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US 2004/0169543 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for level shifting
AssigneesInteruniversitair Micro-Elektronica Centrum (IMEC vzw), Universitait Gent, Asulab S.A.
InventorsJan Doutreloigne, Joachim Grupp, Rolf Klappert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A level-shifter architecture with high-voltage driving capability and extremely low power consumption, exploiting dynamic control of the charge on the gate electrodes of the high-voltage output transistors, is provided. The architecture can be integrated in CMOS technology and can be applied to various applications, including monolithic integration of high-voltage display driver circuits in battery-powered applications.
Claims2
An apparatus for providing an output voltage, comprising:
- an output circuit being adapted for outputting an output signal having a first signal range, said output circuit comprising a first part and a second part, each of said first part and second part having an input terminal, wherein each of said first part and said second part of said output circuit is connected at one side to third voltage level and said first signal range being between a third voltage level and a fourth voltage level;
- and
- at least one input circuit, said at least one input circuit being adapted for inputting an input signal having a second signal range and at least a two-level strobe voltage, said input signal comprising at least a two-level input voltage, and second signal range being lower than said first signal range, said at least one input circuit being further adapted for setting a first at least one of said input terminals to a voltage level related to said input voltage when a strobe voltage is set to a first voltage level, and said input circuit being further adapted for electrically isolating a second at least one of said input terminals when said strobe voltage is set to a second voltage level, wherein said second at least one of said input terminals may include said first at least one of said input terminals, said at least one input circuit further comprises:
- a switch, said switch having a first end connected to said third voltage level and a second end connected to a third at least one of said input terminals and said switch being adapted for setting said third at least one of said input terminals to said third voltage when the switch is active;
- and
- a one-way conducting element, said one-way conducting element connected to said third at least one of said input terminals and to said second end of said switch and said one-way conducting element being adapted for setting said third at least one of said input terminals to a voltage level lower than said third voltage level when said switch is inactive, wherein said third at least one of said input terminals may include one of said first at least one of said input terminals and said second at least one of said input terminals.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.