I/O family with 200 mV to 500 mV supply voltage

A family of differential receivers, transmitters and transceivers, all using a 600mV supply for transmission, has been implemented in six gate array families and two custom circuits from three different ASIC vendors. The technologies used ranged from 0.8/spl mu/m to 0.35/spl mu/m. This I/O concept, ground-referenced impedance-matched (GRIM) low-voltage differential signals (GLVDS), uses ground as the common-mode reference voltage. Since ground is the common voltage for devices operating with different supply voltages, GLVDS allows direct communication between circuits operating with main supply voltages ranging from 6V or more down to less than 1V. Transmitter supply voltages down to 200mV can be used for GLVDS without loss of compatibility. GLVDS transmitters and receivers are compatible with LVDS circuit.