Programmable input/output driver circuit capable of operating at a variety of voltage levels and having a programmable pullup/pulldown function

An input/output driver circuit for receiving an input voltage and driving an output voltage wherein said input voltage and said output voltage are programable to a pair of voltages, comprising:

• an input/output conductor;
• an output driver circuit coupled to said input/output conductor for driving said output voltage upon said input/output conductor wherein said output driver circuit is selectively powered, during use, with one of a pair of power supply voltages;
• an input receiver circuit coupled to said input/output conductor for receiving said input voltage from said input/output conductor;
• a first level translator circuit, a second level translator circuit, and a selection circuit are operable connected in series to the output driver circuit, wherein said first level translator circuit is configured to translate a first signal having a voltage swing between a first voltage and a second voltage to a second signal having a voltage swing between said first voltage and a third voltage;
• said selection circuit coupled to receive said first signal and said second signal, wherein said selection circuit is configured to select between said first signal and said second signal and to convey a selected signal to said second level translator circuit;
• and
• said second level translator circuit coupled to receive said selected signal, wherein said second level translator circuit is configured to translate said selected signal to a third signal having a voltage swing between said one of said pair of power supply voltages and said third voltage, and wherein said second level translator circuit is configured to convey said third signal to said output driver circuit.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a core section configured to perform a predetermined set of functions;
• and
• an input/output section coupled to said core section wherein said input/output section includes a plurality of output driver circuits, wherein each of said output driver circuits includes:
• a power supply conductor powered, during use, to one of a pair of power supply voltages;
• a ground conductor powered, during use, to a ground voltage;
• an output conductor;
• a first driving transistor coupled to said power supply conductor;
• a pullup transistor coupled in parallel with said first driving transistor;
• a first isolation transistor coupled in series between said output conductor and said parallel-connected first driving transistor and pullup transistor;
• a second isolation transistor coupled to said output conductor;
• a second driving transistor coupled between said second isolation transistor and said ground conductor;
• a first reference voltage conductor coupled to a gate terminal of said first isolation transistor wherein said first reference voltage conductor is powered, during use, to a first reference voltage;
• a second reference voltage conductor coupled to a gate terminal of said second isolation transistor wherein said second reference voltage conductor is powered, during use, to a second reference voltage;
• and
• a pullup conductor coupled to a gate terminal of said pullup transistor wherein said pullup conductor is powered, during use, with one of a pair of pullup voltages.

An output driver circuit for producing an output voltage programmable to a pair of output voltages, comprising:

• a first power supply conductor which is powered, during use, to a first power supply voltage;
• a second power supply conductor which is powered, during use, to a second power supply voltage;
• an output conductor;
• a driving transistor coupled to said first power supply conductor;
• a first transistor coupled in parallel with said driving transistor;
• an isolation transistor coupled in series between said output conductor and said parallel-connected driving transistor and first transistor;
• a second transistor coupled to said second power supply conductor and further coupled to a node comprising the coupling between said isolation transistor and said parallel-connected driving transistor and first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of said second transistor is selectably powered to said second power supply voltage and to a ground voltage;
• a reference voltage conductor coupled to a gate terminal of said isolation transistor wherein said reference conductor is powered, during use, to a reference voltage;
• and
• a first conductor coupled to a gate terminal of said first transistor wherein said first conductor is selectively powered, during use, to one of a pair of voltages.