Advantages of differential signaling | disadvantages of differential signaling
This page covers advantages and disadvantages of differential signaling. It mentions differential signaling advantages or benefits and differential signaling disadvantages or drawbacks.
What is differential signaling?
Introduction:
• The transmission of two signals which are complementary over identical matched traces or wires
is special case of two wire signaling known as differential signaling.
• A differential signal by definition is known as balanced signal.
It is measured by difference between positive and negative side of the signal. They have
lower distortion compare to single ended circuits as depicted below in figure-1.
• It is used to electrically transmit information using two complementary signals.
• The receiver circuit responds to electrical difference between two signals instead of
difference between signal wire and GND (used in single ended signaling). Figure shows working of differential
signaling. As shown input signals are combined where as noise signals are
substrated by differential receiver.
• Examples of differential signaling is found in analog signaling and digital signaling.
• Analog differential signaling: Balanced Audio
• Digital differential signaling: Twisted pair, PCIe interface, DisplayPort,
USB, HDMI, RS-422, RS-485
Benefits or advantages of differential signaling
Following are the benefits or advantages of differential signaling:
➨It is resistant to EM (Electromagnetic) interference as differential
signals are transmitted on balanced lines.
➨It also helps in minimizing electronic crosstalk.
➨It can be used for high speed transmission lines with good quality
due to noise elimination and less radiation. Hence Common mode rejection as well as
improved power supply rejection can be achieved.
➨Higher overall signal swings can be achieved.
➨It offers inherent cancellation of even order harmonics.
Some pre-distortion techniques are employed to reduce odd harmonics.
Drawbacks or disadvantages of differential signaling
Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of differential signaling:
➨Differential signals have one obvious disadvantage over
single ended signals. They require two traces instead of one, or twice as much
board area.
When multiple signals are transmitted the number of conductors are more
than single ended signaling. For example, in differential signaling 8 signals require 16 conductors
and a ground conductor to have common ground between sender and receiver.
In this case, the single ended signaling requires only 9 conductor wires.
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