Forum Discussion

Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
10 years ago

Differences between LVDS, true-LVDS, emulated-LVDS and mini-LVDS

Hi,

I am designing a board with MAX 10 FPGA. I am really confused by all these LVDS standards. I have gone through the datasheets and user guides. But nowhere do I get any description about what all these standards really mean. I am well aware of LVDS, but I am just not able to understand the meaning of true-LVDS, emulated-LVDS and mini-LVDS. I am not finding any source which explains the differences between these.

Can someone please point out the differences, or provide some good document.

regards,

rajesh

3 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    10 years ago

    Hi rajesh,

    true-LVDS ist just what it says, LVDS with true differential buffers. Emulated LVDS uses a pair of ordinary single-ended pins, which are driven by opposite signals. This "standard" usually needs external resistors to be (more or less) compliant to the LVDS specification. mini-LVDS seems to be just another very similar standard: http://www.ti.com/lit/an/slda007a/slda007a.pdf

    As far as I know, all those differences are only relevant for drivers, the differential receivers should all be (more or less) the same.

    Regards,

    Philipp
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    10 years ago

    Hi,

    I am not interested in the SERDES portion. I just want to receive and transmit clock/data lines in LVDS signaling format. Does any of this (emulated, true, mini, etc) apply in this case.

    regards,

    rajesh