CMPE 401 - Computer Interfacing

Assignment #6 Solutions

Due: In the CMPE 401 assignment box by 15:45 on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003


  1. Briefly describe the similarities and differences between output drivers with open collector outputs and output drivers with tri-state enable. What are appropriate situations for using each type of driver?

    Output drivers with open collector outputs (also called "open drain
    outputs" in the case of CMOS drivers) have an output circuit that can, 
    when enabled, drive the output voltage to 0 volts.  When disabled, the
    output circuit presents a high impedance to the output node.  To
    establish a high output voltage when the output circuit is disabled,
    an open collector driver relies on an external resistance (a pull-up
    resistor) connected from the output node to the positive power supply 
    voltage.  It is thus safe to connect multiple open collector output 
    drivers to the same node since they will never be driving opposite 
    voltages onto the node.  Either (a) at least one driver is driving low 
    and so the output voltage is 0 volts, or (b) all of the drivers are 
    disabled leaving the pull-up resistance to establish a high output 
    voltage.
    

    Output drivers with tri-state enable can drive the output node high, or low, or can go into a high impedance state. If multiple output drivers with tri-state enable are connected together, then there must be some arbiter circuit that ensures that the drivers are never driving the same output node to opposite values.

    For both kinds of output drivers it is possible to connect multiple drivers to one node or wire. In the case of output drivers with open collector outputs, a wired-AND function is obtained "for free" on the output node (this feature is exploited in the GPIB) if multiple drivers can be on at the same time. The situation is more complicated with tri-stateable drivers. Only one driver should be enabled at a time to drive the common output node. Also, a wired-AND function is not obtained when tri-stateable drivers share an output node.

  2. On slide 12-30 of the course notes, general forms are given for rightward and leftward-moving voltage and current waveforms on a transmission line. Recall that the voltage and current waveforms are related to each other by the characteristic impedance Zo. Show analytically that any sum of such rightward and leftward-moving voltage and current waveforms are solutions to the two first-order differential equations given on slide 12-29, as well as the two second-order differential equations given on page 12-30.
    Hint: Write down the general voltage and current waveforms, and then take the appropriate partial derivitives with respect to time and distance. Then verify that the partial differential equations are true.
    Clarification: For leftward moving waves, the current is related to the voltage by the negative of the reciprocal of the characteristic impedance. The negative sign is required to get the differential equations to work out properly.

    The four differential equations for a lossless transmission line are:
    dV(z,t)/dz = -Lo dI(z,t)/dt            (Eqn 1)
    dI(z,t)/dz = -Co dV(z,t)/dt            (Eqn 2)
    d2V(z,t)/dz2 = Lo Co d2V(z,t)/dt2      (Eqn 3)
    d2I(z,t)/dz2 = Lo Co d2I(z,t)/dt2      (Eqn 4)
    
    The assumed wave solutions are as follows:
    voltage:  V(z,t) = g( t - s.z ) + f( t + s.z )   where s = sqrt( Lo . Co )
    current:  I(z,t) = (1/Zo).g( t - s.z ) - (1/Zo).f( t + s.z )
    Recall that the impedance Zo is negative for a left-moving wave.
    
    Note that g() and f() are functions of a single variable.  Thus:
    dV(z,t)/dz = (-s).g'( t - s.z ) + s.f'( t + s.z )
    and -Lo.dI(z,t)/dt = (-Lo/Zo).g'( t - s.z ) - (-Lo/Zo).f'( t + s.z )
    But (Lo/Zo) = Lo.sqrt(Co/Lo) = sqrt( Lo Co ) = s
    So -Lo.dI(z,t)/dt = (-s).g'( z - s.t ) + s.f'( z + s.t ) 
    		  = dV(z,t)/dz           (Eqn 1)
    
    Similarly,
    dV(z,t)/dt = g'( t - s.z ) + f'( t + s.z )
    dI(z,t)/dz = -(s/Zo).g'( t - s.z ) - (s/Zo).f'( t + s.z )
    And -Co.dV(z,t)/dt = (-Co).g'( t - s.z ) + (-Co).f'( t + s.z )
    But s/Zo = sqrt( Co.Lo ) . sqrt( Co/Lo ) = Co
    So dI(z,t)/dz = (-Co).g'( t - s.z ) + (-Co).f'( t - s.z )
    	      = -Co . dV(z,t)/dt         (Eqn 2)
    
    From above dV(z,t)/dz =  (-s).g'( t - s.z ) +     s.f'( t + s.z )
          so d2V(z,t)/dz2 = (s^2).g"( t - s.z ) + (s^2).f"( t + s.z )
    From above dV(z,t)/dt =       g'( t - s.z ) +       f'( t + s.z )
          so d2V(z,t)/dt2 =       g"( t - s.z ) +       f"( t + s.z )
    But s^2 = (sqrt( Lo.Co ))^2 = Lo.Co
    Thus d2V(z,t)/dz2 = Lo Co d2V(z,t)/dt2   (Eqn 3)
    
    From above dI(z,t)/dz =  (-s/Zo).g'( t - s.z ) +   (-s/Zo).f'( t + s.z )
          so d2I(z,t)/dz2 = (s^2/Zo).g"( t - s.z ) + (-s^2/Zo).f"( t + s.z )
    From above dI(z,t)/dt =   (1/Zo).g'( t - s.z ) +    (1/Zo).f'( t + s.z )
          so d2I(z,t)/dt2 =   (1/Zo).g"( t - s.z ) +    (1/Zo).f"( t + s.z )
    But s^2 = sqrt( Lo.Co )^2 = Lo.Co
    Thus d2I(z,t)/dz2 = Lo Co d2I(z,t)/dt2   (Eqn 4)
    

  3. Using the formulae given on slides 12-34 to 12-37 of the course notes, calculate both the characteristic impedance Zo and the speed of propagation for the following transmission line media:

  4. If a travelling 1-Volt voltage wavefrom encounters a sudden 10% increase in the characteristic impedance of the transmission line propagation medium, what will be the amplitude of the reflected voltage wavefront and the amplitude of the voltage wavefront that continues to propagate forward?
    voltage reflection coefficient = (1.1*Zo - Zo) / (1.1*Zo + Zo) 
    			       = 0.1 / 2.1
    			       = 0.04762
    Therefore the reflected voltage wave will have an amplitude of 47.62 mV
    
    transmission coefficient = (2 * 1.1 * Zo)/(1.1*Zo + Zo)
    			 = 2.2 / 2.1
    			 = 1.04762
    Therefore the voltage wave propagating forward will have an amplitude
    of 1.04762 volts.
    

  5. Consider a series-terminated transmission line, like the one shown in slide 12-46 of the course notes. Assume that the transmission line is 30 cm long and has a characteristic impedance of 50 ohms (the same as the total series termination resistance). Assume further that the speed of signal propagation is 50% that of the speed of light in a vacuum. Just before time t = 0, the voltage all along the line is at 0 volts (some reference potential) and there is no current flow. At time 0 ns, a voltage of 2.5 volts is suddenly applied at the left end of the termination resistance at the left end of the transmission line. The driver of this voltage signal has zero output resistance. Construct six plots of voltage versus distance along the line, and six plots of current versus distance along the line, which represent the situation at times t= 0 ns, 1 ns, 2 ns, 3 ns, 4 ns and 5 ns. Briefly explain of the evolving shapes of the waveforms that appear in your plots.
    Recall that light travels 30cm in 1 nanosecond.  Therefore this signal
    will propagate 15 cm in 1 nanosecond.
    
    t = 0-    ^                                ^
              |                                |
    	V |                               I|
    	  |                                |
    	  |                                |
    	  +-----------+-----------+->z     +-----------+-----------+->z
              0          15cm        30cm      0          15cm        30cm
    
    t = 0+    ^                                ^
              |                                |
    	V |                               I|
         1.25V*--> 0.5c                    25mA*--> 0.5c
    	  *                                *
    	  *-----------+-----------+->z     *-----------+-----------+->z
              0          15cm        30cm      0          15cm        30cm
    
    t = 1ns   ^                                ^
              |                                |
    	V |                               I|
         1.25V*************--> 0.5c        25mA*************--> 0.5c
    	  *************                    *************
    	  *************-----------+->z     *************-----------+->z
              0          15cm        30cm      0          15cm        30cm
    
    t = 2-ns  ^                                ^
              |                                |
    	V |                     --> 0.5c  I|                     --> 0.5c
         1.25V*************************    25mA*************************
    	  *************************        *************************
    	  *************************->z     *************************->z
              0          15cm        30cm      0          15cm        30cm
    
    t = 2+ns  ^                                ^
              |              0.5c <-- *        |
    	V |                       *       I|              0.5 c <--
    	  *************************    25mA*************************
    	  *************************        *************************
    	  *************************->z     *************************->z
              0          15cm        30cm      0          15cm        30cm
    
    t = 3ns   ^                                ^
          2.5V|  0.5c <-- *************        |
    	V |           *************        |      0.5c <--
    	  *************************    25mA*************
    	  *************************        *************
    	  *************************->z     *************-----------+->z
              0          15cm        30cm      0          15cm        30cm
    
    t = 4-ns  ^                                ^
         2.5V *************************        |
    	V *************************        |
    	  *************************    25mA*
    	  *************************        *
    	  *************************->z     *-----------+-----------+->z
              0          15cm        30cm      0          15cm        30cm
    
    t = 4+ns  ^                                ^
         2.5V *************************        |
    	V *************************        |
    	  *************************        |
    	  *************************        |
    	  *************************->z     +-----------+-----------+->z
              0          15cm        30cm      0          15cm        30cm
    
    t = 5ns   ^                                ^
         2.5V *************************        |
    	V *************************        |
    	  *************************        |
    	  *************************        |
    	  *************************->z     +-----------+-----------+->z
              0          15cm        30cm      0          15cm        30cm
    
    
    Brief explanations:  At just before t=0ns, there are no voltage or current 
    waveforms on the transmission line.  Just after t=0ns, a voltage wave of
    amplitude 1.25V will appear at the left end of the transmission line,
    propagating to the right at a speed of 0.5c.  The amplitude is equal to 
    1.25 V as a result of the voltage division effect of 2.5 V from the ideal
    voltage source across the 50 ohm series termination resistance and the
    50 ohm characteristic impedance of the transmission line.  Thus the left
    end of the transmission line only sees 1.25 V.  As the voltage wave
    travels to the right, a current wave of amplitude (1.25 V)/(50 ohm) = 25 mA
    will also travel to the right.  The two waves will take 2 ns to right
    the right end of the transmission line.
    
    Just after t=2ns, a voltage wave of amplitude 1.25 V appears at the
    right end, which travels to the left at a speed of 0.5 c.  At the same
    time, a current wave of amplitude (1.25 V)/(-50 ohm) = -25 mA appears
    at the right end and begins to propagate to the left.  The rightward-moving
    and leftward-moving voltage waves add up since they are both positive in
    magnitude; the current waves subtract to 0 mA because they are equal in
    magnitude but opposite in sign.  The leftward-moving waves take 2 ns
    to reach the left end of the transmission line.
    
    At time t=4ns, the leftward moving waves encounter the 50 ohm series
    termination impedance, and so are completely absorbed.  There are no
    further reflections.  The line is left with a steady voltage 2.5 volts
    with zero current at all positions along the line.  This is what would
    should expect when one applies a voltage of 2.5 V to an open circuited 
    cable.