Voltage level shifter

A method of shifting a voltage level voltage level of input signal from an input voltage domain by converting said input signal to a shifted signal in a shifted voltage domain, said method comprising:

• receiving at an input said input signal from said input voltage domain;
• arranging switching circuitry between a voltage rail at a supply voltage and a voltage rail at a ground voltage;
• locating a pass transistor in a path between said input and said switching circuitry;
• connecting an output to a node of said switching circuitry for outputting said shifted digital signal;
• wherein said switching circuitry and said pass transistor are configured to isolate an output of said pass transistor from said supply voltage rail when said input signal corresponds to a logical zero driving said output of said pass transistor to said ground voltage through said pass transistor and configured to drive said output of said pass transistor to said supply voltage when said input signal corresponds to a logical one, thereby providing full feedback to said output of said pass transistor, wherein a gate of said pass transistor is connected to a TIEHI Standard Cell with a non-zero voltage lower than said supply voltage.

A voltage level shifter for receiving an input signal from an input voltage domain and converting said signal to a shifted signal in a shifted voltage domain, said voltage level shifter comprising:

• means for receiving said input signal from said input voltage domain;
• means for switching arranged between a voltage rail at a supply voltage and a voltage rail at a ground voltage;
• a pass transistor located in a path between said input and said switching circuitry;
• means for outputting connected to a node of said switching circuitry for outputting said shifted digital signal;
• wherein said means for switching and said pass transistor are configured to isolate an output of said pass transistor from said supply voltage rail when said input signal corresponds to a logical zero driving said output of said pass transistor to said ground voltage through said pass transistor and configured to drive said output of said pass transistor to said supply voltage when said input signal corresponds to a logical one, thereby providing full feedback to said output of said pass transistor, wherein a gate of said pass transistor is connected to a TIEHI Standard Cell with a non-zero voltage lower than said supply voltage.

A voltage level shifter for receiving an input signal from an input voltage domain and converting said signal to a shifted signal in a shifted voltage domain, said voltage level shifter comprising:

• an input for receiving said input signal from said input voltage domain;
• switching circuitry arranged between a voltage rail at a supply voltage and a voltage rail at a ground voltage;
• a pass transistor located in a path between said input and said switching circuitry;
• an output connected to a node of said switching circuitry for outputting said shifted digital signal;
• wherein said switching circuitry and said pass transistor are configured to isolate an output of said pass transistor from said supply voltage rail when said input signal corresponds to a logical zero driving said output of said pass transistor to said ground voltage through said pass transistor and driving said shifted digital signal to zero volts and configured to drive said output of said pass transistor to said supply voltage when said input signal corresponds to a logical one, thereby providing full feedback to said output of said pass transistor.