Current mode differential transmission method and system for transmitting three units of data using four signal lines

1. A current mode differential transmission method for differentially transmitting three units of data using four signal lines, in which predetermined data is differentially transmitted to signal lines, the method comprising:

dividing the four signal lines 1 a, 1 b , 2 a and 2 b into two pairs of signal lines 1 a / 1 b and 2 a / 2 b , and differentially transmitting respective data (first data and second data) via the two pairs of signal lines 1 a / 1 b and 2 a / 2 b ; and

transmitting the other data (third data) by differentially changing common mode currents of the two pairs of signal lines 1 a / 1 b and 2 a / 2 b , wherein, when the third data is 1, the pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b of the first data have a changing range of 0˜I where I is a predetermined amount of current, and the pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b of the second data have a changing range of −I˜0, and when the third data is 0, the pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b of the first data have a changing range of −I˜0, and the pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b of the second data have a changing range of 0˜I.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein signal changing ranges of the two pairs of signal lines 1 a / 1 b and 2 a / 2 b vary according to the third data.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

restoring differential data of the first pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b in a first comparator of a receiver and restoring differential data of the second pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b in a second comparator of the receiver;

comparing a voltage of the line 1 b of the first pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b and a voltage of the line 2 a of the second pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b in a third comparator and comparing the voltage of the line 1 b of the first pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b and a voltage of the line 2 b of the second pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b in a fourth comparator; and

obtaining restored third data by selecting one of the comparison results of the third comparator and the fourth comparator with reference to the first data and the second data respectively restored by the first comparator and the second comparator.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the obtaining of the restored third data by selecting one of the comparison results of the third comparator and the fourth comparator with reference to the restored first and second data is performed by a multiplexer.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

restoring differential data of the first pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b in a first comparator of a receiver and restoring differential data of the second pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b in a second comparator of the receiver; and

discriminating the third data by directly comparing common mode currents of the first pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b and the second pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein pre-amps are interposed in front of the first comparator and the second comparator, and the discriminating of the third data by directly comparing the common mode currents is performed by a subtractor and a third comparator.

7. A current mode differential transmission system for differentially transmitting three units of data using four signal lines, which differentially transmits predetermined data to signal lines, the system comprising:

four signal lines 1 a , 1 b , 2 a and 2 b divided into two pairs of signal lines 1 a / 1 b and 2 a / 2 b;

a transmitter differentially transmitting respective data (first data and second data) via the two pairs of signal lines 1 a / 1 b and 2 a / 2 b and transmitting the other data (third data) by differentially changing common mode currents of the two pairs of signal lines 1 a / 1 b and 2 a / 2 b ; and

a receiver restoring the first data and the second data using a differential circuit and restoring the third data by discriminating a difference between the common mode currents of the two pairs of signal lines 1 a / 1 b and 2 a / 2 b , wherein, when the third data is 1, the pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b of the first data have a changing range of 0˜I where I is a predetermined amount of current, and the pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b of the second data have a changing range of −I˜0, and when the third data is 0, the pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b of the first data have a changing range of −I˜0, and the pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b of the second data have a changing range of 0˜I.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein signal changing ranges of the two pairs of signal lines 1 a / 1 b and 2 a / 2 b vary according to the third data.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the receiver comprises:

a first comparator restoring differential data of the first pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b;

a second comparator restoring differential data of the second pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b;

a third comparator comparing a voltage of the line 1 b of the first pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b and a voltage of the line 2 a of the second pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b;

a fourth comparator comparing the voltage of the line 1 b of the first pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b and a voltage of the line 2 b of the second pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b ; and

a multiplexer obtaining restored third data by selecting one of the comparison results of the third comparator and the fourth comparator with reference to the first data and the second data respectively restored by the first comparator and the second comparator.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the receiver comprises:

a first pre-amp and a first comparator restoring differential data of the first pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b;

a second pre-amp and a second comparator restoring differential data of the second pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b ; and

a subtractor and a third comparator discriminating the third data by directly comparing common mode currents of the first pair of signal lines 1 a and 1 b and the second pair of signal lines 2 a and 2 b.