Level shifter circuit, corresponding apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A level shifter circuit for driving a load via a power supply line, the level shifter circuit comprising:
- an input stage for receiving an input signal switchable between a first and a second input level;
an output stage coupled to said power supply line to produce a drive signal for said load, the output stage switchable between a first and a second output level;
a level translator coupled between the input stage and the output stage, wherein said input signal switching between said first and second input levels causes said output stage to switch between said first and second output levels;
a feedback element coupled to said output stage for transferring to said input stage a feedback signal representative of the output level of the output stage; and
control circuitry sensitive to said input signal and said feedback signal and configured for detecting undesired switching of said drive signal between said first and second output levels occurring in the absence of a switching of the input signal between said first and second input levels and inverting the output level of said drive signal resulting from said undesired switching, the control circuitry including;
a pulse circuit driven by said feedback signal, said pulse circuit coupleable to said level translator to apply to said level translator drive pulses for switching said output stage between said first and second output levels,a coupling circuit coupled between said pulse circuit and said level translator, said coupling circuit sensitive to said input signal to couple said pulse circuit in a coupling condition to said level translator to apply to said level translator drive pulses for inverting the output level of said output stage resulting from said undesired switching of said output stage.
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Abstract
A level shifter circuit includes: an input stage for receiving an input signal switchable between a first and a second input level and an output stage to produce a drive signal for the load that is switchable between a first and a second output level. A level translator translates the input signal switching between the input levels into the output stage switching between the output levels. A feedback element coupled to the output stage transfers to the input stage a feedback signal representative of the output level of the output stage. The input stage includes control circuitry sensitive to the input signal and the feedback signal for detecting undesired switching of the output stage between the first and second output levels occurring in the absence of input signal switching between the first and second input levels. The control circuitry inverts the output level of the output stage resulting from undesired switching.
9 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A level shifter circuit for driving a load via a power supply line, the level shifter circuit comprising:
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an input stage for receiving an input signal switchable between a first and a second input level; an output stage coupled to said power supply line to produce a drive signal for said load, the output stage switchable between a first and a second output level; a level translator coupled between the input stage and the output stage, wherein said input signal switching between said first and second input levels causes said output stage to switch between said first and second output levels; a feedback element coupled to said output stage for transferring to said input stage a feedback signal representative of the output level of the output stage; and control circuitry sensitive to said input signal and said feedback signal and configured for detecting undesired switching of said drive signal between said first and second output levels occurring in the absence of a switching of the input signal between said first and second input levels and inverting the output level of said drive signal resulting from said undesired switching, the control circuitry including; a pulse circuit driven by said feedback signal, said pulse circuit coupleable to said level translator to apply to said level translator drive pulses for switching said output stage between said first and second output levels, a coupling circuit coupled between said pulse circuit and said level translator, said coupling circuit sensitive to said input signal to couple said pulse circuit in a coupling condition to said level translator to apply to said level translator drive pulses for inverting the output level of said output stage resulting from said undesired switching of said output stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic system, comprising:
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a level shifter circuit including, an input circuit configured to receive an input signal switchable between a first input level and a second input level and configured to generate a control signal responsive to the input signal; a level translator circuit coupled to the input circuit and configured to generate a level shifted control signal switchable between a first output level and a second output level responsive to the control signal from input circuit; an output circuit coupled to the level translator and configured to generate a first drive signal switchable between the first output level and the second output level responsive to the level-shifted control signal; a feedback circuit coupled between the output circuit and the input circuit and configured to generate a feedback signal indicating a change in the level of the first drive signal from the output circuit, the feedback circuit further configured to detect an inconsistency between the level of the input signal and the level of the first drive signal and to generate the control signal to cause the level translator circuit and output circuit to generate the first drive signal having the proper level corresponding to the level of the input signal, the feedback circuit including; a pulse generation circuit configured to generate an output pulse responsive to a transition of first drive signal; and logic circuitry coupled to receive the output pulse and configured to generate the control signal causing the level translator circuit to generate the level shifted control signal that causes the output circuit to drive the first drive signal to the level corresponding to the level of the input signal; and load circuitry coupled to the output circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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receiving an input signal switchable between a first and a second input level; generating one a drive node a drive signal in response to the input signal, the drive signal switchable between a first and a second output level different from the first and second input level; capacitively coupling the drive node to a feedback node; generating on the feedback node a feedback signal responsive to a transition of the drive signal; generating a pulse signal in response to the feedback signal; detecting undesired switching of said drive signal between said first and second output levels occurring in the absence of a switching of the input signal between said first and second input levels; and inverting the level of said drive signal in response to the pulse signal if detecting said undesired switching. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification