Fast voltage level shifter circuit
First Claim
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1. A circuit comprising:
- a switch configured to produce an output voltage on an output terminal in response to an input voltage applied to an input terminal and in response to a current drawn through the switch, wherein the output voltage on the output terminal is referenced relative to a floating voltage reference; and
a current source circuit configured to draw the current through the switch at a first level when the input voltage is unchanged and at an increased second level when the input voltage is changing.
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Abstract
A voltage level shifting circuit with an input terminal and an output terminal. The level shifting circuit has a field-effect transistor (FET) switch with a gate attached to the input terminal, a drain attached to the output terminal and a source attached to a current changing mechanism. The current changing mechanism includes a current mirror circuit having an output connected between the source and an electrical earth. The output of the current mirror circuit is preferably adapted to change a current flowing between the drain and the source based on an input voltage applied to the gate.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit comprising:
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a switch configured to produce an output voltage on an output terminal in response to an input voltage applied to an input terminal and in response to a current drawn through the switch, wherein the output voltage on the output terminal is referenced relative to a floating voltage reference; and a current source circuit configured to draw the current through the switch at a first level when the input voltage is unchanged and at an increased second level when the input voltage is changing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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applying an input voltage to an input terminal of a voltage level shifting circuit, thereby producing an output voltage on an output terminal of the voltage level shifting circuit, the output voltage depending on the input voltage and a bias current; referencing the output voltage on the output terminal relative to a voltage reference that is floating with respect to a ground reference of the voltage level shifting circuit; and controlling the bias current to a first level in response to the input voltage being unchanged and controlling the bias current to an increased second level in response to the input voltage varying. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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connecting a current source circuit to a bias terminal of a switch, the current source circuit being configured to draw a bias current through the bias terminal; connecting a charge storage circuit between an input terminal to the switch and the current source circuit, the switch being configured to produce an output voltage on an output terminal of the switch based on the bias current and an input voltage on the input terminal, and the charge storage circuit being configured to control the bias current to a first level in response to the input voltage being unchanged and to control the bias current to an increased second level in response to the input voltage varying; referencing the current source circuit to a ground reference; and referencing the output terminal to a voltage reference that is floating with respect to the ground reference. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification