component replacement. Components shown as resistors, unless otherwise stated, are generally representative of any one or more elements coupled in series and/or parallel to provide an amount of impedance represented by the shown resistor. For example, a resistor or capacitor shown and described herein as a single component may instead be multiple resistors or capacitors, respectively, coupled in parallel between the same nodes. For example, a resistor or capacitor shown and described herein as a single component may instead be multiple resistors or capacitors, respectively, coupled in series between the same two nodes as the single resistor or capacitor. 
     Uses of the phrase “ground voltage potential” in the foregoing description include a chassis ground, an Earth ground, a floating ground, a virtual ground, a digital ground, a common ground, and/or any other form of ground connection applicable to, or suitable for, the teachings of this description. Unless otherwise stated, “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” preceding a value means +/− 10 percent of the stated value. Modifications are possible in the described examples, and other examples are possible within the scope of the claims.