VOLTAGE LEVEL SHIFTER
First Claim
1. A switching circuit system, comprising:
- an input module, operable to receive a two-level input signal representing input information, and to generate a first switching voltage signal and a second switching voltage signal as a function of the input signal;
a current signal generator module, comprising;
a first current switching device, operable to generate a first switching current signal as a function of the first switching voltage signal; and
a second current switching device, operable to generate a second switching current signal as a function of the second switching voltage signal;
a first precharging device, coupled with the first current switching device and the second current switching device, and operable to build up a charge reserve when the second switching voltage signal is HIGH, and to dump at least a portion of the charge reserve into the first current switching device when the first switching voltage signal is HIGH;
a second precharging device, coupled with the first current switching device and the second current switching device, and operable to build up a charge reserve when the first switching voltage signal is HIGH, and to dump at least a portion of the charge reserve into the second current switching device when the second switching voltage signal is HIGH;
a voltage signal generator module, operable to generate a first voltage response as a function of the first switching current signal and to generate a second voltage response as a function of the second switching current signal; and
a latching module, operable to generate a two-level latched signal as a function of the first voltage response and the second voltage response, such that the latched signal substantially preserves the input information represented by the input signal.
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing voltage level shifting that may operate reliably and at low power, even at high voltages and/or high switching frequencies. Embodiments receive an input signal representing input information, and effectively generate two voltage responses as a function of the input signal. Each voltage response includes exponential terms as a function of resistive and capacitive loading effects of components of the embodiments. A combined response signal is generated substantially as a superposition of the first response signal and the second response signal. A high-side driver signal is then generated as a function of the combined response signal, such that the high-side driver signal substantially preserves the input information represented by the input signal, and such that the first exponential response and the second exponential response are substantially absent from the high-side driver signal.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A switching circuit system, comprising:
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an input module, operable to receive a two-level input signal representing input information, and to generate a first switching voltage signal and a second switching voltage signal as a function of the input signal; a current signal generator module, comprising; a first current switching device, operable to generate a first switching current signal as a function of the first switching voltage signal; and a second current switching device, operable to generate a second switching current signal as a function of the second switching voltage signal; a first precharging device, coupled with the first current switching device and the second current switching device, and operable to build up a charge reserve when the second switching voltage signal is HIGH, and to dump at least a portion of the charge reserve into the first current switching device when the first switching voltage signal is HIGH; a second precharging device, coupled with the first current switching device and the second current switching device, and operable to build up a charge reserve when the first switching voltage signal is HIGH, and to dump at least a portion of the charge reserve into the second current switching device when the second switching voltage signal is HIGH; a voltage signal generator module, operable to generate a first voltage response as a function of the first switching current signal and to generate a second voltage response as a function of the second switching current signal; and a latching module, operable to generate a two-level latched signal as a function of the first voltage response and the second voltage response, such that the latched signal substantially preserves the input information represented by the input signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A switching circuit system, comprising:
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means for receiving a two-level input signal representing input information; means for generating a first response signal as a function of the input signal, the first response signal comprising a first exponential response defined substantially as a voltage across a first network in response to a switched current applied to the first network, the first network consisting of a first resistive load coupled in parallel with a first capacitive load; means for generating a second response signal as a function of the input signal, the second response signal comprising a second exponential response defined substantially as a voltage across a second network in response to a switched voltage applied across a third network, the second network consisting of a second resistive load coupled in parallel with a second capacitive load, and the third network consisting of a third capacitive load coupled in series with the second network; means for generating a combined response signal being substantially a superposition of the first response signal and the second response signal; and means for generating a high-side driver signal as a function of the combined response signal, such that the high-side driver signal substantially preserves the input information represented by the input signal, and such that the first exponential response and the second exponential response are substantially absent from the high-side driver signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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21. A method for voltage level shifting, comprising:
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receiving a two-level input signal representing input information; generating a first response signal as a function of the input signal, the first response signal comprising a first exponential response defined substantially as a voltage across a first network in response to a switched current applied to the first network, the first network consisting of a resistive load coupled in parallel with a first capacitive load; generating a second response signal as a function of the input signal, the second response signal comprising a second exponential response defined substantially as a voltage across the first network in response to a switched voltage applied across a second network, the second network consisting of a second capacitive load coupled in series with the first network; generating a combined response signal being substantially a superposition of the first response signal and the second response signal; and generating a high-side driver signal as a function of the combined response signal, such that the high-side driver signal substantially preserves the input information represented by the input signal, and such that the first exponential response and the second exponential response are substantially absent from the high-side driver signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification