TWI495284B - Driving device and related transmission system and current driving method - Google Patents

Description

Drive device and related transmission system and current drive method

The present invention relates to a driving device for a transmission system, and more particularly to a driving device capable of reducing an average driving current in a transmission system.

With the advancement of technology, the application of the Internet has become more and more extensive and has become an indispensable part of people's daily life. Since the bandwidth requirements of various network applications (such as online multimedia applications) are becoming more and more strict, the speed of the network device is gradually increased from 10/100 Mbs to 1000 Mbs (that is, 1 Gbs) or more. At different speeds, when the network device drives the transmission line, the signals on the transmission line will have different swings. In general, depending on the difference in driving methods, the driving method of the transmission device in the network device can be divided into a current mode and a voltage mode.

When the transmission device in the network device is implemented in a current mode, the transmission device needs to use a large amount of drive current to drive a transformer to achieve the purpose of driving the transmission line. However, regardless of whether the transmission device needs to change the signal on the transmission line, the transmission device in the prior art maintains the current amount of the drive transformer normally at a considerable value. In other words, when there is no signal feed at the input of the network device and the transmission device does not need to modulate the signal on the transmission line, the transmission device will continue to generate a large amount of current, thereby wasting significant power consumption. It can be seen that the conventional technology is necessary for improvement.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes a driving device capable of reducing an average driving current in a transmission system.

The present invention discloses a driving device for use in a transmission system, the driving device comprising a first conversion module, comprising a current source unit for generating a first current and a current according to a current indicating signal in an input signal a second current; and a control unit for generating a control signal according to a level signal of the input signal; and a second conversion module comprising a positive current generating unit coupled to the current source unit, the The control unit and a positive transmitting end of the transmission system are configured to generate a positive driving current to the positive transmitting end in a first time interval according to the control signal and the first current; and a negative current generating unit coupled Connected to the current source unit, the control unit, and a negative transmitting end of the transmission system for generating a negative driving current to the negative transmitting end in a second time interval according to the control signal and the second current; The first time interval and the second time interval do not overlap each other.

The present invention further discloses a transmission system including a transformer coupled between a positive transmitting end and a negative transmitting end of the transmitting system; a resistor unit coupled between the positive transmitting end and the negative transmitting end And a driving device comprising a first conversion module, comprising a current source unit for generating a first current and a second current according to a current indicating signal in an input signal; and a control unit for Generating a control signal according to a level signal of the input signal; and a second conversion module comprising a positive current generating unit coupled to the current source unit, the control unit, and a positive transmitting end of the transmitting system And generating a positive driving current to the positive transmitting end in a first time interval according to the control signal and the first current; and a negative current generating unit coupled to the current source unit, the control unit, and a negative transmitting end of the transmission system, configured to generate a negative driving current to the negative transmitting end in a second time interval according to the control signal and the second current; In the first time interval do not overlap each other and the second time interval.

The present invention further discloses a current driving method for use in a transmission system, comprising: generating a positive driving current in a first time interval in a transmission end of the transmission system; and generating a second time interval in a second time interval The negative drive current is in a negative transfer end of the transmission system; wherein the first time interval and the second time interval do not overlap each other.

10‧‧‧Transmission system

100‧‧‧Transformer

102‧‧‧resistance unit

104‧‧‧ drive

106‧‧‧First conversion module

108‧‧‧Second conversion module

110‧‧‧current source unit

112‧‧‧Control unit

114‧‧‧Positive current generating unit

116‧‧‧Negative current generating unit

60‧‧‧ Current drive method

600~606‧‧‧Steps

B[n:0]‧‧‧ bits

CIS‧‧‧current indication signal

CON‧‧‧ control signal

CTXN, CTXP‧‧‧ signal

DAC‧‧‧ analog-to-digital converter

DIN‧‧‧ input signal

GND‧‧‧ ground

ITX1~ITX4‧‧‧ Current

ITXN‧‧‧negative drive current

ITXP‧‧‧ drive current

LD1, LD2‧‧‧ line driver

MN1, MN2‧‧‧N type gold oxygen half field effect transistor

RL‧‧‧ impedance

SW1~SW6‧‧‧ switch

TXN‧‧‧negative transmitter

TXP‧‧‧正 transmit end

VIS‧‧ ‧ level signal

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an implementation of the transmission system shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the relevant signals when the transmission system is operated as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another implementation of the transmission system shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the relevant signals when the transmission system is operated as shown in Figure 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a current driving method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a transmission system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The transmission system 10 is used to drive a transmission line according to an input signal DIN (this figure represents an equivalent impedance of the transmission line with an impedance RL). As shown in FIG. 1, the transmission system 10 includes a transformer 100, a resistor unit 102, and a driving device 104. The two ends of the transformer 100 are respectively coupled to the positive transmitting terminal TXP and the negative transmitting terminal TXN for driving the transmission line according to the positive driving current ITXP and the negative driving current ITXN. The resistor unit 102 is coupled to the positive transmitting terminal TXP and the negative transmitting terminal TXN for matching the impedance RL of the transmission line. The driving device 104 includes a first conversion module 106 and a second conversion module 108 for dynamically adjusting the positive driving current ITXP and the negative driving current ITXN according to an input signal DIN. It should be noted that, according to the input signal DIN, the driving device 104 does not simultaneously generate the positive driving current ITXP and the negative driving current ITXN. Accordingly, when the input signal DIN indicates that the transmission system 10 does not need to modulate the signal on the transmission line, the positive driving current ITXP and the negative driving current ITXN output by the second conversion module 108 are simultaneously zero, thereby greatly reducing the transmission. The average current and power consumption of system 10.

In detail, the first conversion module 106 includes a current source unit 110 and a control unit 112. The current source unit 110 is configured to generate currents ITX1 and ITX2 according to a current indicating signal CIS in the input signal DIN. The control unit 112 is configured to generate a control signal CON according to a level signal VIS in the input signal DIN. The second conversion module 108 includes a positive current generating unit 114 and a negative current generating unit 116. The positive current generating unit 114 is coupled to the current source unit 110, the control unit 112, and the positive transmitting terminal TXP for generating a positive driving current ITXP according to the control signal CON and the current ITX1. Similarly, the negative current generating unit 116 is coupled to the current source unit 110, the control unit 112, and the negative transmitting terminal TXN for generating a negative driving current ITXN according to the control signal CON and the current ITX2.

When the level signal VIN in the input signal DIN indicates that the voltage level of the transmission line is raised, the control unit 112 stops the operation of the negative current generating unit 116 by adjusting the control signal CON, and causes the positive current generating unit 114 to generate a positive drive according to the current ITX1. Current ITXP. In contrast, when the level signal VIS in the input signal DIN indicates that the voltage level of the transmission line is lowered, the control unit 112 stops the operation of the positive current generating unit 114 by adjusting the control signal CON, and causes the negative current generating unit 116 to be based on the current ITX2. A negative drive current ITXN is generated. In addition, when the level signal VIS in the input signal DIN indicates that the voltage level of the transmission line is not changed, the control unit 112 causes the positive current generating unit 114 and the negative current generating unit 116 to simultaneously stop operating by adjusting the control signal CON. Accordingly, according to the control signal CON, the driving device 104 can dynamically adjust the positive driving current ITXP and the negative driving current ITXN. It is worth noting that, when the level indication signal VIS in the input signal DIN indicates that the voltage level of the transmission line is not changed (for example, when there is no data to be transmitted in the input signal DIN), the positive driving current ITXP and the negative driving current ITXN are simultaneously zero. Therefore, the average current and power consumption of the driving device 104 can be effectively reduced.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the transmission system 10 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the current source unit 110 is implemented by a digital analog converter DAC, the positive current generating unit 114 includes switches SW1 and SW2 and a line driver LD1, and the negative current generating unit 116 is The switches SW3 and SW4 and the line driver LD2 are composed. In this embodiment, the input signal DIN is an n-bit signal, including a bit B[n:0], and the level signal VIS is the most significant bit (MSB) of the input signal DIN (ie, bit B[n]). The current indication signal CIS is a bit other than the most significant bit in the input signal DIN (ie, bit B[n-1:0]). Further, in this embodiment, the bit B[n] can be directly used as the control signal CON.

The detailed operation of the transmission system 10 shown in Fig. 2 will be described below by way of example. The digital analog converter DAC generates currents ITX1, ITX2 according to B[n-1:0] (ie, current indication signal CIS), and outputs them to the positive current generating unit 114 and the negative current generating unit 116, respectively. When the bit B[n] (ie, the level signal VIS, the control signal CON) is at a high logic level, the switches SW1 and SW3 are turned off and the switches SW2 and SW4 are turned on. The current ITX2 originally flowing to the negative current generating unit 116 is directed to the ground GND, and the line driver LD1 in the positive current generating unit 114 generates a positive driving current ITXP based on the current ITX1. For example, the line driver LD1 can amplify the current ITX1 by a certain multiple as the positive drive current ITXP to drive the transformer 100. Similarly, when bit B[n] is at a low logic level, switches SW1, SW3 are turned on and switches SW2, SW4 are turned off. The current ITX1 originally flowing to the positive current generating unit 114 is directed to the ground GND, and the line driver LD2 in the negative current generating unit 116 generates a negative driving current ITXN according to the current ITX2. Accordingly, the positive current generating unit 114 and the negative current generating unit 116 do not operate at the same time, thereby effectively reducing the average current and power consumption of the driving device 104.

In addition, in the prior art, if the input signal DIN is an n-bit signal, the digital analog converter used to generate the current must also be an n-bit digital analog converter. In contrast, since the most significant bit of the input signal DIN in the above embodiment is used as the level indicating the transmission line voltage level Signal VIS, a digital analog converter, can be implemented with an (n-1)-bit digital analog converter, reducing the complexity and cost of implementing a digital analog converter. In other words, by dividing the input signal DIN into a level signal VIS indicating that the positive driving current ITXP or the negative driving current ITXN is generated and the current indicating signal CIS indicating the magnitude of the current, the average current and power consumption of the driving device 104 can be reduced. The complexity and cost of implementing the drive unit 104 can also be reduced.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a schematic diagram of related signals when the transmission system 10 is operated as shown in FIG. 2. From time T1 to time T2, bit B[n] (ie, level signal VIS, control signal CON) is at a high logic level to indicate that switches SW1, SW3 are open and switches SW2, SW4 are on. The negative current generating unit 116 does not operate, and the negative driving current ITXN is zero. The positive current generating unit 114 generates a positive driving current ITXP based on the current ITX1. At this time, the current source unit 110 gradually increases the current ITX1 according to the bit B[n-1:0], and the positive drive current ITXP generated by the line driver LD1 gradually rises with the current ITX1. Similarly, at time point T2 to time point T3, bit B[n] is still at a high logic level, negative current generating unit 116 does not operate, and negative drive current ITXN is zero. The current source unit 110 gradually reduces the current ITX1 according to the bit B[n-1:0], so the positive drive current ITXP generated by the line driver LD1 gradually decreases with the current ITX1.

In contrast, at time point T3 to time point T4, bit B[n] (ie, level signal VIS, control signal CON) is at a low logic level to indicate that switches SW1, SW3 are turned on, and switches SW2, SW4 are turned off. The positive current generating unit 114 does not operate, and the positive driving current ITXP is zero. The negative current generating unit 116 generates a negative driving current ITXN based on the current ITX2. At this time, the current source unit 110 gradually increases the current ITX2 according to the bit B[n-1:0], and the negative drive current ITXN generated by the line driver LD2 gradually rises with the current ITX2. Similarly, at time point T4 to time point T5, bit B[n] is still at a low logic level, positive current generating unit 114 is not operating, and positive drive current ITXP is zero. The current source unit 110 gradually reduces the current ITX2 according to the bit B[n-1:0], so the negative drive current ITXN generated by the line driver LD2 gradually decreases with the current ITX2. And so on. It should be noted that at the time At the intermediate point T3, neither the positive current generating unit 114 nor the negative current generating unit 116 operates, and the positive driving current ITXP and the negative driving current ITXN are both zero. In other words, when the driving device 104 does not need to modulate the signal on the transmission line (such as the time point T3), the driving current is zero, and the average current and power consumption of the driving device 104 can be greatly reduced.

It should be noted that the spirit of the above embodiment is that the driving device in the transmission system generates the positive driving current ITXP and the negative driving current ITXN in different time intervals according to the input signal, thereby greatly reducing the average current and power consumption of the transmission system. Depending on the application, those of ordinary skill in the art should implement appropriate changes and modifications. For example, please refer to FIG. 4, which is a schematic diagram of another implementation of the transmission system 10 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the current source unit 110 is implemented by the current sources CS1 and CS2, and the control unit 112 generates the signals CTXP and CTXN as the control signals CON according to the level signal VIS in the input signal DIN. The positive current generating unit 114 and the negative current generating unit 116 are respectively composed of the switching units SWU1 and SWU2. The switching unit SWU1 and the switching unit SWU2 respectively include N-type gold-oxygen half field effect transistors (NMOS) MN1, MN2 and switches SW5, SW6. The operation principle of the switch unit SWU1 and the switch unit SWU2 should be well known to those skilled in the art, and for brevity, it will not be described herein. Depending on the application, the switching unit SWU1 and the switching unit SWU2 may be modified, and are not limited to the implementation shown in FIG.

The transmission system 10 shown in Fig. 4 will be described below by way of example. Please refer to FIG. 5 together. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of related signals when the transmission system 10 is operated as shown in FIG. 4. From time T1 to time T2, the signal CTXN is at a low logic level, so that the switch module SWU2 disconnects the connection between the negative transfer terminal TXN and the current source CS2, so the negative drive current ITXN is zero. On the other hand, the signal CTXP is at a high logic level, so that the switch module SWU1 conducts the connection between the positive transfer terminal TXP and the current source CS1, so that the current ITX3 outputted by the current source CS1 becomes the positive drive current ITXP. The current source CS1 sequentially increments the positive drive current according to the current indication signal CIS in the input signal DIN. ITXP. Similarly, from time T2 to time T3, the signal CTXP is at a high logic level and the signal CTXN is at a low logic level, and the switch module SWU1 is connected to the connection between the positive transmission terminal TXP and the current source CS1 and the switch module SWU2 is off. The connection between the transmitting terminal TXN and the current source CS2 is opened. The current ITX3 outputted by the current source CS1 becomes the positive drive current ITXP, and the current source CS1 sequentially decrements the positive drive current ITXP according to the current indication signal CIS in the input signal DIN.

From time T3 to time T4, the signal CTXP is at a low logic level, so that the switch module SWU1 disconnects the connection between the positive transfer terminal TXP and the current source CS1, so the positive drive current ITXP is zero. On the other hand, the signal CTXN is at a high logic level, so that the switch module SWU2 conducts the connection between the negative transfer terminal TXN and the current source CS2, so that the current ITX4 outputted by the current source CS2 becomes the negative drive current ITXN. The current source CS2 sequentially increments the negative drive current ITXN according to the current indication signal CIS in the input signal DIN. Similarly, from time T4 to time T5, the signal CTXN is at a high logic level and the signal CTXP is at a low logic level, and the switch module SWU1 disconnects the connection between the positive transmission terminal TXP and the current source CS1 and the switch module SWU2 The connection between the negative transfer terminal TXN and the current source CS2 is turned on. The current ITX4 outputted by the current source CS2 becomes the negative drive current ITXN, and the current source CS2 sequentially decrements the negative drive current ITXN according to the current indication signal CIS in the input signal DIN, and so on. It should be noted that at the time point T3, the positive driving current ITXP and the negative driving current ITXN are both zero. In other words, when the driving device 104 does not need to modulate the signal on the transmission line (such as the time point T3), the driving current is zero, and the average current and power consumption of the driving device 104 can be greatly reduced.

Regarding the manner in which the driving device 104 dynamically adjusts the positive driving current ITXP and the negative driving current ITXN, a current driving method 60 can be further summarized. Please refer to FIG. 6. It should be noted that if there are substantially the same results, the current driving method 60 is not limited to the order of the flowchart shown in FIG. The current drive method 60 can be used in a transmission system and includes the following steps:

Step 600: Start.

Step 602: Generate a positive driving current in the transmission system in a first time interval A positive transmitter.

Step 604: Generate a negative driving current in a second time interval to a negative transmitting end in the transmission system, wherein the first time interval and the second time interval do not overlap each other.

Step 606: End.

According to the current driving method 60, the driving device in the transmission system can dynamically adjust the positive driving current and the negative driving current for driving the transmission line, so that the driving device generates the positive driving current and the negative driving current respectively in different time intervals. Accordingly, the average current and power consumption of the transmission system can be effectively reduced. For detailed operation of the current driving method 60, reference may be made to the above, and for brevity, it will not be described herein.

In summary, the driving device, the transmission system, and the current driving method provided in the above embodiments can dynamically adjust the positive driving current and the negative driving current for driving the transmission line, so that the signal of the driving device on the transmission line does not need to be modulated. Positive drive current and negative drive current are not generated. Accordingly, the average current and power consumption of the transmission system can be effectively reduced.

10‧‧‧Transmission system

100‧‧‧Transformer

102‧‧‧resistance unit

104‧‧‧ drive

106‧‧‧First conversion module

108‧‧‧Second conversion module

110‧‧‧current source unit

112‧‧‧Control unit

114‧‧‧Positive current generating unit

116‧‧‧Negative current generating unit

Claims (17)

A driving device is applied to a transmission system, the driving device includes: a first conversion module, comprising: a current source unit configured to generate a first current according to a current indicating signal in an input signal a second current; and a control unit for generating a control signal according to a level signal of the input signal; and a second conversion module comprising: a positive current generating unit coupled to the current source a unit, the control unit, and a positive transmitting end of the transmission system, configured to generate a positive driving current to the positive transmitting end in a first time interval according to the control signal and the first current; and a negative current generating a unit, coupled to the current source unit, the control unit, and a negative transmission end of the transmission system, configured to generate a negative driving current to the negative in a second time interval according to the control signal and the second current a transmitting end; wherein the first time interval and the second time interval do not overlap each other. The driving device of claim 1, wherein the positive current generating unit comprises: a line driver coupled to the positive transmitting end; a first switch coupled between the current source unit and the ground end, Controlling the connection between the current source and the ground according to the control signal; and a second switch coupled between the current source unit and the line driver for controlling the current source and the line driver according to the control signal The connection is such that the line driver generates the positive drive current to the positive transfer terminal based on the current. The driving device of claim 2, wherein the level signal is the highest of the input signal Effective bit. The driving device of claim 2, wherein the current indicating signal is at least one remaining bit other than a most significant bit of the input signal. The driving device of claim 1, wherein the positive current generating unit comprises: a switching unit coupled between the current source unit and the positive transmitting end for outputting the current according to the positive control signal The positive drive current. The driving device of claim 1, wherein when the level signal indicates a boosting voltage level, the control unit outputs an appropriate control signal to cause the positive current generating unit to generate the positive driving current to the positive transmitting end. The driving device of claim 1, wherein when the level signal indicates that the voltage level is lowered, the control unit outputs an appropriate control signal to cause the negative current generating unit to generate the negative driving current to the negative transmitting end. The driving device of claim 1, wherein when the level signal indicates a zero voltage level, the control unit outputs an appropriate control signal to stop the positive current generating unit and the negative current generating unit from operating. A transmission system includes: a transformer coupled between a positive transmission end and a negative transmission end of the transmission system; a resistance unit coupled between the positive transmission end and the negative transmission end; A driving device includes: a first conversion module, comprising: a current source unit configured to generate a current indication signal according to an input signal a first current and a second current; and a control unit for generating a control signal according to a level signal of the input signal; and a second conversion module comprising: a positive current generating unit, coupled Connected to the current source unit, the control unit, and a positive transmitting end of the transmission system for generating a positive driving current to the positive transmitting end in a first time interval according to the control signal and the first current; And a negative current generating unit coupled to the current source unit, the control unit, and a negative transmitting end of the transmitting system for generating a negative in a second time interval according to the control signal and the second current Driving current to the negative transmitting end; wherein the first time interval and the second time interval do not overlap each other. The transmission system of claim 9, wherein the positive current generating unit comprises: a line driver coupled to the positive transmission end; a first switch coupled between the current source unit and the ground end, Controlling the connection between the current source and the ground according to the control signal; and a second switch coupled between the current source unit and the line driver for controlling the current source and the line driver according to the control signal The connection is such that the line driver generates the positive drive current to the positive transfer terminal based on the current. The transmission system of claim 10, wherein the level signal is a most significant bit of the input signal. The transmission system of claim 10, wherein the current indication signal is one of the most input signals At least one remaining bit other than the high significant bit. The transmission system of claim 9, wherein the positive current generating unit comprises: a switching unit coupled between the current source unit and the positive transmitting end, configured to output the current according to the positive control signal The positive drive current. The transmission system of claim 9, wherein when the level signal indicates a boosting voltage level, the control unit outputs an appropriate control signal to cause the positive current generating unit to generate the positive driving current to the positive transmitting end. The transmission system of claim 9, wherein when the level signal indicates a decrease in the voltage level, the control unit outputs an appropriate control signal to cause the negative current generating unit to generate the negative driving current to the negative transmitting end. The transmission system of claim 9, wherein when the level signal indicates a zero voltage level, the control unit outputs an appropriate control signal to stop the positive current generating unit and the negative current generating unit from operating. A current driving method for use in a transmission system, comprising: generating a positive drive current in a first time interval in a transmission phase of the transmission system; and generating a negative drive current in a second time interval a negative transmitting end in the transmission system; wherein the first time interval and the second time interval do not overlap each other.