Multi-bit level shifter and method of operating same
AssigneesTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Tsmc Nanjing Company, Limited
InventorsJing Ding, Zhang-Ying Yan, Qingchao Meng, Yi-Ting Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-bit level-shifter (MBLS) includes two or more input circuits correspondingly configured to operate in a first voltage domain. The MBLS also includes two or more single bit level shifters (SBLSs) electrically coupled correspondingly to the two or more input circuits, and correspondingly configured to operate in a second voltage domain. The MBLS also includes a control circuit configured to toggle each of the two or more SBLSs between a normal mode and a standby mode according to a toggle-control signal received from the control circuit.
Claims20
A circuit comprising:
- two or more input circuits correspondingly configured to operate in a first voltage domain;
- two or more single bit level shifters (SBLSs) electrically coupled correspondingly to the two or more input circuits, and correspondingly configured to operate in a second voltage domain;
- and
- a control circuit configured to toggle each of the two or more SBLSs between a normal state and a standby state when a control signal is received from the control circuit;
- wherein a portion of the control circuit shares an n-well (NW) with a portion of at least one of the two or more SBLSs.
An integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
- a first N-well (NW) at an intersection of a vertical axis and a horizontal axis;
- a second NW along the horizontal axis on a first side of the vertical axis;
- a third NW along the horizontal axis on a second side of the vertical axis;
- a first power supply node configured to have a first power supply voltage;
- and
- a second power supply node configured to have a second power supply voltage;
- a third power supply node configured to have a third power supply voltage;
- an input circuit configured to receive an input signal in a first voltage domain, the input circuit including:
- a first PMOS transistor in the first NW and including a first source/drain (S/D) terminal coupled to the first power supply node;
- and
- a second PMOS transistor in the first NW and including a second S/D terminal coupled to the first power supply node;
- and
- at least two single bit level shifters (SBLSs) including:
- a first SBLS that includes a third PMOS transistor in the second NW and including a third S/D terminal coupled to the second power supply node;
- and
- a second SBLS that includes a fourth PMOS transistor in the third NW and including a fourth S/D terminal coupled to the second power supply node;
- wherein the first SBLS and the second SBLS are configured to receive corresponding input signals from the input circuit and convert the corresponding input signals from the first voltage domain to a second voltage domain;
- and
- a control circuit, electrically coupled to the first SBLS and the second SBLS, configured to toggle the first SBLS and the second SBLS between a normal mode and a standby mode according to a toggle-control signal.
A method of operating multiple single-bit level shifters (SBLSs) the method comprising:
- receiving first and second power supply voltages, the second power supply voltage being between the first power supply voltage and a third power supply voltage;
- receiving, at two or more input circuits electrically connected to the first power supply voltage, inputs from a first voltage domain that operates at the first power supply voltage;
- outputting, from the two or more input circuits, versions of the inputs from the first voltage domain to two or more corresponding SBLSs that operate in a second voltage domain and are electrically connected to the second power supply voltage;
- converting, correspondingly by the two or more SBLSs, the versions of the inputs from the first voltage domain to the second voltage domain;
- receiving, at each of the two or more corresponding SBLSs, a toggle-control signal from a control circuit that partially shares an N-well (NW) with a portion of at least one of the two or more SBLSs;
- and
- toggling, based upon the toggle-control signal, the two or more corresponding SBLSs between a normal mode and a standby mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.