US 2017/0012628 A1Published application

Level shifter and approach therefor

AssigneeNXP B.V.

InventorsKristof Blutman, Ajay Kapoor, Jose Pineda de Gyvez, Arnoud van der Wel

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Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to communications between respective power domains (circuitry) that may operate in a stacked arrangement in which the each domain operates over a different voltage range. A first circuit provides differential outputs that vary between first and second voltage levels, based on transitions of an input signal received from a first one of the power domains. First and second driver circuits are respectively coupled to the first and second differential outputs. A third driver circuit operates with the first and second circuits to level-shift the input signal from the first power domain to an output signal on a second power domain by driving an output circuit at the second voltage level in response to the input signal being at the first voltage level, and driving the output circuit at a third voltage level in response to the input signal being at the second voltage level.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a first circuit configured and arranged to provide differential outputs that vary between first and second voltage levels, based on transitions of an input signal received from a first power domain that operates between the first and second voltage levels;
a second circuit having first and second driver circuits coupled to a voltage rail configured and arranged to operate at the second voltage level, the first driver circuit being coupled to a first one of the differential outputs and the second driver circuit being coupled to a second one of the differential outputs;
and
a third driver circuit coupled to a voltage rail configured and arranged to operate at a third voltage level, the second voltage level being between the first and third voltage levels, the third driver circuit being and configured and arranged with the first and second circuits to level-shift the input signal from the first power domain to an output signal on a second power domain that operates between the second and third voltage levels by
driving an output circuit at the second voltage level in response to the input signal being at the first voltage level, and
driving the output circuit at the third voltage level in response to the input signal being at the second voltage level.

3 more elements

A method comprising:

providing differential outputs that vary between first and second voltage levels, based on transitions of an input signal received from a first power domain that operates between the first and second voltage levels;
level shifting the input signal from the first power domain to an output signal on a second power domain that operates between the second and third voltage levels by, using first and second driver circuits coupled to a first voltage rail that operates at the second voltage level, in which the first driver circuit is coupled to a first one of the differential outputs and the second driver circuit is coupled to a second one of the differential outputs, and using a third driver circuit coupled to a second voltage rail that operate at a third voltage level in which the second voltage level is between the first and third voltage levels,
driving an output circuit at the second voltage level in response to the input signal being at the first voltage level, and
driving the output circuit at the third voltage level in response to the input signal being at the second voltage level.

1 more element

An apparatus comprising:

a first circuit configured and arranged to operate under a first power domain having a first voltage range;
a second circuit configured and arranged to operate under a second power domain having a second voltage range;
and
a level shifter circuit connected to the first circuit and to the second circuit, the level shifter circuit being configured and arranged to
pass communications directly between the first and second circuits in a flat mode in which the first and second voltage ranges are common,
level-shift a voltage level of communications passed between the first and second circuits in a stacked mode in which the first and second voltage ranges are different by:
providing differential outputs that vary between first and second voltage levels, based on transitions of an input signal received from a first power domain that operates between the first and second voltage levels, and
level shifting the input signal from the first power domain to an output signal on a second power domain that operates between second and third voltage levels by
driving an output circuit at the second voltage level in response to the input signal being at the first voltage level, and
driving the output circuit at the third voltage level in response to the input signal being at the second voltage level.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/794,411Filed 8 Jul 2015
Published: 12 Jan 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H03K 19/018514
Interface arrangements: with at least one differential stage
H03K 3/356182
Using complementary field-effect transistors: with additional means for controlling the main nodes
H03K 5/13
Manipulating of pulses not covered by one of the other main groups of this subclass: arrangements having a single output and transforming input…
H03K 19/0185
Coupling arrangements; Interface arrangements: using field effect transistors only