LOW VOLTAGE FEEDFORWARD CURRENT ASSIST ETHERNET LINE DRIVER

摘要

Described examples include Ethernet physical layer (PHY) interface integrated circuits with transmit interface circuitry for transmitting data to an Ethernet network through a magnetic interface, which includes a voltage mode first amplifier with an output that generates a first voltage signal from a supply voltage according to a data input signal. The transmit interface circuit also includes a feedforward second amplifier circuit with an output stage that operates in a first mode to generate a current signal from the supply voltage according to the first voltage signal and to provide the current signal to the first amplifier output to boost a peak voltage at the output above the supply voltage to facilitate support for higher peak signal voltage swings for 10Base-T applications while using 2.5 volt or other low voltage supply levels.