System and method for improving signal propagation

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The above mentioned problems are addressed by the present subject matter and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.
The present subject matter improves signal propagation, particularly on an integrated circuit transmission line.
A repeater divides or segments a transmission line or wire track into a first line and a second line.
The repeater receives an active segment, i.
e.
a signal that makes transitions between high and low logic potentials, signal on the first line and transmits an inverted signal on the second line such that one of these lines is at a high logic potential and the other line is at a low logic potential.
The signal has cycles that are comprised of an inactive portion and an active portion.
In one embodiment, a control signal defines the duration of the active portion and inactive portion of the cycles.
The signal makes the transition to either the high or low logic potential during the active portion.
Charge is shared between the two lines during the inactive portion of the cycle such that, upon completion of the inactive portion, both the first line and the second line are at starting potentials which are substantially the same and which are between the low logic potential and the high logic potential.
The starting potential is the potential that is on the line at the beginning of the active portion of the cycle; i.
e.
at the beginning of the signal transition to either the high or low logic potential.
Rather than by beginning the logic transition from either the low logic potential or the high logic potential and then making a full transition to the other logic potential, the worse-case logic transition delay for the transmission line is shortened by beginning the logic transition from this starting potential and then making a transition to either the low logic potential or high logic potential.
One aspect provides an integrated circuit transmission line repeater.
The repeater generally comprises an inverting amplifier and an equilibration circuit