Patent ID: 8598918

Claim:
A differential communication device for switching over a level of a transmission signal to either a high level or a low level in accordance with a potential difference between two transmission lines, the differential communication device comprising: a communication circuit connected to the transmission lines and including at least one of a transmitter circuit for transmitting the transmission signal and a receiver circuit for receiving the transmission signal; and a ringing suppression circuit connected to the transmission lines in parallel to the communication circuit, wherein the ringing suppression circuit includes a first control circuit, a switch circuit and a drive signal output circuit, the first control circuit provided in a connection line connecting the two transmission lines and including a first diode, which is arranged such that a forward direction thereof is from a high-side transmission line of the two transmission lines to a low-side transmission line of the two transmission lines, the high-side transmission line and the low-side transmission line providing a relatively high potential and a relatively low potential in case of transmission of a high level signal, respectively, the switch circuit provided in the connection line in a series relation with the first diode, and the drive signal output circuit outputting a drive signal, which turns on the switch circuit for only a predetermined time, upon detection of a change of the transmission signal from the high level to the low level.