HDMI Line Driver Circuit Using Receiver-Supplied Bias

The patent extracts the biasing and voltage regulation functions from the transmitter side and relocates them to the receiver side. The receiver generates bias voltages and regulates current, eliminating the need for complex biasing circuitry in the transmitter. This reduces transmitter complexity while maintaining support for higher bit rates through the same physical infrastructure.

The patent inverts the traditional architecture where the transmitter actively drives the line and the receiver passively receives. Instead, the receiver becomes the active element by sinking current from the line and providing feedback, while the transmitter operates in a lower-power state. This inversion reduces the need for complex voltage regulation at the transmitter end.

The patent implements a variable data rate mode where the transmitter operates in periodic bursts of high-power transmission followed by lower-power states. The receiver continuously monitors and regulates current, enabling the system to achieve high bit rates when needed while consuming less power during sustained transmission. This periodic high-power operation supports higher bit rates without proportionally increasing average power consumption.

The receiver performs self-service by actively regulating its own current draw from the shared power supply and generating its own bias voltages. This eliminates the need for the transmitter to provide complex voltage regulation, reducing the transmitter's power consumption while enabling the receiver to operate at higher bit rates through controlled current sinking.

The patent merges the biasing and voltage regulation functions into the receiver's existing power management infrastructure. The receiver combines its data reception function with power regulation and bias generation, eliminating separate dedicated circuitry. This integration maintains transmission stability through proper voltage and current control while reducing the overall device form factor by consolidating functions.

The receiver is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the data reception endpoint and as the power management center. It universally handles data reception, current regulation, bias voltage generation, and power distribution to the transmitter. This universal design eliminates the need for separate dedicated biasing and voltage regulation circuits, reducing device volume while maintaining transmission stability.