System and method for efficient circuit switching using a double-ended line driver circuit
Serial arranged circuits allow multiple different circuit nodes to receive power with a single conductor line carrying current. Data can be transmitted to the serially arranged circuit nodes by modulating the current on the single conductor line. However, switching transistors to modulate current can consume energy. To reduce the switching losses, a double ended driver circuit is disclosed. The doubled ended driver circuit includes switching capacitors and inductors at both ends of a serial string of circuit nodes.
1. An electronic circuit for providing a modulated current to a string of circuit nodes coupled together as a series circuit, said electronic circuit comprising:
a first power supply for supplying a current for said string of circuit nodes;
a head end driver circuit connected to said string of circuit nodes at a head end, said head end driver circuit comprising a first transistor and a first inductor; and
a tail end driver circuit separate from the head end driver connected to a tail end of said string of circuit nodes, said tail end driver circuit comprising a second transistor and a second inductor;
wherein the head end driver circuit and the tail end driver circuit are configured to operate simultaneously and in opposite directions.
2. The electronic circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first transistor and said second transistor modulate data onto said current.
3. The electronic circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head end driver circuit further comprises a second power supply and a diode.
4. The electronic circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tail end driver circuit further comprises a second power supply and a diode.
5. The electronic circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head end driver circuit further comprises a third transistor, a capacitor, a diode, and a second power supply.
6. The electronic circuit as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tail end driver circuit further comprises a third power supply and a diode.
7. The electronic circuit as set forth in claim 5 wherein said third transistor is coupled to said capacitor and ground.
8. The electronic circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head end driver circuit further comprises a zero voltage switch consisting of a zero voltage switch inductor and a pair of zero voltage switch transistors.
9. The electronic circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tail end driver circuit further comprises a zero voltage switch consisting of a zero voltage switch inductor and a pair of zero voltage switch transistors.
10. The electronic circuit as set forth in claim 5 wherein said head end driver circuit further comprises a zero voltage switch consisting of a zero voltage switch inductor and a pair of zero voltage switch transistors.
11. A method of modulating a current for a string of circuit nodes coupled together as a series circuit, said method of modulating said current comprising:
supplying a base current for said string of circuit nodes from a first power supply;
modulating said base current with a head end driver circuit connected to a head of said string of circuit nodes, said head end driver circuit comprising a first transistor and a first inductor; and
modulating said base current with a tail end driver circuit, separate from the head end driver circuit, connected to a tail end of said string of circuit nodes, said tail end driver circuit comprising a second transistor and a second inductor,
wherein the head end driver circuit and the tail end driver circuit are configured to operate simultaneously and in opposite directions.
12. The method of modulating said current as set forth in claim 11 wherein data is modulated onto said base current.
13. The method of modulating said current as set forth in claim 11 wherein said head end driver circuit further comprises a second power supply and a diode.
14. The method of modulating said current as set forth in claim 11 wherein said tail end driver circuit further comprises a second power supply and a diode.
15. The method of modulating said current as set forth in claim 11 wherein said head end driver circuit further comprises a third transistor, a capacitor, a diode, and a second power supply.
16. The method of modulating said current as set forth in claim 15 wherein said tail end driver circuit further comprises a third power supply and a diode.
17. The method of modulating said current as set forth in claim 15 wherein said third transistor is coupled to said capacitor and ground.
18. The method of modulating said current as set forth in claim 11 wherein said head end driver circuit further comprises a zero voltage switch consisting of a zero voltage switch inductor and a pair of zero voltage switch transistors.
19. The method of modulating said current as set forth in claim 11 wherein said tail end driver circuit further comprises a zero voltage switch consisting of a zero voltage switch inductor and a pair of zero voltage switch transistors.
20. The method of modulating said current as set forth in claim 15 wherein said head end driver circuit further comprises a zero voltage switch consisting of a zero voltage switch inductor and a pair of zero voltage switch transistors.
21. An electronic circuit for providing a modulated current to a string of circuit nodes coupled together as a series circuit, said electronic circuit comprising:
a first power supply for supplying a current for said string of circuit nodes;
a head end driver circuit at a head of said string of circuit nodes, said head end driver circuit comprising a first transistor, a third transistor, a capacitor, a diode, a second power supply and a first inductor; and
a tail end driver circuit separate from the head end driver at a tail of said string of circuit nodes, said tail end driver circuit comprising a second transistor and a second inductor.
22. A method of modulating a current for a string of circuit nodes coupled together as a series circuit, said method of modulating said current comprising:
supplying a base current for said string of circuit nodes from a first power supply;
modulating said base current with a head end driver circuit at a head of said string of circuit nodes, said head end driver circuit comprising a first transistor, a third transistor, a capacitor, a diode, a second power supply and a first inductor; and
modulating said base current with a tail end driver circuit, separate from the head end driver circuit, at a tail of said string of circuit nodes, said tail end driver circuit comprising a second transistor and a second inductor.