Patent ID: 7394857

Claim:
A transmit line driver adapted to drive a signal over a transmit line, the transmit line driver comprising: a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) receiving a digital input and providing at least one analog current output; and conversion circuitry adapted for coupling between the DAC and a transformer of the transmit line, the conversion circuitry adapted to convert the analog current output to a signal to be transmitted over the transmit line via the transformer, wherein the conversion circuitry is reconfigurable such that the transmit driver is capable of operating in at least one current mode and at least one voltage mode depending on at least one characteristic of the transmit line, wherein the at least one current mode includes a first current mode, wherein when the transmit driver is operating in the first current mode, the conversion circuitry is configured to directly connect the at least one analog current output provided by the DAC to the transformer.