Single-Rail Voltage Level Shifter With Blocking Transistor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage level shifters consume high power, especially at certain operational corners, and often require excessive chip real-estate due to dual-rail inputs and additional inverters, which is inefficient for reducing overall power consumption in multi-domain chip designs.
Innovation Solution
A single-rail input voltage level shifter with a voltage-transition circuit that includes input-rising and input-falling transition circuits, which converts power supply voltages from a low-voltage domain to a high-voltage domain using a blocking transistor to minimize power consumption and reduce chip real-estate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dual-rail inputs and additional inverters are used in voltage level shifters, then voltage conversion functionality is improved, but chip real-estate and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary dual-rail input structure and additional inverters from traditional voltage level shifters. By using a single-rail input directly connected to the voltage transition circuit, the design removes redundant components that consumed chip real-estate while maintaining the essential voltage conversion functionality between low-voltage and high-voltage domains
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the input stage and voltage transition functionality into a unified circuit structure. The single-rail input is directly integrated with the voltage transition circuit, eliminating the need for separate dual-rail input buffers and additional inverters, thereby reducing chip area while preserving voltage level shifting capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If dual-rail inputs and additional inverters are used in voltage level shifters, then voltage conversion functionality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the power-consuming dual-rail input buffers and additional inverters from the voltage level shifter design. By utilizing a single-rail input that directly interfaces with the voltage transition circuit, the design eliminates unnecessary dynamic power consumption associated with charging and discharging redundant logic gates while maintaining full voltage conversion functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the input reception and voltage transition operations into a single integrated circuit path. This merging eliminates the need for multiple sequential logic stages (dual-rail buffers followed by inverters), thereby reducing the total dynamic power consumption across all operational corners while preserving the ability to convert voltages between different domains
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional voltage level shifters are used, then voltage conversion is achieved, but direct current paths between voltage domains increase power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized voltage transition circuit as an intermediary between the low-voltage domain and high-voltage domain. This circuit acts as a controlled interface that transfers voltage levels without creating direct current paths between the domains, using controlled switching mechanisms to prevent simultaneous connectivity that would cause power consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces power consumption and chip area usage by preventing direct current paths between voltage domains, maintaining low power consumption across all operational states, and outperforming traditional dual-buffer voltage level shifters.
Implementation Method 1
The voltage-transition circuit is configured to convert a voltage of the low-voltage domain received via the single-rail input to a voltage of the high-voltage domain
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a single-rail input connected to a low-voltage domain and a voltage-transition circuit connected to the single-rail input. The voltage-transition circuit is configured to convert a voltage of the low-voltage domain received via the single-rail input to a voltage of the high-voltage domain.