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US 9,866,205 B2Granted
Level conversion device and method
AssigneeTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
InventorsYu-Lun Ou, Wei-Chih Hsieh, Shang-Chih Hsieh
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Abstract
A device is disclosed that includes a level shifter and a selector. The level shifter includes a first current limiter. The level shifter is configured to generate a first output signal at a first terminal of the first current limiter, and to generate a second output signal at a second terminal of the first current limiter according to a first input signal. The selector configured to selectively transmit one of the first output signal and the second output signal according to the first input signal.
Claims20
A device, comprising:
- a level shifter comprising a first current limiter, the level shifter being configured to generate a first output signal at a first terminal of the first current limiter, and to generate a second output signal at a second terminal of the first current limiter according to a first input signal;
- and
- a selector configured to select one of the first output signal and the second output signal as a selected output signal according to the first input signal, wherein the selected output signal and the one of the first output signal and the second output signal, from which the selector is configured to select as the selected output signal, have a same logic value.
A device, comprising:
- a first pulling-up unit configured to pull up a voltage level of a first node to a first voltage according to a control signal, to generate a first output signal;
- a first pulling-down unit configured to pull down a voltage level of a second node to a second voltage according to a first input signal, to generate a second output signal;
- a first current limiter coupled between the first node and the second node, and configured to reduce a current flowing from the first pulling-up unit to the first pulling-down unit;
- and
- a selector configured to select one of the first output signal and the second output signal as a selected output signal according to the first input signal, wherein the selected output signal and the one of the first output signal and the second output signal, from which the selector is configured to select as the selected output signal, have a same logic level.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- pulling up a voltage level of a first terminal of a first current limiter to a first voltage, by a first switch, according to a control signal, to generate a first output signal;
- pulling down a voltage level of a second terminal of the first current limiter to a second voltage, by a second switch, according to a first input signal, to generate a second output signal, wherein the first voltage is higher than the second voltage;
- and
- selecting one of the first output signal and the second output signal as a selected output signal, by a selector, according to the first input signal, wherein the selected output signal and the one of the first output signal and the second output signal, from which the selector is configured to select as the selected output signal, have a same logic value.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.