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Level shifting using cross-coupled cascode transistors

A technology of level shifters and transistors, applied in the direction of coupling/interface of logic circuits, electrical components, generating electrical pulses, etc. using field effect transistors, which can solve the problems of reduced voltage supply and increased voltage supply of level shifters.

Active Publication Date: 2010-10-27
SEMICON COMPONENTS IND LLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Then, the voltage supply to the level shifter is increased, causing the controlled circuit to transition to the high voltage environment
Then, the voltage supply is lowered again, causing the controlled circuit to return to the low voltage environment

Method used

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  • Level shifting using cross-coupled cascode transistors
  • Level shifting using cross-coupled cascode transistors
  • Level shifting using cross-coupled cascode transistors

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0018] Embodiments described herein relate to level shifters that use an additional cascaded transistor pair to drive the cross-coupled gate terminals of the pull-up (or pull-down) transistors. figure 1 One embodiment of a level shifter 100 in accordance with the principles described herein is illustrated.

[0019] figure 1 is a circuit diagram of a level shifter circuit 100 including two voltage supply nodes 101 and 102 . One of these voltage supply nodes will have a higher voltage than the other node. However, for figure 1 the generalization of figure 1 The description of does not specify which voltage is higher. Instead, when used to describe figure 1 In common practice, the first voltage supply 101 has a "first polarity" and the second supply voltage 102 has a "second polarity" opposite to the first polarity. Polarity can be "positive" or "negative". With respect to a particular supply voltage among the two supply voltages, positive polarity means that the particula...

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PUM

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Abstract

level-shifter circuit capable of operating at low voltages. Two complementary current paths are provided between each of two intermediate nodes (at least one of which being an output node) and one of the supply voltages. A network of field-effect transistors are coupled between the other voltage supply and the intermediate nodes. The transistors include a pull-up (or pull-down as the case may be) transistor pair coupled to the high (or low as the case may be) voltage supply. There are two cascode transistor pairs coupled between the pull-up (or down) transistors and the corresponding intermediate node. One cascode pair couples the respective intermediate node to the drain terminal of the respective pull-up (or down) transistor. The other cascoded pair cross-couples the intermediate node to the gate terminal of the opposite pull-up (or down) transistor.

Description

Background technique [0001] Some circuits have a lower voltage portion that operates at a lower supply voltage and a higher voltage portion that operates at a higher supply voltage. The level shifter (level-shifter) converts the lower voltage control signal received from the lower voltage part of the circuit (hereinafter referred to as "control circuit") into a higher voltage part suitable for the control circuit (hereinafter referred to as is the higher voltage control signal of the "controlled circuit"). [0002] In some cases, controlled circuits may have varying voltage supplies. Sometimes, the controlled circuit may operate under a high voltage supply (hereinafter referred to as the "high voltage environment" of the controlled circuit) as explained above. But at other times, the controlled circuit may operate at a lower voltage supply, possibly even at or below the control circuit's voltage supply (hereinafter referred to as the "low voltage environment" of the controll...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): H03K19/0185
CPCH03K3/356113
Inventor C·A·艾德蒙森J·J·沃尔什
Owner SEMICON COMPONENTS IND LLC