Method for termination of signal lines with discrete biased diodes

The disclosures herein relate generally to methods of damping undershoot of signals and, more particularly, to a method of accomplishing such damping using discrete biased diodes. Use of a variable voltage supply to clamp a diode for shunting signal glitches is described. Clamping the diode to a variable voltage supply enables forward-biasing of the diode, thereby preparing the diode for the glitch and effectively reducing the diode's turn-on time. The voltage of the variable voltage supply is determined by the size of the clamping diode used and the magnitude of the glitch it is designed to shunt. In one embodiment, the variable voltage supply is a temperature compensated voltage supply, such that as the temperature, and hence, the capacitance, of the diode changes, the value of the variable voltage supply also changes accordingly.