Level shifter and related methods and apparatus

• US 9,473,136 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BFLY Operations, Inc. (Butterfly Network, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Butterfly Network, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Kailiang, Ralston, Tyler S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoffa, Angela M
• Application Number:
  US14/957,398
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0207 Driving circuits specially adapted for particular applications, see the relevant subclass, e.g. G01; circuits for steering transducer arrays G10K11/34; basic circuits H03
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/76 Medical, dental
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/6871 the output circuit comprising more than one controlled field-effect transistor
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/018507 Interface arrangements

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided directed to a device, including at least one ultrasonic transducer, a level shifter coupled to the at least one ultrasonic transducer, the level shifter including an input terminal configured to receive an input voltage, an output terminal configured to provide an output voltage level-shifted from the input voltage, a capacitor coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal, and a diode coupled in reverse-biased configuration between an input to an active high voltage element and a first voltage of a high voltage power supply.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one ultrasonic transducer on a substrate, and

a level shifter on the substrate coupled to the at least one ultrasonic transducer, the level shifter including

an input terminal configured to receive an input voltage;

an output terminal configured to provide an output voltage level-shifted from the input voltage;

a capacitor coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal; and

a diode coupled in reverse-biased configuration between an input to an active high voltage element and a first voltage of a high voltage power supply;

wherein the input of the active high voltage element is coupled to an output of the capacitor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the active high voltage element comprises an inverter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the high voltage power supply has two voltages, and wherein the first voltage is one of the two voltages.

4. A level shifter, comprising:

an input terminal configured to receive an input voltage;

an output terminal configured to provide an output voltage level-shifted from the input voltage;

a capacitor coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal; and

a diode coupled in reverse-biased configuration between an input to an active high voltage element and a first voltage of a high voltage power supply;

wherein the input of the active high voltage element is coupled to an output of the capacitor.

5. The level shifter of claim 4, wherein the active high voltage element comprises an inverter.

6. The level shifter of claim 4, wherein the high voltage power supply has two voltages, and wherein the first voltage is one of the two voltages.