Patent · US Active

Bi-directional buffer with level shifting

US7692450B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
45References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 20, 2008
Grant dateApr 6, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 20, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K19/018521
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A bi-directional buffer is connected between a first node and a second node, wherein the first node is connected by a first pull-up resistor to a first voltage supply rail, and the second node is connected by a second pull-up resistor to a second voltage supply rail. In an embodiment, the bi-directional buffer is enabled when a voltage of the first node does not exceed a first threshold voltage, and/or a voltage of the second node does not exceed a second threshold voltage. However, when the voltage of the first node exceeds the first threshold voltage, and the voltage of the second node exceeds the second threshold voltage, the bi-directional buffer is disabled, which disconnects the first and second nodes. This allows the first node to be pulled up to the first voltage supply rail, and the second node to be pulled up to the second voltage supply rail.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.