KR20030037069A - System using two oscillating reference signals for accomplishing differential signal transmission mode - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A system for implementing a differential signal transmission method using two oscillating reference signals is provided to exactly detect received data through the differential signal. CONSTITUTION: A transmitting unit(310) transmits data through signal lines(321,322,323,324). A receiving unit(350) receives the data through the signal lines(321,322,323,324). The receiving unit(350) compares the first reference signal and the second reference signal with data, amplifies the comparison result, and detects the data. The first reference signal is a vibrating signal. The second reference signal is a complementary signal of the first reference signal. The receiving unit(350) includes an amplification circuit which compares the first reference signal and the second reference signal with the input data, and outputs differential signals corresponded to the comparison result. The receiving unit(350) includes a voltage sensing circuit which is synchronized with a clock signal, amplifies a difference of the differential signals, and detects the data. An oscillator(330) generates a vibration signal necessary for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal. A phase controller(331) responds to the vibration signal and generates the first reference signal and the second reference signal.

Description

System using two oscillating reference signals for accomplishing differential signal transmission mode}

The present invention relates to a signal transmission and reception system, and more particularly, to a system implementing a differential signal transmission method using two oscillating reference signals.

One method for transmitting and receiving data at high speed between semiconductor devices is to transmit and receive data differentially. This method has a disadvantage in that the number of data lines or data input / output pins for transmitting and receiving data is increased.

Figure 1a is a block diagram showing a signal transmission and reception system using a conventional single reference signal method. FIG. 1B is a timing diagram illustrating the signal level of FIG. 1A.

1A and 1B, the transmitter 110 of the signal transmission / reception system 100 receives a reference signal VREF and N pieces of data DATA1 to DATAN through signal lines 121, 123, 125, and 127. Send to the receiver 130. The receiver 130 detects the received data by comparing the reference signal VREF with each of the N pieces of data DATA 1 to DATAN. For example, the transmitter 110 may be a memory controller, and the receiver 130 may be a memory device.

However, the signal transmission / reception system 100 using a single-ended signal mode is sensitive to noise and thus difficult to transmit data at high speed. In addition, the faster the data transmission rate, the smaller the size of the data due to the attenuation effect of the signal line, so that the difference between the reference signal and the data is smaller, which makes it difficult to accurately detect the received data.

2A is a block diagram of a signal transmission and reception system using a conventional differential signaling method. FIG. 2B is a timing diagram illustrating the signal level of FIG. 2A. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the transmitter 210 of the signal transmission / reception system 200 using the differential signaling scheme uses 2N data DATA1, / DATA1,... Through the signal lines 221, 223, 225, and 227. .., DATA N, / DATA N) is transmitted to the receiver 230. The data DATA i and data DATA are complementary data. The receiver 230 detects the received data by comparing the data DATA i with the complementary data / DATA i.

The voltage difference SW2 between the data DATA i and the complementary data / DATA i in the signal transmission / reception system 200 using the differential signaling method is the voltage of the signal transmission / reception system 100 using the single reference signal method. Since the difference SW1 may be the same, the signal transmission / reception system 200 using the differential signaling scheme may reduce the swing width of the data and reduce the power consumption so that data may be received at high speed. However, there is a problem in that there should be about N data lines more than the signal transmission and reception system 100 using a single reference signal method.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a signal transmission / reception system capable of receiving data in a differential signaling manner using two oscillating reference signals.

In order to more fully understand the drawings used in the detailed description of the invention, a brief description of each drawing is provided.

Figure 1a is a block diagram showing a signal transmission and reception system using a conventional single reference signal method.

FIG. 1B is a timing diagram illustrating the signal level of FIG. 1A.

2A is a block diagram of a signal transmission and reception system using a conventional differential signaling method.

FIG. 2B is a timing diagram illustrating the signal level of FIG. 2A.

3 is a diagram illustrating a signal transmission and reception system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram illustrating a signal level of the signal transmission and reception system shown in FIG. 3.

5 is a diagram illustrating a circuit included in the receiver of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram specifically illustrating the amplifier circuit of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the phase controller of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7B is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the phase controller of FIG. 3.

8 is a diagram illustrating a signal transmission and reception system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a diagram illustrating a signal transmission and reception system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the reference signal generator of FIG. 9.

11 is a diagram illustrating a signal transmission and reception system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a diagram illustrating a signal transmission and reception system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram illustrating in detail the reference signal generator of FIG. 12.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the signal transmission / reception system according to the present invention includes a transmitter for transmitting data through a signal line, and a receiver for receiving the data through the signal line, wherein the receiver is provided with a first reference signal and a second reference. Compare each signal with the data, amplify the comparison result to detect the data, the first reference signal is a vibrating signal, and the second reference signal is a complementary signal of the first reference signal. It is done.

According to a preferred embodiment, the receiver is in synchronization with a clock signal and an amplifying circuit for comparing each of the first reference signal and the second reference signal with the input data and outputs the differential signals corresponding to the comparison result, And a voltage sensing circuit for amplifying the difference between the differential signals to detect the data.

According to a preferred embodiment, the signal transmission and reception system of the present invention further comprises an oscillator for generating a vibration signal necessary to generate the first reference signal and the second reference signal, the receiver in response to the vibration signal, And a phase controller for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal. The phase controller includes a phase adjuster for compensating for the delay of the vibration signal in response to the vibration signal, and a phase divider for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal in response to an output signal of the phase adjuster. do.

According to a preferred embodiment, the signal transmission and reception system of the present invention further includes a reference signal generator for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal. The reference signal generator includes an oscillator for generating a vibration signal and a phase divider for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal in response to the vibration signal.

According to a preferred embodiment, the signal transmission and reception system of the present invention further comprises a clock signal generator for generating the clock signal and the complementary signal of the clock signal, the receiving unit responds to the clock signal and the complementary signal of the clock signal The apparatus may further include a reference signal generator configured to generate the first reference signal and the second reference signal.

The signal transmission / reception system of the present invention can accurately detect the received data even when the level difference between the received signals is small, when the process, voltage or temperature is changed, and when the received data is noisy.

In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and the contents described in the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

3 is a diagram illustrating a signal transmission and reception system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the signal transmission / reception system 300 of the present invention includes a transmitter 310, signal lines 321, 322, 323, and 324, an oscillator 330, and a receiver 350. In addition, the receiver 350 includes a phase controller 331. For example, the transmitter 310 may be a memory controller and the receiver 350 may be a memory device.

The transmitter 310 transmits the clock signal CLK and N pieces of data DATA1 to DATAN to the receiver 350 through the signal lines 321, 322, and 323. The phase controller 331 of the receiver 350 receives the vibration signal REF generated from the oscillator 330 and generates reference signals VREF and / VREF. The first reference signal VREF is a vibrating signal, and the second reference signal / VREF is a complementary signal of the first reference signal. The receiver 350 compares each of the reference signals VREF and / VREF with each of the N pieces of data DATA 1 to DATAN to detect the received data.

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram illustrating a signal level of the signal transmission and reception system shown in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 4, a comparatively larger signal is detected from the comparison result by comparing each of the first reference signal and the second reference signal VREF and / VREF with data DATA i, and the detected signal is The data is recovered as DATA i.

5 is a diagram illustrating a circuit included in the receiver of FIG. 3. Although only data DATA1 is illustrated in FIG. 5, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 may be equally applied to the remaining data. Referring to FIG. 5, the receiver 350 includes a first amplifier circuit 353, a second amplifier circuit 355, and a voltage sensing circuit 357.

The first amplifier circuit 353 compares the first reference signal VREF and the data DATA1 transmitted through the signal line 321, and according to the comparison result, the first differential signal V1P and the second differential signal ( V1N) is output to the voltage sensing circuit 357. Preferably, the first differential signal V1P and the second differential signal V1N are complementary signals or differential signals.

For example, when the signal level of the first reference signal VREF is relatively higher than the signal level of the data DATA 1, the first amplifier circuit 353 may include the second differential signal V1N and the second differential signal V1N. Each of the first differential signals V1P having a relatively lower signal level is output to the voltage sensing circuit 357.

If the signal level of the first reference signal VREF is relatively lower than the signal level of the data DATA1, the first amplifying circuit 353 may be less than the second differential signal V1N and the second differential signal V1N. The first differential signal V1P having a relatively high signal level is output to the voltage sensing circuit 357, respectively.

When the signal level of the first reference signal VREF and the signal level of the data DATA1 are the same, the first amplifying circuit 353 may have the first differential signal V1P and the second differential signal V1N having the same signal level. )

The second amplifying circuit 355 compares the second reference signal / VREF with data DATA1 transmitted through the signal line 321, and according to the comparison result, the third differential signal V2P and the fourth differential signal ( V2N) is output to the voltage sensing circuit 357, respectively. Preferably, the third differential signal and the fourth differential signal V2P and V2N are signals complementary to each other or differential signals.

For example, when the signal level of the second reference signal / VREF is relatively higher than the signal level of the data DATA1, the second amplifier circuit 355 may perform the fourth differential signal V2N and the fourth differential signal V2N. The third differential signal V2P having a relatively lower signal level is output to the voltage sensing circuit 357, respectively.

If the level of the second reference signal / VREF is relatively lower than the signal level of the data DATA1, the second amplifying circuit 355 may be less than the fourth differential signal V2N and the fourth differential signal V2N. The third differential signal V2P having a relatively high signal level is output to the voltage sensing circuit 357.

In addition, when the signal level of the second reference signal / VREF and the signal level of the data DATA1 are the same, the second amplifier circuit 355 may use the third output signal V2P and the fourth output signal of the same signal level. Outputs V2N).

When the signal level difference between the data DATA1 and the second reference signal / VREF is greater than the signal level difference between the data DATA1 and the first reference signal VREF, the operation of the second amplifying circuit 355 is stopped. It is more dominant than the operation of the single amplifier circuit 353. Accordingly, the second amplifier circuit 355 detects the difference between the second reference signal / VREF and the data DATA1 to output the third differential signal and the fourth differential signal V2P and V2N, and output the voltage sensing circuit ( 357 outputs an output signal Q and an inverted signal QB of the output signal Q in response to the third and fourth differential signals V2P and V2N.

When the signal level difference between the data DATA1 and the first reference signal VREF is greater than the signal level difference between the data DATA1 and the second reference signal / VREF, the operation of the first amplifying circuit 353 is performed. The operation of the two amplifying circuits 355 is more dominant. Accordingly, the first amplifier circuit 353 detects the difference between the first reference signal VREF1 and the data DATA1 to output the third differential signal and the fourth differential signal V2P and V2N, and the voltage sensing circuit 357. ) Outputs an output signal Q and an inverted signal QB of the output signal Q in response to the third and fourth differential signals V2P and V2N.

Preferably, the first reference signal VREF and the second reference signal / VREF are complementary signals or differential signals, and the data DATA1 is a single-ended signal.

The voltage sensing circuit 357 is synchronized with the clock signal CLK, and senses and amplifies the differential signals V1P, V1N, V2P, and V2N of the first and second amplifier circuits 353 and 355 to output the output signal. The inverted signal QB of Q and the output signal Q are output.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram specifically illustrating the amplifier circuit of FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 6, the first amplifier circuit and the second amplifier circuits 353 and 355 include two load transistors MP1 and MP2, two gating transistors MN1 and MN2, and a current source MN3. .

FIG. 7A is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the phase controller of FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 7A, the phase controller 331 includes a phase adjuster 332 and a phase divider 333. The phase adjuster 332 compensates for the delay of the vibration signal REF and preferably includes a delay locked-loop circuit. The phase splitter 333 outputs the reference signals VREF and / VREF in response to the output signal of the phase adjuster 332.

FIG. 7B is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the phase controller of FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 7B, the phase controller 331 includes a phase divider 334, a first phase adjuster 335, and a second phase adjuster 336. A phase splitter 334 outputs two output signals in response to the vibration signal REF. The first phase adjuster 335 outputs a first reference signal VREF in response to one of the output signals of the phase divider 334. The second phase adjuster 336 outputs a second reference signal / VREF in response to one of the output signals of the phase divider 334. The first and second phase adjusters 335 and 336 preferably include a delay locked-loop circuit.

8 is a diagram illustrating a signal transmission and reception system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, the signal transmission / reception system 400 of the present invention includes a transmitter 410, signal lines 421, 422, 423, and 424, and a receiver 430. The transmitter 410 includes an oscillator 411 for generating a vibration signal REF, and the receiver 430 includes circuits (not shown) and a phase controller 431 illustrated in FIG. 5.

The transmitter 410 transmits the vibration signal REF, the clock signal CLK, and the N pieces of data DATA1 to DATAN to the receiver 350 through the signal lines 421, 422, 423, and 424. The phase controller 431 of the receiver 450 receives the vibration signal REF and generates reference signals VREF and / VREF. Here, the vibration signal REF is a signal generated from the oscillator 330. The first reference signal VREF is a vibrating signal and the second reference signal / VREF is a complementary signal of the first reference signal VREF. The receiver 350 compares each of the reference signals VREF and / VREF with each of the N pieces of data DATA 1 to DATAN to detect the received data.

9 is a diagram illustrating a signal transmission and reception system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9, the signal transmission / reception system 500 of the present invention includes a transmitter 510, signal lines 521, 522, 523, 524, and 525, a reference signal generator 530, and a receiver 550. The receiver 550 includes circuits (not shown) illustrated in FIG. 5. Therefore, detailed description of the configuration of the receiver 550 is omitted.

The transmitter 510 transmits the clock signal CLK and the N data DATA1 to DATAN to the receiver 550 through the signal lines 521, 522, and 523. The reference signal generator 530 outputs the reference signals VREF and / VREF to the receiver 550 through the signal lines 524 and 525. Here, the first reference signal VREF is a vibrating signal, and the second reference signal / VREF is a complementary signal of the first reference signal VREF. The receiver 550 detects the received data by comparing each of the reference signals VREF and / VREF with each of the N pieces of data DATA 1 to DATAN.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the reference signal generator of FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 10, the reference signal generator 530 includes an oscillator 531 and a phase divider 533. The phase divider 533 outputs the first reference signal and the second reference signals VREF and / VREF in response to the vibration signal REF generated from the oscillator 531.

11 is a diagram illustrating a signal transmission and reception system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 11, the signal transmission / reception system 600 of the present invention includes a transmitter 610, signal lines 621, 622, 623, 624, and 625, and a receiver 630. The receiver 550 includes circuits (not shown) illustrated in FIG. 5. Therefore, detailed description of the configuration of the receiver 550 is omitted.

The transmitter 610 transmits the clock signal CLK and N pieces of data DATA1 to DATAN to the receiver 630 through the signal lines 621, 622, and 623. The reference signal generator 611 included in the transmitter 611 outputs the reference signals VREF and / VREF to the receiver 630 through the signal lines 624 and 625. The reference signal generator 611 includes an oscillator 531 and a phase divider 533 shown in FIG. The first reference signal VREF is a vibrating signal, and the second reference signal / VREF is a complementary signal of the first reference signal VREF. The receiver 630 detects the received data by comparing each of the reference signals VREF and / VREF with each of the N pieces of data DATA 1 to DATAN.

12 is a diagram illustrating a signal transmission and reception system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 12, the signal transmission / reception system 700 of the present invention includes a transmitter 710, signal lines 721, 722, 723, and 724, a clock signal generator 730, and a receiver 750. The receiver 750 includes circuits (not shown) and a reference signal generator 751 shown in FIG. 5.

The transmitter 710 transmits N pieces of data DATA1 to DATAN to the receiver 630 through the signal lines 721 and 722. The clock signal generator 730 outputs the clock signal and the complementary signals CLK and / CLK of the clock signal to the receiver 750 through the signal lines 723 and 724. The reference signal generator 751 of the receiver 750 generates the first reference signal and the second reference signal VREF and / VREF, respectively, in response to the clock signal and the complementary signals CLK and / CLK of the clock signal. Here, the first reference signal VREF is a vibrating signal, and the second reference signal / VREF is a complementary signal of the first reference signal VREF. The receiver 630 detects the received data by comparing each of the reference signals VREF and / VREF with each of the N pieces of data DATA 1 to DATAN.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram illustrating in detail the reference signal generator of FIG. 12. Referring to FIG. 13, the reference signal generator 751 includes a first resistor R1, a second resistor R2, a third resistor R3, a first transistor MN4, and a second transistor MN5. . One end of the first and second resistors R1 and R2 is connected to a power supply voltage VDD. The other end of the first resistor R1 is connected to one end of the first transistor MN4, and the other end of the second resistor R2 is connected to one end of the second transistor MN5 and one end of the third resistor R3. Is connected to the other ends of the first and second transistors MN4 and MN5, and the other end of the third resistor R3 is connected to the ground voltage VSS.

Since the signal transmission / reception system according to the present invention can obtain the effect of detecting data in a differential signal method using one data line, the data can be detected stably and at high speed.

For example, in case of receiving 16 data at the same time at high speed, the signal transmission / reception system of the differential signaling method requires 32 signal lines, but the signal transmission / reception system according to the present invention uses two reference signal lines and 16 data lines. There is an advantage that can obtain the same effect as the signal transmission and reception system of.

In addition, the power consumption of the signal transmission and reception system of the present invention is reduced, the overall layout area of the signal transmission and reception system is reduced.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

As described above, the signal transmission and reception system according to the present invention can accurately detect the received data even when the level difference between the received signals is small, when the process, voltage or temperature is changed, and when the received data is noisy.

Claims (16)

A transmitter for transmitting data through a signal line; And A receiver which receives the data through the signal line, The receiver compares each of the first reference signal and the second reference signal with the data, amplifies the comparison result to detect the data, and the first reference signal is a vibrating signal, and the second reference signal is And a complementary signal of the first reference signal. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit An amplifier circuit comparing each of the first reference signal and the second reference signal with the input data and outputting differential signals corresponding to the comparison result; And And a voltage sensing circuit synchronized with a clock signal and amplifying the difference between the differential signals to detect the data. The method of claim 2, And an oscillator for generating vibration signals necessary for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving unit And a phase controller configured to generate the first reference signal and the second reference signal in response to the vibration signal. The method of claim 4, wherein the phase controller A phase adjuster for compensating for the delay of the vibration signal in response to the vibration signal; And And a phase divider for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal in response to an output signal of the phase adjuster. The method of claim 4, wherein the phase controller A phase divider for generating a first output signal and a complementary signal of the first output signal in response to the vibration signal; A first phase adjuster for compensating for a delay of the first output signal to generate the first reference signal; And And a second phase adjuster for compensating a delay of the complementary signal of the first output signal to generate the second reference signal. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting unit And an oscillator for generating vibration signals necessary for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving unit And a phase controller for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal in response to the vibration signal. The method of claim 8, wherein the phase controller A phase adjuster for compensating for the delay of the vibration signal in response to the vibration signal; And And a phase divider for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal in response to an output signal of the phase adjuster. The method of claim 2, And a reference signal generator for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal. The method of claim 10, wherein the reference signal generator An oscillator for generating a vibration signal; And And a phase divider configured to generate the first reference signal and the second reference signal in response to the vibration signal. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting unit And a reference signal generator for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal. The method of claim 12, wherein the reference signal generator An oscillator for generating a vibration signal; And And a phase divider configured to generate the first reference signal and the second reference signal in response to the vibration signal. The method of claim 2, And a clock signal generator for generating the clock signal and the complementary signal of the clock signal. The method of claim 14, wherein the receiving unit And a reference signal generator for generating the first reference signal and the second reference signal in response to the clock signal and the complementary signal of the clock signal. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the reference signal generator A first resistor once connected to the power supply voltage; A second resistor, one end of which is connected to the power supply voltage; A first transistor having one end connected to the other end of the first resistor and gated in response to the first clock signal; A second transistor having one end connected to the other end of the second resistor and gated in response to a complementary signal of the clock signal; And And a third resistor having one end connected to the ground voltage and the other end connected to the other end of the first transistor and the second transistor.