Detailed Description
One objective of the present invention is to provide an image signal transmission device and a signal output circuit with a dc gain maintaining mechanism thereof, which can increase the dc gain by setting the rear driving circuit to compensate the dc gain decrease caused by the front driving circuit, and increase the bandwidth of the output signal without losing the dc gain.
Please refer to fig. 1. Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of an image signal transmission system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The video signal transmission system 100 includes a video signal transmitting apparatus (TX) 110 and a video signal receiving apparatus (RX) 120.
In one embodiment, the image signal transmission system 100 is a system for transmitting images and sounds according to a high-quality multimedia interface. The video signal transmitting apparatus 110 is a source, such as but not limited to a set top box, a DVD player, a computer, etc. The image signal receiving apparatus 120 is a sink (sink), such as but not limited to a television, a projector, or other display device. The video signal transmitting device 110 is configured to process the video signal and transmit the processed video signal to the video signal receiving device 120 for playing.
The video signal transmitting apparatus 110 includes a digital signal processing circuit 130 and a signal output circuit 140.
The digital signal processing circuit 130 is configured to generate digital input signals Vip, vin in differential (differential) form. The signal output circuit 140 has a dc gain maintaining mechanism to strengthen the output of the digital input signals Vip and Vin. The signal output circuit 140 includes a front stage driving circuit 150 and a rear stage driving circuit 160.
The pre-stage driving circuit 150 is configured to receive the digital input signals Vip and Vin for high-frequency enhancement, so as to boost the bandwidths of the digital input signals Vip and Vin, and further generate the pre-stage output signals Vop1 and Von1. The pre-stage output signals Vop1 and Von1 are also differential signals.
Please refer to fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows a circuit diagram of the front-stage driving circuit 150 according to an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the pre-stage driver circuit 150 comprises a continuous time linear equalizer with variable capacitance. In more detail, the continuous-time linear equalizer includes two input transistors MN1, MN2, two load resistors R1, R2, two load capacitors C1, C2, a variable resistor R3, a variable capacitor C3, and two current sources I1, I2.
Each of the input transistors MN1, MN2 includes a gate, a drain and a source. The gate of the input transistor MN1 is configured to receive the digital input signal Vip. The gate of the input transistor MN2 is configured to receive the digital input signal Vin. The drain of the input transistor MN1 is electrically coupled to the output terminal O1, and the drain of the input transistor MN2 is electrically coupled to the output terminal O2.
The drain of the input transistor MN1 is configured to generate the pre-stage output signal Vop1 to the output terminal O1, and the drain of the input transistor MN2 is configured to generate the pre-stage output signal Von1 to the output terminal O2.
The load resistor R1 is electrically coupled between the drain of the input transistor MN1 and the operating voltage source VDD. The load resistor R2 is electrically coupled between the drain of the input transistor MN2 and the operating voltage source VDD. The load capacitor C1 is electrically coupled between the drain of the input transistor MN1 and the operating voltage source VDD. The load capacitor C2 is electrically coupled between the drain of the input transistor MN2 and the operating voltage source VDD.
The variable resistor R3 and the variable capacitor C3 are electrically connected in parallel between the sources of the input transistors MN1 and MN 2. The current source I1 is electrically coupled between the source of the input transistor MN1 and the ground GND. The current source I2 is electrically coupled between the source of the input transistor MN2 and the ground GND.
In one embodiment, the zero and two polarities of the frequency response of the pre-driver circuit 150 are determined by a plurality of circuit parameter values of the pre-driver circuit 150.
Please refer to fig. 3 at the same time. Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the frequency response of the front-end driving circuit 150 according to an embodiment of the invention. Wherein the horizontal axis is frequency and the vertical axis is gain. In this embodiment, the gain magnitude corresponding to the horizontal axis is the original gain magnitude of the digital input signals Vip and Vin.
In one embodiment, the circuit parameters of the front stage driving circuit 150 include the transconductance of the transistor, the resistance of each resistor, and the capacitance of each capacitor. For example, the transconductance (transconductance) of the input transistors MN1, MN2 is gm, the resistance of each load resistor R1, R2 is Rd, the capacitance of each load capacitor C1, C2 is Cd, the resistance of the variable resistor is 2Rs, and the capacitance of the variable capacitor is Cs.
Thus, with respect to the frequency response of the front-stage driving circuit 150, the conversion function H(s) that converts the digital input signals Vip, vin into the front-stage output signals Vop1, von1 can be expressed as follows:
H(s)=(gmRd)(1+sRsCs)/(1+sRcCs+gmRs)(1+sRdCd))
the dc gain of the front-stage driving circuit 150 can be expressed as follows:
(gmRd)/(1+(gmRs))
The zero ω Z on the frequency response can be expressed as:
ωZ=1/(RsCs)
One of the poles ω P1 may be expressed as:
ωP1=(1+gmRs)/(RsCs)
The other pole ω P2 can be expressed as:
ωP2=1/(RdCd)
Therefore, by adjusting the above circuit parameters, the zero and two poles of the frequency response of the front driving circuit 150 can be changed accordingly, so as to improve the dc gain and the high frequency part to different degrees.
It should be noted that, after the processing of the pre-driver circuit 150, the dc gain of the pre-driver output signals Vop1 and Von1 is reduced relative to the dc gain of the digital input signals Vip and Vin.
The post-stage driving circuit 160 is configured to receive the pre-stage output signals Vop1 and Von1 for dc gain boosting, to compensate for the dc gain drop of the pre-stage output signals Vop1 and Von1 relative to the digital input signals Vip and Vin, and to further generate the post-stage output signals Vop2 and Von2 to the image signal receiving device 120. The post-stage output signals Vop2 and Von2 are also differential signals.
Please refer to fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows a circuit diagram of the rear driving circuit 160 according to an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the post driver circuit 160 comprises a continuous time linear equalizer without a variable capacitance. In more detail, the continuous-time linear equalizer includes two input transistors MN1, MN2, two load resistors R1, R2, two load capacitors C1, C2, a variable resistor R3, and two current sources I1, I2. It should be noted that, because the rear driving circuit 160 is similar to the front driving circuit 150 in terms of structure, corresponding components are not additionally provided with new reference numerals.
The connection and operation of the other components of the rear driving circuit 160 are different from those of the front driving circuit 150 except for the variable capacitance, and thus the description thereof will not be repeated. In the present embodiment, the gate of the input transistor MN1 of the post driver 160 is configured to receive the pre output signal Vop1. The gate of the input transistor MN2 is configured to receive the pre-stage output signal Von1. And, the drain of the input transistor MN1 is configured to generate the post output signal Vop2 to the output terminal O1, and the drain of the input transistor MN2 is configured to generate the post output signal Von2 to the output terminal O2.
In one embodiment, the frequency response of the post driver 160 will include only a single pole, and the pole is determined by a plurality of circuit parameter values of the post driver 160.
Please refer to fig. 5 at the same time. Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the frequency response of the back-end driving circuit 160 according to an embodiment of the invention. Wherein the horizontal axis is frequency and the vertical axis is gain. In this embodiment, the gain size corresponding to the horizontal axis is the original gain size of the front-stage output signals Vop1 and Von 1.
Similar to the front stage driving circuit 150, the circuit parameters of the rear stage driving circuit 160 include the transconductance of the transistor, the resistance value of each resistor, and the capacitance value of each capacitor, however, these circuit parameters have differences from those of the front stage driving circuit 150. More specifically, the transconductance of the input transistors MN1 and MN2 is gm, the resistance of the load resistors R1 and R2 is Rs, the capacitance of the load capacitors C1 and C2 is Cd, and the resistance of the variable resistor is 2Rd.
Therefore, regarding the frequency response of the post-stage driving circuit 160, the conversion function formula H(s) that converts the pre-stage output signals Vop1, von1 into the post-stage output signals Vop2, von2 can be expressed as follows:
H(s)=(gmRs)/(1+gmRd)(1+sRsCd)
The dc gain of the rear drive circuit 160 can be expressed as follows:
(gmRs)/(1+(gmRd))
The single pole ω P2 can be expressed as:
ωP2=1/(RsCd)
It should be noted that, after the processing of the post-stage driving circuit 160, the dc gains of the post-stage output signals Vop2 and Von2 are increased relative to the dc gains of the pre-stage output signals Vop1 and Von 1.
Please refer to fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram of the frequency response of the output signals Vop2 and Von2 of the subsequent stage after the digital input signals Vip and Vin are processed by the previous stage driving circuit 150 and the subsequent stage driving circuit 160 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In more detail, the waveforms of fig. 6 correspond to the result of superimposing the waveforms of fig. 3 and 5.
Since the dc gain of the front-stage driving circuit 150 is (gmRd)/(1+ (gmRs)), and the dc gain of the rear-stage driving circuit 160 is (gmRs)/(1+ (gmRd)), the dc gain of the rear-stage output signals Vop2, von2 relative to the digital input signals Vip, vin can be expressed as follows:
((gmRd)(gmRs))/((1+(gmRs))(1+(gmRd)))
In one embodiment, when the product of the transconductance and the resistance of the load resistor (i.e., gmRd and gmRs) of the front-stage driving circuit 150 and the rear-stage driving circuit 160 is substantially greater than 1, the dc gains generated by the front-stage driving circuit 150 and the rear-stage driving circuit 160 cancel each other. In more detail, in this case, the dc gain of the post-stage output signals Vop2, von2 with respect to the digital input signals Vip, vin is 1.
When the signal output circuit is processed by the front-stage driving circuit, the effect of amplifying the alternating-current gain and increasing the bandwidth can be achieved, but the direct-current gain is reduced. Therefore, the signal output circuit can improve the DC gain by the setting of the rear-stage driving circuit so as to compensate the DC gain reduction caused by the front-stage driving circuit and improve the bandwidth of the output signal under the condition of not losing the DC gain.
It should be noted that the above embodiment is only an example. In other embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
In summary, the image signal transmitting device and the signal output circuit with the dc gain maintaining mechanism of the present invention can increase the dc gain by the setting of the rear driving circuit to compensate the dc gain decrease caused by the front driving circuit, and increase the bandwidth of the output signal without losing the dc gain.
Although the embodiments of the present application have been described above, the present application is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art can make various changes to the technical features of the present application according to the explicit or implicit disclosure of the present application, and all such changes may be made within the scope of the present application, that is, the scope of the present application is defined by the claims of the present application.