Input/output driver circuit, integrated circuit and method therefor

An input/output (IO) driver circuit comprising:

• at least one input for receiving an input signal and at least one output for providing at least one output signal;
• and
• a plurality of switches arranged to provide a variable voltage level between a low voltage value and a high voltage value to the at least one output, wherein
• a first switch of the plurality of switches is arranged to initiate a voltage change to a first intermediate voltage level in a first intermediate time period,
• a second switch of the plurality of switches is arranged to initiate a voltage change to a second intermediate voltage level in a second intermediate time period, and
• at least one third switch of the plurality of switches is arranged to continue the voltage change to the low voltage value or the high voltage value in a third intermediate time period.

A method of providing an output for an input/output driver circuit comprising a plurality of switches arranged to provide a variable voltage level between a low voltage value and a high voltage value, the method comprising:

• applying a first variable input signal to at least one first switch of the plurality of switches thereby initiating a voltage change output from the input/output driver circuit to a first intermediate voltage level between the low voltage value and the high voltage value in a first time period;
• applying a second variable input signal to at least one second switch of the plurality of switches thereby continuing the voltage change in a second time period;
• applying a third variable input signal to at least one third switch of the plurality of switches thereby initiating a voltage change to a second intermediate voltage level in a second intermediate time period prior to applying the second variable input signal to the at least one second switch;
• and
• outputting the low voltage value or the high voltage value from the input/output driver circuit.