US 2003/0117207 A1 · Level shifter having plurality of outputs

Abstract

A level shifter for generating a plurality of output voltages having a plurality of levels to interface a low voltage circuit with a high voltage circuit is provided. The level shifter includes a first level shifter for receiving an input signal and a first power supply and outputting a first output voltage having a level the same as that of a ground voltage or the first power supply according to the input signal, a first control signal having a value in which the first output voltage is inverted, and a second control signal having the same value as that of the first output voltage, and an output voltage generator for receiving the first power supply and a second power supply having a level different from that of the first power supply and outputting a second output voltage having a level equivalent to either the first power supply or the second power supply according to the first and second control signals. The level shifter can output voltages having levels different according to a power supply applied to one level shifter, and thus, interface a low voltage circuit with a high voltage circuit can be very easily made and various applications thereof are possible.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A level shifter comprising:

a first level shifter for receiving an input signal and a first power supply and outputting a first output voltage having a level the same as that of a ground voltage or the first power supply according to the input signal, a first control signal having a value in which the first output voltage is inverted, and a second control signal having the same value as that of the first output voltage;
and
an output voltage generator for receiving the first power supply and a second power supply having a level different from that of the first power supply and outputting a second output voltage having a level equivalent to either the first power supply or the second power supply according to the first and second control signals.

A level shifter comprising:

first and second transistors, first and second terminals of the first and second transistors are cross-coupled, and a first power supply is applied to third terminals of the first and second transistors;
a controller for outputting first and second control signals having a predetermined voltage level in response to an input signal;
a third transistor, a second power supply is applied to a third terminal of the third transistor, the first terminal of the first transistor and the first control signal are connected to a second terminal of the third transistor, which generates a second output voltage having a plurality of voltage levels to the first terminal of the third transistor in response to the first control signal;
and
a fourth transistor, the first power supply is applied to a third terminal of the fourth transistor, a first terminal of the fourth transistor is connected to the first terminal of the third transistor, a second terminal of the fourth transistor is connected to the first terminal of the second transistor and the second control signal, which generates the second output voltage to the first terminal of the fourth transistor in response to the second control signal.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Level shifter having plurality of outputs

Life of this patent

Level shifter having plurality of outputs

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12