Level shifter with reduced leakage
AssigneeRalink Technology Corporation
InventorsKeng Leong FONG, I-Chang WU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to the level shifter circuits and more specifically to improved level shifter circuits providing for reduced leakage current and reduced power consumption. In one or more implementations, a method, apparatus and computer program product for level shifting input voltages by minimizing current leakage of a circuit coupled with an improved level shifting circuit is provided for. In one implementation the method includes providing a low voltage domain of the circuit, and providing for turning off the transistor if the low voltage domain of the circuit is not stable, and turning on the transistor if the low voltage domain of the circuit is stable.
Claims21
An apparatus having an improved level shifting circuit including a switching transistor coupled to a level shifting sub-circuit, for minimizing current leakage, the apparatus comprising:
- a switching transistor coupled to a low voltage domain of a coupled circuit wherein the switching transistor is turned off if the low voltage domain of the coupled circuit is not stable, and the switching transistor is turned on if the low voltage domain of the coupled circuit is stable.
An improved level shifting circuit including a switching transistor coupled to a level shifting circuit for minimizing current leakage, the improved circuit comprising:
- a switching transistor capable of switching current to a level shifting circuit electronically coupled and in communication therewith, and switching means providing for turning off the switching transistor if the low voltage domain of the coupled circuit is not stable and turning on the switching transistor if the low voltage domain of the connected circuit is stable.
An electronic circuit providing for reduced current leakage, having configured therein, a circuit for level shifting and a switching transistor in communication with the circuit for level shifting, the electronic circuit comprising:
- the switching transistor for switching current to the circuit for level shifting, an input voltage to the electronic circuit, wherein the switching transistor switches to an “OFF” state if the input voltage is not stable, or to an “ON” state if the input voltage is stable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.