PULSE AMPLITUDE MODULATION DRIVERS AND TRANSMITTERS WITH REDUCED POWER CONSUMPTION

摘要

Power-efficient pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) drivers and transmitters. In example embodiments, a tail current source or tail current sources and current steering transistors are connected to form a differential drive circuit. A pre-switcher is connected to the tail current sources. The tail current sources in some embodiments can be powered down when not needed. When a signal transition is upcoming which will switch the driver to a state where a tail current source is needed, the pre-switcher provides a way to switch the tail current source in advance of the signal transition to provide a specified settling time prior to the signal transition. In some embodiments, a PAM transmitter is built around the driver. A transmitter or a plurality of transmitters can be embodied in a semiconductor device.