Low leakage level shifter
AssigneeSkyworks Solutions, Inc.
InventorsVinay Kundur, Christopher Donald Nilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A level shifter having: an input configured to receive an input signal, an output configured to provide an output signal, a voltage rail configured to provide a rail voltage, at least two diodes including a first and second diode connected in series between the voltage rail and the input, at least three switches, and a capacitor. The at least three switches include a first switch coupled between the voltage rail and the output of the first diode, a second switch coupled between the voltage rail and the output of the second diode, and a third switch coupled between the voltage rail and the input. The capacitor is coupled between the output of the second diode and ground.
Claims19
A level shifter comprising:
- an input connection configured to receive an input signal;
- an output connection configured to provide an output signal;
- a voltage rail configured to provide a rail voltage;
- at least two diodes including a first diode and a second diode connected in series between the voltage rail and the input connection;
- at least three switches including a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch, the first switch being coupled between the voltage rail and an output of the first diode, the second switch coupled between the voltage rail and an output of the second diode, and the third switch coupled between the voltage rail and the input connection;
- and
- a capacitor coupled between the output of the second diode and ground.
A level shifter comprising:
- an input connection;
- an output connection;
- a first node configured to provide a voltage;
- a plurality of current-blocking circuit elements configured to allow current to pass from the first node to the input connection but not from the input connection to the first node, the plurality of current-blocking circuit elements being coupled in series with respect to each other between the input connection and the first node;
- a plurality of switches, each switch of the plurality of switches having a respective first terminal directly coupled to the first node, and each current-blocking circuit element of the plurality of current-blocking circuit elements having at least one terminal coupled directly to a respective second terminal of one respective switch of the plurality of switches;
- and
- a capacitor coupled to the plurality of current-blocking circuit elements and the input connection.
A level shifter comprising:
- an input connection;
- and output connection;
- a first inverter having a first inverter input and a first inverter output;
- a second inverter having a second inverter input and a second inverter output, the first inverter coupled to the input connection via the first inverter input and coupled to the second inverter input via the first inverter output, the second inverter coupled to the output connection via the second inverter output;
- a plurality of diodes coupled between a voltage rail and the input connection;
- a capacitor coupled between the input connection and ground;
- and
- a plurality of switching devices coupled to the voltage rail, each respective control input for each respective switching device of the plurality of switching devices being coupled to the first inverter via the first inverter output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.