Pulse transformer driver
View Patent ↗Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing a communication system for handling pulse information. Embodiments of the invention provide a pulse shaping unit operable to avoid saturation of the pulse transformer, while being easily incorporated into IC processes. Some embodiments of the pulse shaping unit provide a two-to-three level driver unit for converting a two-level input voltage signal to a three-level driver signal for driving a pulse transformer. Other embodiments of the pulse shaping unit provide components configured to differentially drive a pulse transformer, effectively converting a two-level input voltage signal to a three-level driver signal.
1. A system for communicating pulse information, the system comprising:
a first pulse communication module coupled with a first terminal of a transmission medium, the first pulse communication module configured to:
receive an input pulse signal from an input source, the input pulse signal having an input pulse width larger than a predetermined minimum pulse width;
generate a delayed input pulse signal based on the input pulse signal;
generate a first three-level signal based on the input pulse signal and the delayed input pulse signal, the first three-level signal comprising a first pulse corresponding to a beginning of the input pulse signal and transitioning between a first level and a second level and a second pulse corresponding to an end of the input pulse signal and transitioning between the first level and a third level, wherein a magnetic flux density change in the transmission medium during respective pulse widths of the first pulse and the second pulse is less than or equal to a magnetic flux density reset during a time period corresponding to the predetermined minimum pulse width; and
drive the first terminal of the transmission medium with the first three-level signal.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second pulse communication module coupled to a second terminal of the transmission medium, the second pulse communication module configured to:
receive, at the second terminal of the transmission medium, the first three-level signal; and
generate a first output pulse as a function of the first three-level signal, the first output pulse having a first output pulse width that is substantially equal to the first input pulse width.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first pulse communication module is further configured to:
receive, at the first terminal of the transmission medium, a combined pulse signal, the combined pulse signal comprising the first three-level signal and a second three-level signal, the second three level signal passed across the transmission medium from a second terminal of the transmission medium and corresponding to a second input pulse signal having a second input pulse width;
cancel the first three-level signal from the combined pulse signal to generate a recovered pulse signal; and
generate a second output pulse signal as a function of the recovered pulse signal, the second output pulse signal having an output pulse width that is substantially equal to the second input pulse width.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the respective pulse widths of the first pulse and the second pulse are shorter than the predetermined minimum pulse width.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the delayed input pulse signal is delayed from the input pulse signal by a duration that is independent of the input pulse width.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmission medium is selected from a group consisting of:
a pulse transformer;
a small-signal pulse transformer; and
a power pulse transformer.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the transmission medium has a primary end coupled with a first reference level and a secondary end coupled with a second reference level; and
the transmission medium is operable to provide an isolation boundary between the first reference level and the second reference level.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first reference level is a chassis ground and the second reference level is a floating ground.
9. A method for communicating pulse information across a transmission medium, the method comprising:
receiving an input pulse signal from an input source, the input pulse signal having an input pulse width larger than a predetermined minimum pulse width;
generating a delayed input pulse signal based on the input pulse signal;
generating a first three-level signal based on the input pulse signal and the delayed input pulse signal, the first three-level signal comprising a first pulse corresponding to a beginning of the input pulse signal and transitioning between a first level and a second level and a second pulse corresponding to an end of the input pulse signal and transitioning between the first level and a third level, wherein a magnetic flux density change in the transmission medium during respective pulse widths of the first pulse and the second pulse is less than or equal to a magnetic flux density reset during a time period corresponding to the predetermined minimum pulse width; and
driving a first terminal of the transmission medium with the first three-level signal.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, at a second terminal of the transmission medium, the first three-level signal; and
generating a first output pulse as a function of the first three-level signal, the first output pulse having a first output pulse width that is substantially equal to the first input pulse width.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, at the first terminal of the transmission medium, a combined pulse signal, the combined pulse signal comprising the first three-level signal and a second three-level signal, the second three level signal passed across the transmission medium from a second terminal of the transmission medium and corresponding to a second input pulse signal having a second input pulse width;
canceling the first three-level signal from the combined pulse signal to generate a recovered pulse signal; and
generating a second output pulse signal as a function of the recovered pulse signal, the second output pulse signal having an output pulse width that is substantially equal to the second input pulse width.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the respective pulse widths of the first pulse and the second pulse are shorter than the predetermined minimum pulse width.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the delayed input pulse signal is delayed from the input pulse signal by a duration that is independent of the input pulse width.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the transmission medium is selected from a group consisting of:
a pulse transformer;
a small-signal pulse transformer; and
a power pulse transformer.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the transmission medium has a primary end coupled with a first reference level and a secondary end coupled with a second reference level; and
the transmission medium is operable to provide an isolation boundary between the first reference level and the second reference level.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first reference level is a chassis ground and the second reference level is a floating ground.