:: ComLSI :: SCDL IP Information

SCDL Drivers and Receivers

Figure 1: SCDL Drivers and Receivers

The SCDL Driver is a fully differential version of the standard open-drain driver indicated in the DVI 1.0 specification. Its key characteristic is a source-coupled drive that transfers energy from the pre-driver into the output interconnect through designed capacitive coupling. This minimizes transitional energy and improves output edge rates substantially. Figure 1 compares the typical open-drain driver with one embodiment of an SCDL driver. Source termination is intrinsic in the SCDL driver, proactively meeting the HDMI 1.3 Specification requirement without loss of signal amplitude. ComLSI's SCDL drivers eliminate undershoots and overshoots in transmitted fully differential signal, enabling transmit equalization where desired.

An SCDL receiver, similarly, employs matched analog source-followers at its input, thereby stepping the input signal down from high voltage levels to levels appropriate for high-gain, low-voltage circuits. This configuration lends itself to receiver equalization through transfer function shaping in the receiver's front-end.

ComLSI’s SCDL technology has been implemented as transceivers in 180nm logic CMOS.

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Applications

The following are some among many applications of energy-efficient SCDL Drivers.

Low-power drivers for:

    1. DVI 1.0 and above links
    2. HDMI 1.3, PECL & GRVS Transceivers, and
    3. Low power transceivers for portable devices' HDMI interfaces

Further information may be obtained from ComLSI