Method and apparatus for controlled voltage level shifting
AssigneeMarvell Israel (M.I.S.L) Ltd.
InventorMel Bazes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed technology provides a method of and an apparatus for voltage level shifting. A voltage level shifter includes two level shifting circuits and a differential amplifier. The differential amplifier forms a feedback loop with one level shifting circuit. The feedback loop controls the level shifting operation of both level shifting circuits. The differential amplifier can operate to provide a control signal that causes a level-shifted signal in the feedback loop to match a target signal. The two level shifting circuits can perform their level shifting operation based on the control signal.
Claims18
An electronic device including a memory, comprising:
- a main system that operates at a first operating voltage;
- a voltage level shifter configured to:
- receive a reference signal and an input signal from the main system;
- and
- output a level-shifted reference signal that is based on the received reference signal and a feedback signal generated from the level-shifted reference signal;
- and
- output a level-shifted input signal that is based on the received reference signal and the feedback signal;
- and
- a memory sub-system that operates at a second operating voltage, different from the first operating voltage, and that receives at least the level shifted input signal and the level-shifted reference signal.
A method of voltage level shifting in an electronic device having a memory, comprising:
- receiving a reference signal and an input signal from a main system;
- producing a level-shifted reference signal that is based on the received reference signal and a feedback signal generated from the level-shifted reference signal
- producing a level-shifted input signal that is based on the received reference signal and the feedback signal;
- producing a control signal based on the feedback signal;
- controlling the production of the level shifted reference signal and the production of the level shifted input signal with said control signal;
- and
- operating a memory sub-system using at least the level shifted input signal and the level-shifted reference signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.