US 7,466,184 B2 · Level shifter

Abstract

A device for shifting the level of a first signal of relatively low amplitude which is a function of a first supply voltage to a second signal of relatively high amplitude which is a function of a second supply voltage, comprising, between a first terminal of application of the second supply voltage and a first input terminal, a branch of two transistors of opposite types in series, having their junction point defining an output terminal, the respective control terminals of the transistors being connected to terminals of application of relatively high and low bias voltages by first resistive elements, a second input terminal, receiving the inverse of the signal applied on the first terminal, being connected to each of the control terminals of the transistors by first capacitive elements and the first input terminal being connected to each of the terminals of application of the bias voltages by second capacitive elements in series with second resistive elements.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A device for shifting a level of a first signal of relatively low amplitude which is a function of a first supply voltage to a second signal of relatively high amplitude which is a function of a second supply voltage, comprising, between a first supply terminal of application of the second supply voltage and a first input terminal, a branch of two transistors of opposite types in series, having their junction point defining an output terminal, respective control terminals of the transistors being coupled to terminals of application of relatively high and low bias voltages by first resistive elements, a second input terminal, receiving an inverse of a signal applied on the first input terminal, being coupled to each of the control terminals of the transistors by first capacitive elements and the first input terminal being coupled to each of the terminals of application of the bias voltages by second capacitive elements in series with second resistive elements.

A system, comprising:

a first circuit block to provide a first signal;
a second circuit block to receive a second signal;
and
a lever shifter circuit coupled between the first and second circuit blocks to shift a level of said first signal to provide said second signal, the lever shifter circuit including:
a first branch coupled between a first input terminal and a first supply terminal, the first branch including first transistor of a first conductivity type coupled to a second transistor of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, a first junction point of said first and second transistors defining a first output terminal, a control terminal of the first transistor being coupled to a first bias voltage and a control terminal of the second transistor being coupled to a second bias voltage;
a first pair of capacitors to respectively couple a second input terminal, adapted to receive an inverse of a signal provided to the first input terminal, to said control terminals of the first and second transistors;
and
a second pair of capacitors to respectively couple the first input terminal to said first and second bias voltages.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Level shifter

Life of this patent

Level shifter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23