Fast voltage level shifter circuit
First Claim
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1. A circuit comprising:
- a first circuit portion comprising a first switch and a resistor and configured to produce, responsive to an input voltage to a control input of the first switch, an output voltage by passing current through the resistor and the first switch;
a second circuit portion comprising a second switch and configured to draw, responsive to a control input of the second switch, the current through the first switch and the resistor; and
a third circuit portion comprising a charge storage device and configured to discharge into the control input of the second switch, responsive to the input voltage, a charge stored in the charge storage device, wherein the third circuit portion is configured to control the second circuit portion to decrease, in response to the input voltage being unchanged, the current through the first switch and the resistor.
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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 first circuit portion comprising a first switch and a resistor and configured to produce, responsive to an input voltage to a control input of the first switch, an output voltage by passing current through the resistor and the first switch; a second circuit portion comprising a second switch and configured to draw, responsive to a control input of the second switch, the current through the first switch and the resistor; and a third circuit portion comprising a charge storage device and configured to discharge into the control input of the second switch, responsive to the input voltage, a charge stored in the charge storage device, wherein the third circuit portion is configured to control the second circuit portion to decrease, in response to the input voltage being unchanged, the current through the first switch and the resistor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A circuit comprising:
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a first switch having a control input connected to a first node, wherein the first switch is further connected between a second node and a third node; a current-controlled source connected to the third node and comprising a control input connected to a fourth node; and a charge storage circuit connected between the first node and comprising a control input connected to the fourth node, wherein the charge storage circuit is configured to control the current-controlled source to increase, in response to a change in voltage at the first node, a current through the first switch between the second node and the third node, wherein the charge storage circuit is further configured to control the current-controlled source to increase the current by discharging a stored charge into the fourth node. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A circuit comprising:
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a first circuit portion comprising a first switch and a resistor and configured to produce, responsive to an input voltage to a control input of the first switch, an output voltage by passing current through the resistor and the first switch; a current mirror comprising a second switch and configured to draw, responsive to a control input of the second switch, the current through the first switch and the resistor; and a second circuit portion comprising a charge storage device and configured to discharge into the control input of the second switch, responsive to the input voltage, a charge stored in the charge storage device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification