Signal bus, multilevel input interface and information processor
View Patent ↗A multilevel input interface device connected to a signal bus including one or more data lines that transmit an M-level signal and a clock line that transmits a transmission clock signal indicating the timings of reading level information for the M-level signal, includes: a threshold value generation unit that produces a plurality of voltage outputs as a plurality of variable comparison reference signals according to the level-varying supply voltage; a level detection unit that compares, in synchronization with the transmission clock signal, the M-value level signal with the variable comparison reference signals and generates a logic output corresponding to an instantaneous value of the M-level signal; and a logic circuit unit that converts the logic output to a data signal.
1. A multilevel signal bus connecting a plurality of modules inside and outside an information processor to one another, comprising:
one or more data lines that transmit an M-level signal; and
a clock line that transmits a transmission clock signal indicating the positions on a time axis to read pieces of level information for the M-level signal,
wherein, a system clock signal in the information processor is a periodic signal having a non-discrete waveform, and
the transmission clock signal has a waveform where rising and/or falling edges are determined corresponding to phases of the system clock signal at certain threshold values of the system clock signal, the threshold values being set when dividing a maximum amplitude value of the system clock signal into the number of portions specified according to a value M of the M-level signal.
2. The multilevel signal bus according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum level of the M-level signal and the maximum amplitude value of the waveform of the system clock signal are determined according to the variable supply voltage supplied to the modules.
3. The multilevel signal bus according to claim 1 , wherein the system clock signal is a sine wave.
4. The multilevel signal bus according to claim 1 , wherein M is a natural number.
5. An information processor comprising the multilevel signal bus according to claim 1 .
6. The information processor according to claim 5 , wherein the information processor is a portable phone.
7. A multilevel input interface device connected to a signal bus including one or more data lines that transmit an M-level signal and a clock line that transmits a transmission clock signal indicating the timings of reading level information for the M-level signal, comprising:
a threshold value generation unit that produces a plurality of voltage outputs as a plurality of variable comparison reference signals according to the level-varying supply voltage;
a level detection unit that compares, in synchronization with the transmission clock signal, the M level signal with the variable comparison reference signals and generates a logic output corresponding to an instantaneous value of the M-level signal; and
a logic circuit unit that converts the logic output to a data signal,
wherein the transmission clock signal has a waveform where rising and/or falling edges are determined corresponding to phases of a sine wave signal at certain threshold values of the sine wave signal, the threshold values being set when dividing a maximum amplitude value of the sine wave signal into the number of portions specified according to a value M of the M-level signal.
8. An information processor comprising the multilevel input interface according to claim 7 .
9. The multilevel input interface device according to claim 7 , wherein the level detection unit comprises a plurality of level comparators.
10. The multilevel input interface device according to claim 9 , wherein the logic circuit unit outputs, based on the outputs of the level comparators, an N-level data signal, N being smaller than M in the M-level signal.
11. The multilevel input interface according to claim 10 , wherein M and N are both natural numbers.
12. A multilevel input interface device connected to a signal bus including one or more data lines that transmit an M-level signal and a clock line that transmits a transmission clock signal indicating the timings of reading level information for the M-level signal, comprising:
a threshold value generation unit that produces a plurality of voltage outputs as a plurality of variable comparison reference signals according to the level-varying supply voltage;
a level detection unit that compares, in synchronization with the transmission clock signal, the M-level signal with the variable comparison reference signals and generates a logic output corresponding to an instantaneous value of the M-level signal; and
a logic circuit unit that converts the logic output to a data signal,
wherein the level detection unit and the logic circuit unit each include MOS transistors, a back gate voltage corresponding to the level-varying supply voltage is applied to each of the MOS transistors, and threshold values for the transistors are variably adjusted.