Method and apparatus for a level shifter for use in a semiconductor memory device
US6166969A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/018521
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed is a level shifter that can receive and convert a first signal that can have various voltage logic levels to a second signal having internal voltage logic levels. The level shifter includes first and second ascending/descending circuits, where the first ascend/descending circuit receives the first signal and the second ascend/descending circuit receives an inverted first signal. Each ascend/descending circuit is operable to descend a high logic level of the received signal to a low output voltage level and ascend a low logic level of the received signal to a high output voltage level. The output voltages from the first and second ascending/descending circuits are input to a sense amplifier that amplifies the difference between the output voltages in order to generate the internal voltage logic levels of the second signal. The first and second ascending/descending circuits buffer their respective received signals using the high logic level of the input signal as a supply voltage. The same principles are also applicable to the level shifting from internal voltage logic levels to external voltage logic levels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.