# US 7,609,186 B1 · Circuit for converting a voltage range of a logic signal

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- Number: US 7,609,186 B1
- Document ID: US7609186B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 11/836,584
- Filed: 2007-08-09
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2006-08-09
- Assignees: Marvell International Ltd.
- Inventors: Francesco Rezzi; Nicola Ghittori; Giovanni Antonio Cesura; Shafiq M. Jamal
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609186B1

## CPC

- H03K 19/018528: {with at least one differential stage}
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)

## Abstract

In a circuit to convert a first logic signal having a first range to a second logic signal having a second range, a first transistor selectively couples an output node to a first reference voltage when the output node is to be in a first state. A second transistor selectively discharges the output node toward a second reference voltage via a resistor when the output node is to transition from the first state to a second state, the second state being a logical complement of the first state. A source-follower circuit has a source follower output coupled to the output node and has a dynamic current source, the dynamic current source having a control input coupled to the resistor. A third transistor selectively couples the source follower output to the dynamic current source when the output node is to be in the second state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A circuit to convert a first logic signal having a first range to a second logic signal having a second range, comprising:
a first transistor to selectively couple an output node to a first reference voltage when the output node is to be in a first state;
a resistor coupled to a second reference voltage;
a second transistor to selectively discharge the output node toward the second reference voltage via the resistor when the output node is to transition from the first state to a second state, the second state being a logical complement of the first state;
a source-follower circuit having a source follower output coupled to the output node and having a dynamic current source, the dynamic current source having a control input coupled to the resistor; and
a third transistor to selectively couple the source follower output to the dynamic current source when the output node is to be in the second state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A circuit according to claim 1, wherein the resistor comprises at least one of a diffused resistor, a polysilicon resistor, a well resistor, and a MOS transistor operating at least partially in a triode region.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A circuit according to claim 2, wherein the dynamic current source comprises a voltage controlled current source.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A circuit according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic current source comprises a voltage controlled current source.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A circuit according to claim 1, wherein a gate of the first transistor is coupled to a first control signal;
wherein a gate of the second transistor is coupled to a second control signal, the second control signal being a logical complement of the first control signal;
wherein a gate of the third transistor is coupled to the first control signal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A circuit according to claim 5, further comprising a flip-flop having an input, a first output, and a second output, the second output being a complement of the first output;
wherein the first logic signal is coupled to the input of the flip-flop;
wherein the first output of the flip-flop is coupled to the gate of the second transistor;
wherein the second output of the flip-flop is coupled to the gate of the first transistor;
wherein the second output of the flip-flop is coupled to the gate of the third transistor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A circuit according to claim 5, further comprising an inverter having an input coupled to the first logic signal and an output;
wherein the first logic signal is coupled to the gate of the second transistor;
wherein the output of the inverter is coupled to the gate of the first transistor;
wherein the output of the inverter is coupled to the gate of the third transistor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A circuit according to claim 1, wherein the source-follower circuit comprises a fourth transistor having a source coupled to the output node, a drain coupled to the first reference voltage, and a gate coupled to a bias voltage.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A circuit according to claim 8, wherein the resistor comprises a fifth transistor coupled in series with the second transistor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A circuit according to claim 9, wherein the dynamic current source comprises:
a sixth transistor coupled in series with the third transistor and coupled to the second reference voltage;
a reference current source;
a seventh transistor coupled in series with the reference current source and with the fifth transistor, wherein a gate of the seventh transistor is coupled to a drain of the seventh transistor and with a gate of the sixth transistor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A circuit according to claim 10, wherein a gate of the fifth transistor is coupled to the gate of the seventh transistor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A circuit according to claim 11, wherein a source of the first transistor is coupled to the first reference voltage, and a drain of the first transistor is coupled to the output node;
wherein a source of the second transistor is coupled to the output node, and a drain of the second transistor is coupled to a drain of the fifth transistor;
wherein a drain of the third transistor is coupled to a source of the fourth transistor, and a source of the third transistor is coupled to a drain of the sixth transistor;
wherein a drain of the seventh transistor is coupled to the reference current source and a source of the seventh transistor is coupled to a drain of the fifth transistor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A circuit according to claim 12, wherein the first transistor is a p-channel MOS (PMOS) transistor;
wherein the second transistor is a PMOS transistor;
wherein the third transistor is an n-channel MOS (NMOS) transistor;
wherein the fourth transistor is an NMOS transistor;
wherein the fifth transistor is an NMOS transistor;
wherein the sixth transistor is an NMOS transistor; and
wherein the seventh transistor is an NMOS transistor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A circuit according to claim 13, wherein a gate of the first transistor is coupled to a first control signal;
wherein a gate of the second transistor is coupled to a second control signal, the second control signal being a logical complement of the first control signal;
wherein a gate of the third transistor is coupled to the first control signal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A circuit according to claim 1, wherein the source-follower circuit is configured to keep a voltage of the output node in the second state at a desired steady-state voltage, wherein the desired steady-state voltage is a voltage in an approximate range of 100 millivolts to 350 millivolts.

### Claim 16

A circuit to convert a first logic signal having a first range to a pair of complementary second logic signals having a second range, comprising:
a first transistor to selectively couple a first output node to a first reference voltage when the first output node is to be in a first state;
a resistor coupled to a second reference voltage;
a second transistor to selectively discharge the first output node toward the second reference voltage via the resistor when the first output node is to transition from the first state to a second state, the second state being a logical complement of the first state;
a first source-follower circuit having a source follower output coupled to the first output node;
a third transistor to selectively couple a second output node to the first reference voltage when the second output node is to be in the first state;
a fourth transistor to selectively discharge the second output node toward the second reference voltage via the resistor when the second output node is to transition from the first state to the second state;
a second source-follower circuit having a source follower output coupled to the second output node;
a dynamic current source having a control input coupled to the resistor;
a fifth transistor to selectively couple the source follower output of the first source follower circuit to the dynamic current source when the first output node is to be in the second state; and
a sixth transistor to selectively couple the source follower output of the second source-follower circuit to the dynamic current source when the second output node is to be in the second state.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A circuit according to claim 16, wherein the resistor comprises at least one of a diffused resistor, a polysilicon resistor, a well resistor, and a MOS transistor operating at least partially in a triode region.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A circuit according to claim 17, wherein the dynamic current source comprises a voltage controlled current source.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

A circuit according to claim 16, wherein the dynamic current source comprises a voltage controlled current source.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

A circuit according to claim 16, wherein a gate of the first transistor is coupled to a first control signal;
wherein a gate of the second transistor is coupled to a second control signal, the second control signal being a logical complement of the first control signal;
wherein a gate of the third transistor is coupled to the second control signal;
wherein a gate of the fourth transistor is coupled to the first control signal;
wherein a gate of the fifth transistor is coupled to the first control signal;
wherein a gate of the sixth transistor is coupled to the second control signal.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

A circuit according to claim 20, further comprising a flip-flop having an input, a first output, and a second output, the second output being a complement of the first output;
wherein the first logic signal is coupled to the input of the flip-flop;
wherein the first output of the flip-flop is coupled to the gate of the second transistor;
wherein the second output of the flip-flop is coupled to the gate of the first transistor;
wherein the first output of the flip-flop is coupled to the gate of the third transistor;
wherein the second output of the flip-flop is coupled to the gate of the fourth transistor;
wherein the second output of the flip-flop is coupled to the gate of the fifth transistor;
wherein the first output of the flip-flop is coupled to the gate of the sixth transistor.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

A circuit according to claim 20, further comprising an inverter having an input coupled to the first logic signal and an output;
wherein the output of the inverter is coupled to the gate of the first transistor;
wherein the first logic signal is coupled to the gate of the second transistor;
wherein the first logic signal is coupled to the gate of the third transistor;
wherein the output of the inverter is coupled to the gate of the fourth transistor;
wherein the output of the inverter is coupled to the gate of the fifth transistor;
wherein the first logic signal is coupled to the gate of the sixth transistor.

### Claim 23 (depends on 16)

A circuit according to claim 16, wherein the first source-follower circuit comprises a seventh transistor having a source coupled to the first output node, a drain coupled to the first reference voltage, and a gate coupled to a bias voltage;
wherein the second source-follower circuit comprises an eighth transistor having a source coupled to the second output node, a drain coupled to the first reference voltage, and a gate coupled to the bias voltage.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

A circuit according to claim 23, wherein the resistor comprises a ninth transistor coupled in series with the second transistor and coupled in series with the fourth transistor.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A circuit according to claim 24, wherein the dynamic current source comprises:
a tenth transistor coupled in series with the fifth transistor, coupled in series with the sixth transistor, and coupled to the second reference voltage;
a reference current source;
an eleventh transistor coupled in series with the reference current source and with the ninth transistor, wherein a gate of the eleventh transistor is coupled to a drain of the eleventh transistor and with a gate of the tenth transistor.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

A circuit according to claim 25, wherein a gate of the ninth transistor is coupled to the gate of the eleventh transistor.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

A circuit according to claim 26, wherein a source of the first transistor is coupled to the first reference voltage, and a drain of the first transistor is coupled to the first output node;
wherein a source of the second transistor is coupled to the first output node, and a drain of the second transistor is coupled to a drain of the ninth transistor;
wherein a source of the third transistor is coupled to the first reference voltage, and a drain of the third transistor is coupled to the second output node;
wherein a source of the fourth transistor is coupled to the second output node, and a drain of the fourth transistor is coupled to the drain of the ninth transistor;
wherein a drain of the fifth transistor is coupled to a source of the seventh transistor, and a source of the fifth transistor is coupled to a drain of the tenth transistor;
wherein a drain of the sixth transistor is coupled to a source of the eighth transistor, and a source of the sixth transistor is coupled to the drain of the tenth transistor;
wherein a drain of the eleventh transistor is coupled to the reference current source and a source of the eleventh transistor is coupled to a drain of the ninth transistor.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

A circuit according to claim 27, wherein the first transistor is a p-channel MOS (PMOS) transistor;
wherein the second transistor is a PMOS transistor;
wherein the third transistor is a PMOS transistor;
wherein the fourth transistor is a PMOS transistor;
wherein the fifth transistor is an n-channel MOS (NMOS) transistor;
wherein the sixth transistor is an NMOS transistor;
wherein the seventh transistor is an NMOS transistor;
wherein the eighth transistor is an NMOS transistor;
wherein the ninth transistor is an NMOS transistor;
wherein the tenth transistor is an NMOS transistor; and
wherein the eleventh transistor is an NMOS transistor.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

A circuit according to claim 28, wherein a gate of the first transistor is coupled to a first control signal;
wherein a gate of the second transistor is coupled to a second control signal, the second control signal being a logical complement of the first control signal;
wherein a gate of the third transistor is coupled to the second control signal;
wherein a gate of the fourth transistor is coupled to the first control signal;
wherein a gate of the fifth transistor is coupled to the first control signal;
wherein a gate of the sixth transistor is coupled to the second control signal.

### Claim 30 (depends on 16)

A circuit according to claim 16, wherein the first source-follower circuit is configured to keep a voltage of the first output node in the second state at a desired steady-state voltage, wherein the desired steady-state voltage is a voltage in an approximate range of 100 millivolts to 350 millivolts;
wherein the second source-follower circuit is configured to keep a voltage of the second output node in the second state at the desired steady-state voltage.

### Claim 31

A circuit to convert a first logic signal having a first range to at least one second logic signal having a second range, comprising:
a first p-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor having a gate coupled to a first control signal, a source coupled to a first reference voltage, and a drain coupled to a first output node;
a resistor coupled to a second reference voltage;
a second PMOS transistor having a gate coupled to a second control signal, the second control signal being a logical complement of the first control signal, the second PMOS transistor having a source coupled to the first output node and a drain coupled to the resistor;
a first n-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor having a gate coupled to a bias voltage, a source coupled to the first output node, and a drain coupled to the first reference voltage;
a dynamic current source having a control input coupled to the resistor; and
a second NMOS transistor having a gate coupled to the first control signal, a source coupled to the dynamic current source, and a drain coupled to the first output node;
wherein a steady-state voltage of the first output node when the first control signal is HIGH is a voltage within the range 100 millivolts and 350 millivolts, inclusive.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

A circuit according to claim 31, wherein the circuit is to convert the first logic signal to a pair of complementary second logic signals having the second range, the circuit further comprising:
a third PMOS transistor having a gate coupled to the second control signal, a source coupled to the first reference voltage, and a drain coupled to a second output node;
a fourth PMOS transistor having a gate coupled to the first control signal, a source coupled to the second output node, and a drain coupled to the resistor;
a third NMOS transistor having a gate coupled to the bias voltage, a source coupled to the second output node, and a drain coupled to the first reference voltage;
a fourth NMOS transistor having a gate coupled to the second control signal, a source coupled to the dynamic current source, and a drain coupled to the second output node;
wherein a steady-state voltage of the second output node when the first control signal is LOW is a voltage within the range 100 millivolts to 350 millivolts, inclusive.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

A circuit according to claim 32, further comprising a flip-flop having an input, a first output, and a second output, the second output being a complement of the first output;
wherein the first logic signal is coupled to the input of the flip-flop;
wherein the first output of the flip-flop is coupled to the gate of the second PMOS transistor, the gate of the third PMOS transistor, and the gate of the fourth NMOS transistor;
wherein the second output of the flip-flop is coupled to the gate of the first PMOS transistor, the gate of the fourth PMOS transistor, and the gate of the second NMOS transistor.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

A circuit according to claim 32, further comprising an inverter having an input coupled to the first logic signal and an output;
wherein the first logic signal is coupled to the gate of the second PMOS transistor, the gate of the third PMOS transistor, and the gate of the fourth NMOS transistor;
wherein the output of the inverter is coupled to the gate of the first PMOS transistor, the gate of the fourth PMOS transistor, and the gate of the second NMOS transistor.

### Claim 35

A cell of a current steering digital-to-analog converter, comprising:
a cell current source;
a first transistor coupled in series with the current source and coupled to a current summing line;
a second transistor coupled in series with the cell current source and coupled to a reference node;
a driver circuit having an input, a first output coupled to a gate of the first transistor, and a second output coupled to a gate of the second transistor;
wherein the driver circuit comprises:
a third transistor to selectively couple the first output of the driver circuit to a first reference voltage when the first output of the driver circuit is to be in a first state;
a resistor coupled to a second reference voltage;
a fourth transistor to selectively discharge the first output of the driver circuit toward the second reference voltage via the resistor when the first output of the driver circuit is to transition from the first state to a second state, the second state being a logical complement of the first state;
a first source-follower circuit having a source follower output coupled to the first output of the driver circuit;
a fifth transistor to selectively couple the second output of the driver circuit to the first reference voltage when the second output of the driver circuit is to be in the first state;
a sixth transistor to selectively discharge the second output of the driver circuit toward the second reference voltage via the resistor when the second output of the driver circuit is to transition from the first state to the second state;
a second source-follower circuit having a source follower output coupled to the second output of the driver circuit;
a dynamic current source having a control input coupled to the resistor;
a seventh transistor to selectively couple the source follower output of the first source follower circuit to the dynamic current source when the first output of the driver circuit is to be in the second state; and
an eighth transistor to selectively couple the source follower output of the second source-follower circuit to the dynamic current source when the second output of the driver circuit is to be in the second state;
wherein a steady-state voltage of the first output of the driver circuit when the first control signal is HIGH is a voltage within the range 100 millivolts to 350 millivolts, inclusive;
wherein a steady-state voltage of the second output of the driver circuit when the second control signal is HIGH is a voltage within the range 100 millivolts to 350 millivolts, inclusive.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

A circuit according to claim 35, where the driver circuit further comprises a flip-flop having an input, a first output, and a second output, the second output being a complement of the first output;
wherein the input of the driver circuit is the input of the flip-flop;
wherein the first output of the flip-flop is coupled to a gate of the fourth transistor, a gate of the fifth transistor, and a gate of the eighth transistor;
wherein the second output of the flip-flop is coupled to a gate of the third transistor, a gate of the sixth transistor, and a gate of the seventh transistor.

### Claim 37 (depends on 35)

A circuit according to claim 35, where the driver circuit further comprises an inverter having an input and an output;
wherein the input of the inverter is coupled to the input of the driver circuit;
wherein the input of the driver circuit is coupled to a gate of the fourth transistor, a gate of the fifth transistor, and a gate of the eighth transistor;
wherein the output of the inverter is coupled to a gate of the third transistor, a gate of the sixth transistor, and a gate of the seventh transistor.