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US 8,013,655 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for efficient level shift
AssigneeTexas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
InventorsStefan Herzer, Ferdinand Stettner, Bernhard Wicht
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus is provided that uses a first level shifter for performing a voltage shift of a low level input signal of a first voltage domain to a high level output signal of a second voltage domain. The first level shifter comprises a storing element in the second voltage domain, an input stage coupled to the storing element for providing a signal state to be stored in the storing element and a feedback loop from an output of the storing element to the input stage for controlling the input stage in response to a transition of a high level output signal of the storing element.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- an input stage having a first branch and a second branch;
- a first flip-flop having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal of the first flip-flop that is coupled to the first branch, and wherein the second input terminal of the first flip-flop is coupled to the second branch, and wherein the first flip-flop operates in a first voltage domain;
- a level shifter that is coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop, wherein the level shifter operates in a second voltage domain, and wherein the level shifter includes:
- a reset stage having a first capacitor that is coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop;
- a set stage having a second capacitor that is coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop;
- and
- a second flip-flop having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal of the second flip-flop is coupled to the reset stage, and wherein the second input terminal of the second flip-flop is coupled to the set stage;
- and
- a logic circuit that is coupled to the output terminal of the second flip-flop, the first branch, and the second branch, and that receives an input signal.
6 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a high voltage rail;
- a low voltage rail;
- a control circuit having a first output terminal and a second output terminal, wherein the control circuit is coupled to the low voltage rail;
- a level shifter having:
- an input stage having a first branch and a second branch that are each coupled to the high voltage rail;
- a first flip-flop having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal of the first flip-flop that is coupled to the first branch, and wherein the second input terminal of the first flip-flop is coupled to the second branch, and wherein the first flip-flop is coupled to the high voltage rail;
- a reset stage having a first capacitor that is coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop, wherein the reset stage is coupled to the low voltage rail;
- a set stage having a second capacitor that is coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop, wherein the set stage is coupled to the low voltage rail;
- and
- a second flip-flop having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal of the second flip-flop is coupled to the rest stage, and wherein the second input terminal of the second flip-flop is coupled to the set stage, and wherein the second flip-flop is coupled to the low voltage rail;
- and
- a logic circuit that is coupled to the output terminal of the second flip-flop, the first branch, the second branch, and the first output terminal of the control circuit;
- a high side driver that is coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop;
- a low side driver that is coupled to the second output terminal of the control circuit;
- a current sensing circuit that is adapted to receive a current feedback signal;
- an error amplifier that is adapted to receive a voltage feedback signal;
- and
- a summing comparator that is coupled to the current sensing circuit, the voltage sensing circuit, and the control circuit.
15 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a high voltage rail;
- a low voltage rail;
- an input stage having:
- a first resistor that is coupled to the high voltage rail;
- a first MOS transistor that is coupled to the first resistor at its drain;
- a second resistor that is coupled to the high voltage rail;
- and
- a second MOS transistor that is coupled to the second resistor at its drain;
- a first flip-flop having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal of the first flip-flop that is coupled to the first resistor, and wherein the second input terminal of the first flip-flop is coupled to the second resistor, and wherein the first flip-flop is coupled to the high voltage rail;
- a reset stage having a first capacitor that is coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop, wherein the reset stage is coupled to the low voltage rail;
- a set stage having a second capacitor that is coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop, wherein the set stage is coupled to the low voltage rail;
- and
- a second flip-flop having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal of the second flip-flop is coupled to the rest stage, and wherein the second input terminal of the second flip-flop is coupled to the set stage, and wherein the second flip-flop is coupled to the low voltage rail;
- and
- a logic circuit that is coupled to the output terminal of the second flip-flop, the first branch, the second branch, and that receives an input signal.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.