`Yu
`
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`
`US006859645B2
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,859,645 B2
`Feb.22,2005
`
`(54) SQUELCH DETECTION CIRCUIT
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Jae-Suk Yu, Seoul (KR)
`
`(73) Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (KR)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 700 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/957,985
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Sep. 21, 2001
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2002/0142743 Al Oct. 3, 2002
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 30, 2001
`
`(KR) ........................................ 2001-16832
`
`Int. Cl.7 .................................................. H04B 1/10
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 455/222; 455/218; 375/351;
`327/551
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 455/222, 218,
`455/550, 557, 556; 327/551; 330/258, 69
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,724,545 A * 2/1988 Hamada ..................... 455/218
`5,003,556 A * 3/1991 Curtis et al. ................ 375/351
`2003/0112058 Al * 6/2003 Park ........................... 327/551
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner--Melur Ramakrishnaiah
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mills & Onello, LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Disclosed is a transmission envelope detector referred to a
`squelch detection circuit for effectively detecting an element
`of transmission data in a high speed serial data transmission
`system. The squelch detection circuit of the invention
`includes a differential input level shifter, a first reference
`voltage generator, an amplifier, a second reference voltage
`generator, and a comparator. The squelch detection circuit
`can detect whether the transmission data is a noise or signal
`element even at a cross point of the transmission data,
`resulting in achieving stable data transmission.
`
`8 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`D+ -
`D-
`
`10
`I
`
`Input Level
`Shifter
`
`20
`I
`
`First
`Reference
`Voltage
`Generator
`
`30
`;
`
`50
`)
`
`VAVE
`
`VAMP
`
`Amp Ii f ier
`
`Comparator
`
`-
`- OUT
`
`VREF1
`
`40
`)
`
`Second
`Reference
`Voltage
`Generator
`
`VRFF2
`
`LGE-1015 / Page 1 of 9
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`Reference
`Second
`
`40 ;
`
`Amplifier
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`VREF1
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`VAMP
`
`VAVE.
`
`Generator
`Voltage
`Reference
`
`First
`
`20 ;
`
`Input Level
`
`Shifter
`
`--
`
`D-
`
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`
`D+
`
`30
`
`10
`
`Fig. 1
`
`LGE-1015 / Page 2 of 9
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.22,2005
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
`
`US 6,859,645 B2
`
`Fig. 2
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`10
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`LGE-1015 / Page 3 of 9
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.22,2005
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 6,859,645 B2
`
`Fig. 3
`
`20
`r _________________ L ____ ,
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`LGE-1015 / Page 4 of 9
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`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.22,2005
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 6,859,645 B2
`
`Fig. 4
`
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`30
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`LGE-1015 / Page 5 of 9
`
`
`
`US 6,859,645 B2
`
`1
`SQUELCH DETECTION CIRCUIT
`
`This application relies for priority upon Korean Patent
`Application No. 2001-16832, filed on Mar. 30, 2001, the
`contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in
`their entirety.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention generally relates to a circuit for
`providing an interface between a bus and one or more
`devices connected thereto in digital data processing systems,
`and more particularly to a squelch detection circuit detecting
`data components in interfacing general-purpose serial buses
`such as wire cables connecting computers to peripheral
`equipment with devices connected to the buses.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`lines D+(GREEN) and D-(WHITE) is used for three pur(cid:173)
`poses. First, when differential receiver on a receiving end of
`the cable receives a differential data signal, the differential
`receiver utilizes a squelch detector to detect whether the
`5 signal of the connector is invalid. Secondly, a differential
`envelope detector on the receiving end of the cable measures
`when the link is in a squelch state. Thirdly, in a case of a
`downstream transceiver, the differential envelope detector
`monitors whether the signal of the connector on the con-
`10 nectar is in a high speed state.
`In accordance with the USE Specification Revision 2.0
`(Apr. 27, 2000), the transmission envelope detector serves to
`represent that the data is invalid when a voltage level of the
`differential signal on the input ends of the receiver is lower
`15 than a high speed squelch level, referred to as a "squelch
`threshold". It is desirable that the transmission envelope
`detector represent the squelch when the differential signal
`voltage level is less than 100 m V and represent that the line
`is not in the squelch state when the differential signal voltage
`20 level is more than 150 m V.
`In general, the conventional squelch detection circuit
`detecting the cases that voltage level of the differential input
`signal is less than 100 m V or more than 150 m V includes a
`comparator. The comparator provides a low level output
`when the signal is less than 100 m V, and a high level output
`when the signal is more than 150 mV. However, the con(cid:173)
`ventional squelch detection circuit is subject to be in a
`high-impedance state at a cross point of two differential
`input signals. Here, the cross point is a point where two time
`variant differential input signals meet each other. As a result,
`the conventional squelch detection circuit employing the
`foregoing comparator cannot detect whether the transmitting
`data is a noise element or a signal element at the cross point
`of the two differential input signals.
`
`30
`
`In spite of making great strides in computers, in particular
`in personal computers from the middle of the 1990s, there
`have been limited changes in their peripheral equipment.
`However, the peripheral equipment of personal computers or
`workstations is noticeably changing. Some such changes are
`due to new general-purpose buses, for example, USE
`(universal serial bus), FW (fire wire, or IEEE1394), FC
`(fiber channel), SSA (serial storage architecture), and so on. 25
`The USE is expected to be the next generation computer
`peripheral equipment interface, with the FW (or, IEEE1394)
`being appropriate for multi media use.
`Unlike the conventional parallel buses, the USE has the
`following characteristics. It does not need to be set up by a
`terminator or jumper in the circumstance of PnP (plug-and(cid:173)
`play). Also, auto assignment of ID and a hot plug, i.e., a
`device is detachable when the computer is in a power-on
`state, are possible. Moreover, the USE cable has only four
`lines, i.e., two signal lines D+(GREEN), and D-(WHITE),
`power supply line V sus (RED), and ground line GND
`(BLACK). Thus, it is possible to fabricate short cables and
`small connectors, resulting in decreasing production cost as
`well as developing inexpensive peripheral equipment.
`According to the "USE Specification Revision 2.0" (Apr.
`27, 2000), the USE cable connects USE devices to a USE
`host. There is only one host in any USE system. The USE
`system has a tiered star topology. The USE devices are hubs
`providing additional connections for the USE system and 45
`functions providing capabilities for the USE host such as
`ISDN (integrated service digital network) connection, digi-
`tal microphone, keyboard, digital joystick, speaker, etc. The
`host is a host computer system where a host controller is
`installed for achieving the USE interfacing operation of the 50
`host, and necessarily has a root hub being directly connected
`to the host controller. A plurality of nodes, i.e., other hubs or
`function devices are connected to one hub. Data being
`transferred between functions passes through the host.
`According to the USE Specification Revision 2.0 (Apr. 55
`27, 2000), the USE operation in a high speed mode supports
`data transmission of 480 Mb/s. Further, a low speed mode
`and full speed mode support the data transmissions of 1.25
`Mb/s and 12 Mb/s, respectively.
`A transmission envelope detector is referred to as
`"squelch" operates in the high speed mode. Generally, the
`squelch detection circuit serves to detect low differential
`input voltage level and detects whether the data being
`transmitted on the bus is a noise element or a valid signal
`element.
`According to the USE Specification Revision 2.0 (Apr.
`27, 2000), the differential voltage formed between the signal
`
`35
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
`provide a squelch detection circuit capable of effectively
`40 discriminating a data element (noise or signal) transmitted in
`a data transmission system operating in high speed.
`In order to attain the above object, according to an aspect
`of the present invention, there is provided a squelch detec(cid:173)
`tion circuit including an input level shifter, a first reference
`voltage generator, an amplifier, a second reference voltage
`generator, and a comparator. The input level shifter amplifies
`potentials of received input signals and generates a signal
`having an average value of the amplified potentials. The first
`reference voltage generator provides a first reference volt(cid:173)
`age. The amplifier receives an output of the input level
`shifter and amplifies a voltage difference between the first
`reference voltage and a voltage of the output of the input
`level shifter to generate an amplified signal. The second
`reference voltage generator provides a second reference
`voltage using the first reference voltage. A comparator
`compares the voltage of the amplified signal and the second
`reference voltage and detects whether the received input
`signals contain a noise element of a signal element.
`Further, the input level shifter having a source follower
`60 architecture serves to level up low differential input level to
`a voltage level that is compatible and easy to use, and
`includes P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS)
`transistors, and resistors. The input level shifter reacts even
`at a cross point of the differential input signals. The first
`65 reference voltage generator having a source follower archi(cid:173)
`tecture includes PMOS transistors whose gates are coupled
`to the ground voltage, and resistors. The amplifier for
`
`LGE-1015 / Page 6 of 9
`
`
`
`US 6,859,645 B2
`
`3
`amplifying the differential voltage of the average voltage
`and the first reference voltage includes an inverted voltage
`amplifier. The second reference voltage generator utilizes
`the first reference voltage as an input voltage, and generates
`the second reference voltage by using variable resistors.
`As is apparent from the foregoing, according to the
`squelch detection circuit of the invention, data elements
`(noise or signal) being transmitted in the data transmission
`system operating at high speed can be effectively detected,
`even at the cross point of two signals.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`4
`with the second reference voltage V REF2 and detects the
`transmitting data element.
`FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the input level shifter 10
`shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the input level shifter
`5 10 includes P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS)
`transistors MPl and MP2, N-channel MOS transistor MN,
`resistors Rl and R2 serially connected between source
`terminals of the PMOS transistors MPl and MP2, and an
`output terminal B. The PMOS transistors MPl and MP2
`10 whose gates are respectively coupled to the data signals D+
`and D- are connected in parallel between the power supply
`voltage VDD and a node A The NMOS transistor MN
`whose gate is coupled to the power supply voltage VDD is
`connected between the node A and the ground voltage VSS.
`15 The average voltage VAVE is generated at the output terminal
`B, which is serially connected between the resistors Rl and
`R2.
`The PMOS transistors MPl and MP2 have the same
`channel size, and the resistors Rl and R2 have the same
`resistance value. The input level shifter 10 generates level(cid:173)
`shifted potentials for each of the source terminals of the
`PMOS transistors MPl and MP2, averages the potentials of
`the source terminals, and generates the average voltage
`
`The above and other objects, features and advantages of
`the present invention will become more apparent from the
`following detailed description when taken in conjunction
`with the accompanying drawings.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a squelch detection circuit
`according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an input level shifter shown 20
`in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a first reference voltage
`generator shown in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of an amplifier and comparator
`shown in FIG. 1.
`FIG. S is a circuit diagram of a second reference voltage
`generator shown in FIG. 1.
`
`25
`
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`30
`
`The following detailed description is of the best modes
`presently contemplated by the inventors for practicing the
`invention. It should be understood that the description of
`these preferred embodiments is merely illustrative and that
`they should not be taken in a limiting sense.
`A squelch detection circuit of the present invention
`detects data elements (noise or signal) being transmitted
`through a cable bus and provides the result for receiver to
`transmitter. The squelch detection circuit of the invention 40
`detects whether the transmitting data is a noise element or a
`signal element even at a cross point.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the squelch detection circuit
`according to an embodiment of the present invention. Refer(cid:173)
`ring to FIG. 1, the squelch detection circuit includes an input
`level shifter 10 generating an average voltage VAVE in
`response to a data signal through two signal lines D+ and
`D-. A first reference voltage generator 20 generates a first
`reference voltage V REF1 in response to power supply voltage
`and ground voltage. An amplifier 30 generates an amplifying 50
`voltage VAMP in response to the average voltage VA VE and
`the first reference voltage V REFl. A second reference voltage
`generator 40 generates a second reference voltage V REF2 in
`response to the first reference voltage V REF1 , and a com(cid:173)
`parator SO detects a noise element or signal element of the 55
`transmitting data in response to the amplifying voltage
`VAMP and the second reference voltage V REF2 .
`The input level shifter 10 shifts the potential levels of two
`differential input signals and generates the average voltage
`VAVE· The first reference voltage generator 20 serves to 60
`provide a reference potential of the average voltage VAVE·
`The amplifier 30 amplifies the differential potentials of the
`average voltage VAVE and the first reference voltage V REFl
`to a compatible voltage level. The second reference voltage
`generator 40 serves to provide a reference potential of the 65
`amplifying voltage VAMP provided from the amplifier 30.
`The comparator SO compares the amplifying voltage VAMP
`
`VAVE·
`FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the first reference voltage
`generator 20 shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, the first
`reference voltage generator 20 includes PMOS transistors
`MP3 and MP4, NMOS transistor MN, resistors R3 and R4,
`and output terminal D. The PMOS transistors MP3 and MP4
`whose gates are coupled to ground voltage VSS are con(cid:173)
`nected in parallel between the power supply voltage VDD
`and a node C. The NMOS transistor MN whose gate is
`coupled to the power supply voltage VDD is connected
`between the node C and the ground voltage VSS. Resistors
`35 R3 and R4 are connected between source terminals of the
`PMOS transistors MP3 and MP4 in series. The first refer(cid:173)
`ence voltage V REFl is provided at output terminal D con(cid:173)
`nected between the resistors R3 and R4.
`The PMOS transistors MP3 and MP4 have the same
`channel size, and the resistors R3 and R4 have the same
`resistance value. As described above, the first reference
`voltage generator 20 serves to provide the reference poten(cid:173)
`tial of the average voltage VAVE provided from the input
`45 level shifter 10.
`FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the amplifier 30 and the
`comparator SO shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 4, the
`amplifier 30 is an inverted voltage amplifier, and includes
`resistor RS, inverted input amplifier, and feedback resistor
`R6. The resistor RS is connected between the output termi(cid:173)
`nal B of the input level shifter 10 and a node E. The inverted
`input amplifier has two input terminals connected between
`the node E and the output terminal D of the first reference
`voltage generator 20, and an output terminal connected to
`one terminal of the comparator SO. The amplifier 30 serves
`to amplify two input differential potentials to a compatible
`voltage level to use.
`Referring to FIG. 4, the comparator SO includes an
`operational amplifier. The comparator SO serves to detect
`noise or signal elements from the data being transmitted
`through the cable bus.
`FIG.Sis a circuit diagram of the second reference voltage
`generator 40 shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. S, the
`second reference voltage generator 40 includes variable
`resistors R7 and RS serially connected between the input
`terminal of the first reference voltage V REFl and the ground
`voltage terminal. The resistance values of the variable
`
`LGE-1015 / Page 7 of 9
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`US 6,859,645 B2
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`5
`
`5
`resistors R7 and RS are appropriately adjusted to be the
`reference level of the amplifying voltage VAMP provided
`from the amplifier 30.
`Next, an operation for the squelch detection circuit having
`the foregoing architecture will be described. The squelch
`detection circuit of the present invention detects whether the
`data transmitted between the functions connected to the
`cable bus is a noise or signal element, and transmits the
`result to a receiver or a transmitter.
`Referring again to FIG. 1, the squelch detection circuit 10
`provides a high level when the transmitting data is a noise
`element, and transmits the result to the receiver unit, in case
`that a voltage level of the differential input signal is less than
`100 m V (average value is 50 m V). Further, the squelch
`detection circuit provides a low level when the data is a 15
`signal element, in case that the differential input signal
`voltage level is more than 150 m V (average value is 75 m V),
`i.e., the link is not in a squelch state.
`Referring again to FIG. 1, the input level shifter 10 that
`levels up the transmitting data signals D+ and D- to a 20
`compatible easy voltage level has two functions. First, with
`reference to FIG. 2, it is assumed that the voltage levels of
`the data which is applied to the gates of the PMOS transis(cid:173)
`tors MPl and MP2 are respectively D+ and D-, and the level
`shift potentials of the PMOS transistors MPl and MP2 are 25
`Vl. Then, potentials on the source ends of the PMOS
`transistors MPl and MP2 are respectively Vl +(D+) adding
`the data voltage level D+ to the level shift value Vl and
`Vl +(D-) adding the data voltage level D- to the level shift
`value Vl. Thus, the average voltage VAVE that is output 30
`voltage of the input level shifter 10 is {(Vl+(D+))+(Vl+
`(D-))}/2, due to the voltage distribution rule. Here, the data
`signals D+ and D- have the same absolute value, and
`inverted phase with respect to each other. For instance, if the
`value of D- is a negative (-) voltage, the average voltage 35
`VAVE is Vl+(D+)/2.
`The other function is that the input level shifter 10
`operates even at the cross point of the time variant data
`signals D+ and D-. If potential levels of data values being
`applied to the gates of the PMOS transistors MPl and MP2 40
`at the cross point are P, the average voltage VAVE that is the
`output voltage of the input level shift 10 is Vl+P due to the
`foregoing average voltage formula. In other words, it is
`possible to detect the data element even at the cross point of
`the transmitting data.
`The first reference voltage generator 20 serves to generate
`the first reference voltage V REF1 of a predetermined poten(cid:173)
`tial from the time invariant ground voltage VSS. Referring
`next to FIG. 2, in the first reference voltage generator 20, if
`the level shift potentials of the PMOS transistors MP3 and 50
`MP4 are Vl, the potentials of the source ends of the PMOS
`transistors MP3 and MP4 are level-shifted potential Vl.
`Because the resistance values of the resistors R3 and R4 are
`the same as described above, the first reference voltage
`V REFl that is output voltage of the reference level shifter is
`Vl. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the average voltage VAVE
`which is ultimately provided from the input level shifter 10
`has a potential difference as much as the data potential,
`compared with the first reference voltage which is ultimately
`provided from the first reference voltage generator 20. Thus,
`it is possible to amplify the low-level differential voltage of
`two data values D+ and D- being transmitted on the cable
`bus in view of a predetermined reference voltage. The
`amplifier 30 amplifies the potential difference of two signals
`to a usable voltage level. Further, the input level shifter 10 65
`achieves the same operation even at the cross point of the
`transmitting data signals.
`
`6
`Referring to FIG. 4, the amplifier 30 is the inverted
`voltage amplifier that serves to amplify the potential differ(cid:173)
`ence of two input potentials to a predetermined level. An
`output voltage of an inverted voltage amplifier is obtained
`through a closed loop in view of a power supply voltage,
`which is established with twice the resistance ratio of the
`input voltage. The output voltage of the amplifier 30 in the
`present invention is summarized in:
`
`As a result, the amplifying voltage VAMP is that the
`differential potential of transmitting data is ultimately ampli(cid:173)
`fied to a usable level.
`Referring to FIG. 4, the comparator 50 compares the
`amplified voltage with the second reference voltage V REF2
`provided from the second reference voltage generator 40,
`detects whether the transmitting data is a noise or a signal
`element, and provides the result to a corresponding function.
`Referring to FIG. 5, the second reference voltage genera(cid:173)
`tor 40 obtains the second reference voltage V REF2 by using
`the first reference voltage V REFl. It results in generating
`relatively stable reference voltage due to a voltage in the
`circuit itself instead of an absolute reference voltage.
`The variable resistors R7 and RS are approximately
`adjusted in accordance with the potential level of the ampli(cid:173)
`fying voltage VAMP·
`An overall operation of the squelch detection circuit in the
`present invention will be described with specific exemplary
`numerical values hereinafter. Assuming that the average
`values of the differential potentials {V(D+ )-V(D-)} are
`respectively 50 mV and 75 mV, the values are provided to
`the amplifier 30. Due to the input signals of 50 m V or 75 m V,
`it is difficult to treat the differential average size. Thus, the
`level shifter levels up the levels.
`The amplifier 30 amplifies the signal levels more than 10
`times, so that each of the input signal levels is made to 500
`m V and 750 m V. The second reference voltage generator 40
`generates the reference voltage about 650 m V by appropri-
`ately adjusting the resistors R7 and RS. Consequently, the
`comparator 50 detects whether the transmitting data is a
`noise or signal element, and transmits the result to a corre(cid:173)
`sponding function.
`According to the USE Specification Revision 2.0, in case
`that the amplifying voltage is 500 m V, the differential signal
`of transmitting data is less than 100 m V, and thus the squelch
`detection circuit detects the link is in the squelch state.
`45 Likewise, in case the amplifying voltage is more than 750
`m V, the differential signal of transmitting data is more than
`150 m V, and thus the squelch detection circuit detects the
`link is not in the squelch state.
`When the squelch detection circuit is applied to the data
`transmission system, elements of the data signal can be
`effectively detected, resulting in achieving a stable operation
`in the entire system.
`While the invention has been shown and described with
`reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be under-
`55 stood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
`and details may be made therein without departing from the
`spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
`claims. For example, the invention has been described in
`terms of the USE Specification Revision 2.0. It will be
`60 understood that other configurations are within the scope of
`the invention.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A squelch detection circuit in a serial data transmission
`system of high speed, the circuit comprising:
`an input level shifter for amplifying potentials of received
`input signals, and generating a signal having an average
`value of the amplified potentials;
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`LGE-1015 / Page 8 of 9
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`US 6,859,645 B2
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`7
`a first reference voltage generator for providing a first
`reference voltage;
`an amplifier for receiving an output of the input level
`shifter, and amplifying a voltage difference between the
`first reference voltage and a voltage of the output of the
`input level shifter to generate an amplified signal;
`a second reference voltage generator for providing a
`second reference voltage using the first reference volt(cid:173)
`age; and
`a comparator for comparing the voltage of the amplified
`signal and the second reference voltage, and detecting
`whether the received input signals contain a noise
`element or a signal element.
`2. The squelch detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the
`input level shifter levels up low differential input level to a
`voltage level compatible with other elements of the squelch
`detection circuit.
`3. The squelch detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the
`input level shifter generates a value adding a level-shifted
`value to the average value of the differential input signal.
`
`5
`
`8
`4. The squelch detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the
`input level shifter functions at a cross point of the differential
`input signal.
`5. The squelch detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the
`input level shifter has a source follower architecture, and
`comprises P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS)
`transistors, N-channel MOS transistor, and resistors.
`6. The squelch detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the
`first reference voltage generator has a source follower
`architecture, and comprises PMOS transistors whose gates
`10 are coupled to ground voltage, NMOS transistor and resis(cid:173)
`tors.
`7. The squelch detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the
`amplifier amplifies a differential voltage of the signal having
`an average value of the amplified potentials and the first
`1s reference voltage to a predetermined voltage level, and
`comprises an inverted voltage amplifier.
`8. The squelch detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the
`second reference voltage generator receives the first refer(cid:173)
`ence voltage, and generates the second reference voltage.
`
`* * * * *
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`LGE-1015 / Page 9 of 9
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