Low-to-high voltage conversion method and system
First Claim
1. A method for converting an input signal, comprising an input voltage from a low voltage source, to an output signal, comprising an output voltage from a high voltage source, by a digital circuit, comprising a pull-down logic network coupled to a node, the high voltage source having a voltage level greater than the low voltage source, said method comprising:
- precharging said node to a high voltage using said high voltage source during a first period of time, said step including turning on a first transistor that is coupled between said high voltage source and said node;
turning off the first transistor during a subsequent second period of time;
receiving said input voltage from said low voltage source by said pull-down logic network;
determining a voltage of said node based on evaluating said pull-down logic network during the subsequent second period of time, the conductance between said node and said high voltage source being at the low level during the determination step; and
using said voltage of said node, determining said output voltage.
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Abstract
A system and method, for converting a voltage input from a low voltage source to a voltage output at a high voltage source using a domino logic circuit design. An embodiment provides a low to high voltage conversion system. The system includes: a pull-up transistor coupled to a high voltage source for charging a node, when a precharge signal is received; a low voltage source used for setting an input voltage; a pull-down network for discharging the node depending, at least in part, on the input voltage; and an output voltage determined from the node.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for converting an input signal, comprising an input voltage from a low voltage source, to an output signal, comprising an output voltage from a high voltage source, by a digital circuit, comprising a pull-down logic network coupled to a node, the high voltage source having a voltage level greater than the low voltage source, said method comprising:
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precharging said node to a high voltage using said high voltage source during a first period of time, said step including turning on a first transistor that is coupled between said high voltage source and said node;
turning off the first transistor during a subsequent second period of time;
receiving said input voltage from said low voltage source by said pull-down logic network;
determining a voltage of said node based on evaluating said pull-down logic network during the subsequent second period of time, the conductance between said node and said high voltage source being at the low level during the determination step; and
using said voltage of said node, determining said output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A low-to-high voltage conversion system, comprising:
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a pull-up transistor coupled to a high voltage source for charging a node during a first period of time when a precharge signal is received, said pull-up transistor being turned-on during the first period of time and being turned-off during a subsequent second period of time;
a low voltage source used for setting an input voltage, wherein said low voltage source produces a voltage reference less than said high voltage source;
a pull-down network for discharging said node during the subsequent second period of time depending, at least in part, on said input voltage, said pull-up transistor being turned-off when said node is being discharged by the pull-down network; and
an output voltage determined from said node. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for converting a first logic level at a low voltage to a second logic level at a high voltage, comprising:
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a first terminal for receiving a high voltage source, said high voltage source having a value;
a second terminal for receiving a low voltage source which has a value less than the value of the high voltage source;
a pull-up transistor coupled to the high voltage source for charging a node during a first period of time when a precharge signal is at a low logic level, said pull-up transistor being turned-on during the first period of time and being turned-off during a subsequent second period of time when the precharge signal is at a high logic level;
an input signal, comprising an input voltage representing said first logic level, said input voltage set by using the low voltage source;
a pull-down network for discharging said node during the subsequent second period of time depending, at least in part, on said input voltage, said pull-up transistor being turned-off when said node is being discharged by the pull-down network;
a footer switch, comprising an nMOS transistor, and connecting said pull-down network to ground when said precharge signal is at the high logic level; and
a keeper circuit, comprising a pMOS transistor, for maintaining said node when charged; and
an output voltage determined from said node. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A low-to-high conversion system, comprising:
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a first terminal for receiving a high voltage source, said high voltage source having a value;
a second terminal for receiving a low voltage source which has a value less than the value of the high voltage source;
circuitry generating an input signal from the low voltage source received at the second terminal;
means for precharging a node to a high voltage using the high voltage source received at the first terminal during a first period of time, said means for precharging the node including a first transistor that is turned on during the first period of time and turned off during a subsequent second period of time;
means for evaluating a voltage of said node based on said input voltage and a pull-down network during the subsequent second period of time, wherein said pull-down network has means for connecting said pull-down network to ground to discharge said node, the conductance between said node and said high voltage source being at the low level when the node is being discharged by the pull-down network; and
means for using said voltage of said node to determine said output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification