Clocked single power supply level shifter

• US 7,777,522 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: North Star Innovations Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Chen, Wang K., YANG, JIANAN, Jamison, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US12/183,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 326/63, 326/68, 326/81, 326/95, 326/98, 327/333
• US Class Current: 326/68
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/018521 of complementary type, e.g. CMOS
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/01855 synchronous, i.e. using clock signals

Abstract

First circuitry is powered by a first power supply domain and provides a data signal referenced to the first power supply domain. Second circuitry is powered by a second power supply domain that differs from the first power supply domain. The data signal becomes referenced to the second power supply domain by a clocked level shifter that couples the first circuitry to the second circuitry and buffers the data signal from the first power supply domain to the second power supply domain by only using a single supply voltage. The clocked level shifter is clocked by a signal that is used to precharge a first node and a second node of the clocked level shifter until the data signal is valid for at least a setup time period. The first and second nodes are precharged to establish a known state in the clocked level shifter.

Claims

1. A circuit comprising:

first circuitry having a first set of first and second power terminals for being powered by a first power supply domain, the first circuitry providing a data signal referenced to the first power supply domain;

second circuitry having a second set of first and second power terminals for being powered by a second power supply domain having supply voltages that differ from the first power supply domain, the second circuitry providing the data signal referenced to the second power supply domain; and

a clocked level shifter for coupling the first circuitry to the second circuitry, the clocked level shifter buffering the data signal from the first power supply domain to the second power supply domain by only using a single supply voltage wherein voltage values on both first and second power terminals of the second set differ from the first and second power terminals of the first set, the clocked level shifter being clocked by a clock signal that is used to precharge a first node and a second node of the clocked level shifter until the data signal is valid for at least a setup time period, precharging the first and second nodes being used to establish a known state in the clocked level shifter.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the clocked level shifter further comprises:

a first level shifter portion having a data input for receiving the data signal, the first level shifter portion comprising;

a first inverter coupled to the data input and having an output coupled to the first node;

a first transistor coupled in series between the first power terminal of the second set and the first inverter, the first transistor having a control terminal;

a second transistor coupled in series between the first inverter and the second power terminal of the second set;

a second inverter having an input coupled to the first node and an output coupled to the control terminal of the first transistor; and

a first precharge transistor coupled between the first power terminal of the second set and the first node, the first precharge transistor having a control terminal for receiving the clock signal; and

a second level shifter portion having a data input for receiving the data signal, the second level shifter portion comprising;

a third inverter coupled to the data input and having an output coupled to the second node;

a third transistor coupled in series between the first power terminal of the second set and the third inverter, the third transistor having a control terminal coupled to the output of the second inverter;

a fourth transistor coupled in series between the third inverter and the second power terminal of the second set;

a fourth inverter having an input coupled to the second node and an output coupled to the control terminal of the second transistor; and

a second precharge transistor coupled between the second power terminal of the second set and the second node, the second precharge transistor having a control terminal for receiving an inverse of the clock signal.

3. The circuit of claim 2 further comprising:

control circuitry for controlling when a rising edge of the clock signal occurs relative to an edge transition of the data signal.

4. The circuit of claim 2 further comprising:

a fifth inverter having an input for receiving the clock signal and an output coupled to the control terminal of the second precharge transistor.

5. The circuit of claim 4 wherein the first inverter comprises sixth and seventh transistors coupled in series and the first level shifter portion further comprises:

an eighth transistor coupled between the sixth and seventh transistors, the eighth transistor having a control terminal coupled to the clock signal.

6. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the third inverter comprises ninth and tenth transistors coupled in series and the second level shifter portion further comprises:

an eleventh transistor coupled between the ninth and tenth transistors, the eleventh transistor having a control terminal coupled to the inverse of the clock signal.

7. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

control circuitry coupled to the clocked level shifter for ensuring that the data signal is valid for at least the setup time period.

8. A circuit comprising:

first circuitry within a first power supply domain having a first set of first and second power terminals for being powered by a first power supply and providing a data signal referenced to the first power supply;

second circuitry within a second power supply domain having a second set of first and second power terminals for being powered by a second power supply, the second power supply differing from the first power supply, the second circuitry providing the data signal referenced to the second power supply; and

a clocked level shifter coupled between the first circuitry and the second circuitry, the clocked level shifter buffering the data signal from the first power supply to the second power supply by only using a single supply voltage, the clocked level shifter using a clock signal to bias an output of the clocked level shifter to a known state, the output not being biased to the known state after a setup time has elapsed upon receipt of valid data, the clocked level shifter comprising a series-connected plurality of transistors, at least one of which is assured of being nonconductive during a valid output state of the clocked level shifter to thereby prevent current leakage.

9. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the clocked level shifter further comprises:

a first level shifter portion having a data input for receiving the data signal, the first level shifter portion comprising;

a first inverter coupled to the data input and having an output coupled to a first node;

a first transistor coupled in series between the first power terminal of the second set and the first inverter, the first transistor having a control terminal;

a second transistor coupled in series between the first inverter and the second power terminal of the second set;

a second inverter having an input coupled to the first node and an output coupled to the control terminal of the first transistor; and

a first precharge transistor coupled between the first power terminal of the second set and the first node, the first precharge transistor having a control terminal for receiving the clock signal; and

a second level shifter portion having a data input for receiving the data signal, the second level shifter portion comprising;

a third inverter coupled to the data input and having an output coupled to a second node;

a third transistor coupled in series between the first power terminal of the second set and the third inverter, the third transistor having a control terminal;

a fourth transistor coupled in series between the third inverter and the second power terminal of the second set;

a fourth inverter having an input coupled to the second node and an output coupled to the control terminal of the second transistor; and

a second precharge transistor coupled between the second power terminal of the second set and the second node, the second precharge transistor having a control terminal for receiving an inverse of the clock signal.

10. The circuit of claim 9 further comprising:

control circuitry for controlling when a rising edge of the clock signal occurs relative to an edge transition of the data signal.

11. The circuit of claim 9 further comprising:

a fifth inverter having an input for receiving the clock signal and an output coupled to the control terminal of the second precharge transistor.

12. The circuit of claim 11 wherein the first inverter comprises sixth and seventh transistors coupled in series and the first level shifter portion further comprises:

an eighth transistor coupled between the sixth and seventh transistors, the eighth transistor having a control terminal coupled to the clock signal.

13. The circuit of claim 12 wherein the third inverter comprises ninth and tenth transistors coupled in series and the second level shifter portion further comprises:

an eleventh transistor coupled between the ninth and tenth transistors, the eleventh transistor having a control terminal coupled to the inverse of the clock signal.

14. The circuit of claim 8 further comprising:

control circuitry coupled to the clocked level shifter for ensuring that the data signal is valid for at least the setup time period.

15. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the first power supply domain comprises first and second power rails and the second power supply domain comprises third and fourth power rails, wherein voltage conducted by the first power rail and the third power rail having differing values and voltage conducted by the second power rail and the fourth power rail is a same voltage value.

16. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the first power supply domain comprises first and second power rails and the second power supply domain comprises third and fourth power rails, wherein voltage conducted by the first power rail and the third power rail having differing values and voltage conducted by the second power rail and the fourth power rail also have differing values.

17. A level shifting circuit comprising:

a first transistor of a first conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to a first power supply terminal referenced to a first voltage domain, a control electrode and a second current electrode;

a second transistor of the first conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the first transistor, a control electrode for receiving a data signal referenced to a second voltage domain different from the first voltage domain, and a second current electrode coupled to a first internal node;

a third transistor of a second conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the second transistor, a control electrode for receiving a clock signal, and a second current electrode;

a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the third transistor, a control electrode for receiving the data signal, and a second current electrode;

a fifth transistor of the second conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the fourth transistor, a control electrode for receiving a leakage current control signal, and a second current electrode coupled to a second power supply terminal referenced to the first voltage domain;

a sixth transistor of the first conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to the first power supply terminal referenced to the first voltage domain, a control electrode for receiving the clock signal, and a second current electrode coupled to the first internal node; and

a first inverter having an input coupled to the first internal node, a first power electrode coupled to the first power supply terminal referenced to the first voltage domain, a second power electrode coupled to the second power supply terminal referenced to the first voltage domain, and an output for providing a level shifted form of the data signal as an output signal and coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor.

18. The level shifting circuit of claim 17 wherein the first, second and sixth transistors are P-channel transistors and the third, fourth and fifth transistors are N-channel transistors.

19. The level shifting circuit of claim 17 further comprising:

a seventh transistor of the first conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to the first power supply terminal referenced to the first voltage domain, a control electrode coupled to the output of the first inverter, and a second current electrode;

an eighth transistor of the first conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the seventh transistor, a control electrode for receiving the data signal referenced to the second voltage domain, and a second current electrode;

a ninth transistor of the first conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the eighth transistor, a control electrode for receiving an inversion of the clock signal, and a second current electrode coupled to a second internal node;

a tenth transistor of the second conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the ninth transistor, a control electrode for receiving the data signal, and a second current electrode;

an eleventh transistor of the second conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the tenth transistor, a control electrode for receiving the leakage current control signal, and a second current electrode coupled to the second power supply terminal referenced to the first voltage domain;

a twelfth transistor of the first conductivity type having a first current electrode coupled to the second internal node, a control electrode for receiving an inverse of the clock signal, and a second current electrode coupled to the second power supply terminal referenced to the first voltage domain; and

a second inverter having an input coupled to the second internal node, a first power electrode coupled to the first power supply terminal referenced to the first voltage domain, a second power electrode coupled to the second power supply terminal referenced to the first voltage domain, and an output for providing the leakage current control signal.

20. The level shifting circuit of claim 19 wherein the seventh, eighth and ninth transistors are P-channel transistors and the tenth, eleventh and twelfth transistors are N-channel transistors.