Method and device for high-speed general purpose level-shifting
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorErol Arslan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A level shifter and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the level shifter includes a DC biasing component connected with both an AC coupling component and a high voltage output amplifier. The AC coupling component receives an input signal from a low voltage domain and output a first voltage signal. The DC biasing component is configured to bias the first voltage signal using a bias voltage based on a previous output signal in a high voltage domain. The high voltage output amplifier is configured to amplify the DC biased voltage signal in the high voltage domain and provide an output signal in the high voltage domain.
Claims22
A circuit, comprising:
- an AC coupling component configured to receive an input signal from a low voltage domain and output a first voltage signal;
- a DC biasing component, connected with the AC coupling component, configured to bias the first voltage signal using a bias voltage based on a previous output signal in a high voltage domain;
- and
- a high voltage output amplifier, connected with the DC biasing component, configured to amplify the DC biased voltage signal in the high voltage domain and provide an output signal in the high voltage domain,
- wherein the high voltage domain has a greater maximum operating voltage than the low voltage domain,
- wherein the AC coupling component comprises:
- a first capacitor and a second capacitor, and
- wherein the DC biasing component comprises:
- a first resistor connected with the first capacitor;
- and a second resistor connected with the second capacitor.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A circuit, comprising:
- an AC coupling component configured to split an input signal from a low voltage domain into a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal;
- a DC biasing component configured to bias the first voltage signal with a first varying DC voltage to provide a first DC biased voltage signal and to bias the second voltage signal with a second varying DC voltage to provide a second DC biased voltage signal;
- and
- a high voltage output amplifier, connected with the DC biasing component, configured to amplify the first DC biased voltage signal and the second DC biased voltage signal in a high voltage domain to provide an output signal in the high voltage domain;
- wherein the high voltage domain has a greater maximum operating voltage than the low voltage domain.
A circuit, comprising:
- an AC coupling component configured to split an input signal into a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal;
- a DC biasing component configured to bias the first voltage signal with a first DC voltage to provide a first varying DC biased voltage signal and to bias the second voltage signal with a second varying DC voltage to provide a second DC biased voltage signal, the DC biasing component comprising:
- a first PMOS coupled with a first NMOS and being provided with a first predetermined voltage;
- and
- a second PMOS connected with a second NMOS being provided with a second predetermined voltage;
- wherein the first predetermined voltage is greater than the second predetermined voltage;
- and
- a first voltage output amplifier, connected with the DC biasing component, configured to amplify the first DC biased voltage signal and the second DC biased voltage signal in a first voltage domain to provide an output signal in the first voltage domain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.