US 11,876,514 B2 · Optocoupler circuit with level shifter

Abstract

In an optocoupler circuit, a first direction path, which transmits signals from a first to a second terminal, includes a first level shifter, a second level shifter, and a first optocoupler. The first level shifter receives a first input signal at the first terminal, and shifts a voltage level of the first input signal to a first shifted voltage level with respect to a first ground level in a first power domain, to provide a first shifted signal. The first optocoupler receives the first shifted signal, and generates a first optocoupler signal in response to the first shifted signal. The second level shifter receives the first optocoupler signal, and shifts a voltage level of the first optocoupler signal to a second shifted voltage level with respect to a second ground level in a second power domain, to provide a second shifted signal at the second terminal.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An optocoupler circuit comprising:

a first direction path configured to transmit signals from a first terminal to a second terminal;
and
a second direction path configured to transmit signals from the second terminal to the first terminal;
wherein the first direction path comprises:
a first level shifter configured to receive a first input signal at the first terminal, and shift a voltage level of the first input signal to a first shifted voltage level with respect to a first ground level in a first power domain, to provide a first shifted signal;
a first optocoupler configured to receive the first shifted signal, and generate a first optocoupler signal in response to the first shifted signal;
and
a second level shifter configured to receive the first optocoupler signal, and shift a voltage level of the first optocoupler signal to a second shifted voltage level with respect to a second ground level in a second power domain, to provide a second shifted signal at the second terminal.

5 more elements

A bidirectional optocoupler circuit configured to convey signals between a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is configured with a first voltage level and a first ground level in a first power domain, and the second terminal is configured with a second voltage level and a second ground level in a second power domain, wherein the bidirectional optocoupler circuit comprises:

a first level shifter connected to the first terminal, and configured to shift the first voltage level of an input signal at the first terminal to an intermediate voltage level with respect to the first ground level as a first shifted signal;
an optocoupler having an input terminal connected to the first level shifter, and operable with the intermediate voltage level to transfer the first shifted input signal at the input terminal to an optocoupler signal at an output terminal;
and
a second level shifter connected to the output terminal of the optocoupler, and configured to shift the optocoupler signal into the second voltage level with respect to the second ground level as an output signal at the second terminal.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optocoupler circuit with level shifter

Life of this patent

Optocoupler circuit with level shifter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17