Signal boosting in serial interfaces and transmission cables

Abstract

Signal transmission cables and serial interfaces with built-in signal boosting are provided. In some implementations, a signal transmission cable or interface for boosting signals comprises boosting circuitry. The boosting circuitry may comprise at least one boosting capacitor configured to be operatively coupled to a voltage supply during a charging phase and configured to be operatively coupled to the at least one line of a signal transmission cable or interface during a discharging phase, wherein, during the discharging phase, the at least one boosting capacitor boosts a voltage of the one or more signals transmitted on the at least one line. The boosting circuitry may comprise switching circuitry configured to switch the at least one boosting capacitor between from being operatively coupled to the voltage supply to being operatively coupled to the at least one line of the signal transmission cable or interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A signal transmission cable comprising:
 a plurality of lines;   at least one boosting capacitor integrated into the signal transmission cable configured to be operatively coupled to a voltage supply during a charging phase and configured to be operatively coupled to the at a first line of the plurality of lines during a discharging phase, wherein, during the discharging phase, the at least one boosting capacitor boosts a voltage of the one or more signals transmitted on the at first line of the plurality of lines; and switching circuitry configured to switch the at least one boosting capacitor between from being operatively coupled to the voltage supply to being operatively coupled to the first line of the plurality of lines of the signal transmission cable.   
     
     
         23 . The signal transmission cable of  claim 22 , further comprising a second line of the plurality of lines, the first line configured to transmit a first signal and the second line configured to transmit a second signal, and wherein the first signal and the second signal are utilized for differential signaling. 
     
     
         24 . The signal transmission cable of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one boosting capacitor comprises a first boosting capacitor configured to boost a voltage of the first line and a second boosting capacitor configured to boost a voltage of the second line. 
     
     
         25 . The signal transmission cable of  claim 24 , wherein the switching circuitry is further configured to cause the first boosting capacitor to be operatively coupled to the first line in the discharging phase responsive to the first signal being greater than the second signal, and wherein the switching circuitry is further configured to cause the second boosting capacitor to be operatively coupled to the second line in the discharging phase responsive to the second signal being greater than the first signal. 
     
     
         26 . The signal transmission cable of  claim 25 , wherein the first boosting capacitor is operatively coupled to the voltage supply in the charging phase while the second boosting capacitor is operatively coupled to the second line in the discharging phase, and wherein the second boosting capacitor is operatively coupled to the voltage supply in the charging phase while the first boosting capacitor is operatively coupled to the first line in the discharging phase. 
     
     
         27 . The signal transmission cable of  claim 22 , wherein the voltage supply is programmed to supply a voltage determined based on an amount of the boost of the voltage to be provided to the one or more signals. 
     
     
         28 . The signal transmission cable of  claim 22 , wherein the switching circuitry is configured to switch the at least one boosting capacitor from being operatively coupled to the voltage supply to being operatively coupled to the first line of the signal transmission line responsive to an output of an edge detection component. 
     
     
         29 . The signal transmission cable of  claim 28 , wherein the edge detection component is an equalizer. 
     
     
         30 . The signal transmission cable of  claim 29 , wherein a frequency response of the equalizer is programmable. 
     
     
         31 . The signal transmission cable of  claim 22 , wherein a duration of the discharging phase is programmable, and wherein the duration of the discharging phase causes an amplification of high-frequency signals corresponding to a pre-emphasis of a rising edge and/or a falling edge of the one or more signals, and wherein the amplification of the high-frequency signals counteract a low-pass filter effect of the signal transmission line. 
     
     
         32 . The signal transmission cable of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more signals abide by a Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol. 
     
     
         33 . A serial interface comprising:
 a plurality of lines;   at least one boosting capacitor integrated into the serial interface configured to be operatively coupled to a voltage supply during a charging phase and configured to be operatively coupled to the at a first line of the plurality of lines during a discharging phase, wherein, during the discharging phase, the at least one boosting capacitor boosts a voltage of the one or more signals transmitted on the at first line of the plurality of lines; and   switching circuitry configured to switch the at least one boosting capacitor between from being operatively coupled to the voltage supply to being operatively coupled to the first line of the plurality of lines of the serial interface.   
     
     
         34 . The serial interface of  claim 32 , further comprising a second line of the plurality of lines, the first line configured to transmit a first signal and the second line configured to transmit a second signal, and wherein the first signal and the second signal are utilized for differential signaling. 
     
     
         35 . The serial interface of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one boosting capacitor comprises a first boosting capacitor configured to boost a voltage of the first line and a second boosting capacitor configured to boost a voltage of the second line. 
     
     
         36 . The serial interface of  claim 34 , wherein the switching circuitry is further configured to cause the first boosting capacitor to be operatively coupled to the first line in the discharging phase responsive to the first signal being greater than the second signal, and wherein the switching circuitry is further configured to cause the second boosting capacitor to be operatively coupled to the second line in the discharging phase responsive to the second signal being greater than the first signal. 
     
     
         37 . The serial interface of  claim 35 , wherein the first boosting capacitor is operatively coupled to the voltage supply in the charging phase while the second boosting capacitor is operatively coupled to the second line in the discharging phase, and wherein the second boosting capacitor is operatively coupled to the voltage supply in the charging phase while the first boosting capacitor is operatively coupled to the first line in the discharging phase. 
     
     
         38 . The serial interface of  claim 32 , wherein the voltage supply is programmed to supply a voltage determined based on an amount of the boost of the voltage to be provided to the one or more signals. 
     
     
         39 . The serial interface of  claim 32 , wherein the switching circuitry is configured to switch the at least one boosting capacitor from being operatively coupled to the voltage supply to being operatively coupled to the first line of the signal transmission line responsive to an output of an edge detection component. 
     
     
         40 . The serial interface of  claim 38 , wherein the edge detection component is an equalizer. 
     
     
         41 . The serial interface of  claim 39 , wherein a frequency response of the equalizer is programmable. 
     
     
         42 . The serial interface of  claim 32 , wherein a duration of the discharging phase is programmable, and wherein the duration of the discharging phase causes an amplification of high-frequency signals corresponding to a pre-emphasis of a rising edge and/or a falling edge of the one or more signals, and wherein the amplification of the high-frequency signals counteract a low-pass filter effect of the signal transmission line. 
     
     
         43 . The serial interface of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more signals abide by a Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol.