US 10,256,818 B2Granted

Level shifter

AssigneeQualinx B.V.

InventorsReza Lotfi, Sayed Rasoul Hosseini Boldaji

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A level shifter (100) is presented comprising an input branch (102) and an output branch (104). The input branch comprises a first switch (130), a voltage clamping unit (120) and a controllable current source (110) in series. The output branch (104) comprises a second switch (140) and a third switch (150) in series, the second switch (140) and third switch (150) having opposite polarities. An output (OUT, 160) is provided between the second and the third switch (140, 150). The current source (110) is controlled by an input signal (IN) and the output signal (OUT). The first switch (130) is controlled by the input signal (IN). Switching control terminals (122, 124) of the second and the third switch are connected on either side of the clamping unit (120). This reduces voltage swing of switching control units, thus resulting in fast switching, less power consumption and wider voltage ranges. The input branch (102) draws a current only during level transitions, enabling fast switching and power saving in steady state of the level shifter (100).

Claims15

Dependent claims

A level shifter comprising an input branch arranged to be provided between a first supply node and a second supply node having a first voltage level between them, the first supply node having a higher potential than the second supply node and the input branch comprising in series:

a current source having a first control input for receiving a first input signal and a second control input for receiving an output signal of the level shifter;
a first voltage clamping unit comprising a first clamping terminal and a second clamping terminal for providing a first clamping voltage between the first clamping terminal and the second clamping terminal;
and
a first switch having a third control input for receiving a second input signal;
and the level shifter further comprising an output branch provided in parallel to the input branch, the output branch comprising in series:
a second switch having a first polarity comprising a first output control input connected to the first clamping terminal;
and
a third switch having a second polarity comprising a second output control input connected to the second clamping terminal;
wherein an output terminal is provided between the second switch and the third switch for providing the output signal, and
wherein said current source is configured to provide a current through said voltage clamping unit and to drive a current that controls switching for the second switch and the third switch.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/549,998Filed 9 Feb 2016
Priority: NL 201428012 Feb 2015
Published: US 2018/0034464 A11 Feb 2018
Granted: 9 Apr 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H03K 19/0013
Arrangements for reducing power consumption: in field effect transistor circuits
H03K 5/08
Shaping pulses: by limiting; by thresholding; by slicing, i.e. combined limiting and thresholding
H03K 19/018521
Interface arrangements: of complementary type, e.g. CMOS
H03K 19/018528
Of complementary type, e.g. CMOS: with at least one differential stage