
AD8159
When ac coupling is used, the common-mode level at the input
of the device is equal to V
TTI
. The single-ended input signal
swings above and below V
TTI
equally. The user can then use
Figure 22 and Figure 25 to determine the acceptable range of
common-mode levels and signal swing levels that satisfy the
input range of the AD8159.
Rev. A | Page 20 of 24
1
The output current for Port C when PE_C = 0 is slightly higher, 20 mA. The
extra 4 mA of current (compared to Port A/Port B) is needed to support the
bidirectional feature.
2
The output current for Port C when PE_C = 3 is 32 mA, for the same reason
as stated in Endnote 1.
DC Coupling
First, consider the dc-coupled case (see Figure 44). A lane on
Output Port A or Output Port B on the AD8159 is dc-coupled
to a receiving device. In this example, the output termination
voltage (V
TTO
) on the AD8159 is set to the same level as the
input termination voltage (V
TTIR
) on the receiving device, and
this level sets the high value (V
HI
) of the single-ended output
voltage. With pre-emphasis low (PE = 0), the maximum single-
ended current is 16 mA
combination of the 50 Ω on-chip resistor and the 50 Ω far end
termination. Therefore, the low value (V
LO
) of the output
voltage is equal to
If dc coupling is required, determining the input common-
mode level is less straightforward because the configuration of
the driver must be also be considered. In most cases, the user
would set V
TTI
on the AD8159 to the same level as the driver
output termination voltage, V
TTOD
. This prevents a continuous
dc current from flowing between the two supply nets. As a
practical matter, both devices can be terminated to the same
physical supply net.
1
, which flows through the parallel
V
TTO
16 mA
×
(
50 Ω || 50 Ω)
= V
TTO
400
mV
Because the minimum allowed voltage at the output is
V
CC
1.6 V, the lowest acceptable value for V
TTO
is
Consider the following example: A driver is dc-coupled to the
input of the AD8159. The AD8159 input termination voltage
(V
TTI
) and the driver output termination voltage (V
TTOD
) are both
set to the same level; that is, V
TTI
= V
TTOD
= 3.3 V. If an 800 mV
differential p-p swing is desired, the total output current of the
driver is 16 mA. At balance, the output current is divided evenly
between the two sides of the differential signal path, 8 mA to each
side. This 8 mA of current flows through the parallel combina-
tion of the 54.5 Ω input termination resistor on the AD8159
and the 50 Ω output termination resistor on the driver, resulting
in a common-mode level of
V
CC
1.6 V + 0.4 V =
V
CC
1.2 V
Increasing pre-emphasis to its highest level (PE = 3) results in
a maximum, single-ended current of 28 mA. In this case
V
LO
=
V
TTO
28 mA
×
(50 Ω || 50 Ω) =
V
TTO
700 mV
As a result, the lowest acceptable value for V
TTO
is
V
CC
1.6 V + 0.7 V =
V
CC
0.9 V
It is expected that the minimum V
TTO
is 300 mV higher than the
case when PE = 0, because increasing the pre-emphasis level
results in a 300 mV lower voltage excursion at the output.
V
TTI
8 mA
×
(
50 Ω
||
54.5 Ω) =
V
TTI
209 mV
The user can then use Figure 25 to determine the allowable
range of values for V
TTI
that meets the input compliance range
based on an 800 mV p-p differential swing.
OUTPUT COMPLIANCE
Not surprisingly, there is also a range of voltages that satisfies
the requirements of the output devices. This range is specified
as the minimum and maximum voltage (with respect to V
CC
)
allowed at an output pin.
0
50
50
V
TTO
V
TTIR
AD8159
RECEIVING DEVICE
OP
ON
PORT A/B: (16 + 4 × PE) mA
PORT C: (20 + 4 × PE) mA
V
EE
Figure 44. DC-Coupling Output Signal from AD8159