Voltage level shifter
First Claim
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1. A level shifter for providing an output signal in a first voltage domain as a function of an input signal in a second voltage domain, the level shifter comprising:
- a level shifter module in the first voltage domain for providing the output signal;
a control module for controlling operation of the level shifter module, the control module including a complementary pair of transistors and a first native transistor connected in a series current conduction path in the first voltage domain, wherein each of the transistors of the complementary pair are connected in the series current conduction path to a first intermediate node that is connected to control the level shifter module; and
a further transistor connected in the series current conduction path to a first complementary transistor of the complementary pair at a second intermediate node and to the first native transistor,wherein the transistors of the complementary pair have control nodes connected to receive the input signal, and the first native transistor has a control node connected to limit to a leakage current of the current in the series current conduction path,wherein the first complementary transistor and the further transistor are of a first type and the first native transistor is of an opposite type to the first type, andwherein the control node of the first native transistor is connected to the second intermediate node and is reverse biased by a voltage drop in the series current conduction path across the further transistor.
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Abstract
A level shifter in a primary voltage domain has a control module receiving an input signal from a secondary voltage domain for controlling operation of the level shifter. The control module includes a complementary pair of transistors and a first native transistor connected in a series current conduction path in the primary voltage domain. The complementary pair of transistors have gates connected to receive the input signal and the first native transistor has a gate connected to limit to a leakage current the current in the series current conduction path.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A level shifter for providing an output signal in a first voltage domain as a function of an input signal in a second voltage domain, the level shifter comprising:
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a level shifter module in the first voltage domain for providing the output signal; a control module for controlling operation of the level shifter module, the control module including a complementary pair of transistors and a first native transistor connected in a series current conduction path in the first voltage domain, wherein each of the transistors of the complementary pair are connected in the series current conduction path to a first intermediate node that is connected to control the level shifter module; and a further transistor connected in the series current conduction path to a first complementary transistor of the complementary pair at a second intermediate node and to the first native transistor, wherein the transistors of the complementary pair have control nodes connected to receive the input signal, and the first native transistor has a control node connected to limit to a leakage current of the current in the series current conduction path, wherein the first complementary transistor and the further transistor are of a first type and the first native transistor is of an opposite type to the first type, and wherein the control node of the first native transistor is connected to the second intermediate node and is reverse biased by a voltage drop in the series current conduction path across the further transistor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A power supply apparatus, comprising:
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first and second voltage domains; and a level shifter for providing an output signal in the first voltage domain as a function of an input signal in the second voltage domain, wherein the level shifter comprises; a level shifter module in the first voltage domain for providing the output signal; and a control module for controlling operation of the level shifter module; wherein the control module includes a complementary pair of transistors and a first native transistor connected in a series current conduction path in the first voltage domain, wherein each of the transistors of the complementary pair are connected in the series current conduction path to a first intermediate node that is connected to control the level shifter module, wherein the transistors of the complementary pair have control nodes connected to receive the input signal and the first native transistor has a control node connected to limit to a leakage current in the series current conduction path; and a further transistor is connected in the series current conduction path to a first complementary transistor of the complementary pair at a second intermediate node and to the first native transistor, wherein the first complementary transistor and the further transistor are of a first type and the first native transistor is of the opposite type to the first type, and wherein the control node of the first native transistor is connected to the second intermediate node and is reverse biased by a voltage drop in the series current conduction path across the further transistor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification