Level shifting circuit

An array circuit, comprising:

• an array of devices, wherein a plurality of devices of the array each comprise at least one high voltage switch;
• a controller configured to generate a plurality of first control signals for controlling the array of devices;
• and
• an array of level shifters, each level shifter configured to receive one of the first control signals from the controller as an input voltage, to generate one of a plurality of second control signals as an output voltage, and to provide the output voltage to one of the array of devices, wherein the level shifters each comprise:
• a first stage input circuit configured to receive the input voltage and generate a second voltage, wherein the second voltage varies between a first low voltage and a first high voltage, and wherein the first stage input circuit comprises a plurality of low voltage threshold switches,
• a first stage output circuit configured to receive the second voltage and to generate a third voltage, wherein the third voltage varies between the first low voltage and a second high voltage, and wherein the first stage output circuit comprises a first plurality of medium voltage switches,
• a second stage input circuit configured to receive the third voltage and to generate a fourth voltage, wherein the fourth voltage varies between a second low voltage and the second high voltage, and wherein the second stage input circuit comprises a second plurality of medium voltage switches, wherein the second low voltage is greater than the first low voltage,
• a second stage output circuit configured to receive the fourth voltage and generate a fifth voltage, wherein the fifth voltage varies between the second low voltage and a third high voltage, and wherein the second stage output circuit comprises a third plurality of medium voltage switches, and
• a buffering circuit configured to receive the fifth voltage and to generate the output voltage, wherein the output voltage varies between a third low voltage and the third high voltage.

A method of using a level shifter circuit, the method comprising:

• with a first stage input circuit comprising a plurality of low voltage threshold switches:
• receiving an input voltage, and
• generating a second voltage based in part on the input voltage, wherein the second voltage varies between a first low voltage and a first high voltage;
• with a first stage output circuit comprising a first plurality of medium voltage switches:
• receiving the second voltage, and
• generating a third voltage based in part on the second voltage, wherein the third voltage varies between the first low voltage and a second high voltage;
• with a second stage input circuit comprising a second plurality of medium voltage switches:
• receiving the third voltage, and
• generating a fourth voltage based in part on the third voltage, wherein the fourth voltage varies between a second low voltage and the second high voltage, wherein the second low voltage is greater than the first low voltage;
• with a second stage output circuit comprising a third plurality of medium voltage switches:
• receiving the fourth voltage, and
• generating a fifth voltage based in part on the fourth voltage, wherein the fifth voltage varies between the second low voltage and a third high voltage;
• and
• with a buffering circuit:
• receiving the fifth voltage, and
• generating an output voltage based in part on the fifth voltage, wherein the output voltage varies between a third low voltage and the third high voltage.