Dynamic level shifter circuit and ring oscillator using the same

A method comprising:

• operating a first ring oscillator, wherein the first ring oscillator includes a first plurality of static level shifters;
• operating a second ring oscillator, wherein the second ring oscillator a plurality of dynamic level shifters and a second plurality of static level shifters;
• comparing a frequency of oscillation of the first ring oscillator to a frequency of oscillation of the second ring oscillator;
• and
• determining an average delay of the dynamic level shifters relative to an average delay of the static level shifters based on comparing the frequency of oscillation of the first ring oscillator and the frequency of oscillation of the second ring oscillator.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a first ring oscillator comprising a plurality of dynamic level shifters and a first plurality of static level shifters;
• a second ring oscillator comprising a second plurality of static level shifters;
• and
• a comparison circuit configured to compare a frequency of oscillation of the first ring oscillator to a frequency of oscillation of the second ring oscillator, wherein the comparison circuit is further configured to compare an average delay of the dynamic level shifters to an average delay of the second plurality of static level shifters based on their respective frequencies of oscillation.

A method comprising:

• asserting and providing an enable signal to a pulse generator;
• generating a first transition of a signal responsive to assertion of the enable signal;
• generating a second transition of the signal at a delay time subsequent to the assertion of the enable signal;
• causing a ring oscillator to oscillate responsive to generating the first and second transitions of the signal, wherein the ring oscillator includes a plurality of dynamic level shifters and a plurality of static level shifters;
• wherein the ring oscillator includes a plurality of dynamic level shifters and a plurality of static level shifters, wherein the method further comprises providing an output signal from each of the static level shifters to a data input of a corresponding one of the dynamic level shifters.