Patent ID: 7884646
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. A voltage level shifting circuit, comprising: a differential first-stage level shifter comprising transistors having a voltage rating that is configured to receive a single binary input signal having an input voltage level and to generate a non-inverted first-stage limited voltage swing shifted output signal and an inverted first-stage limited voltage swing shifted output signal, wherein the voltage swing of the limited voltage swing output signals swings between a non-zero lower value and an upper value that is less than or equal to the voltage rating; a second-stage level shifter that receives the non-inverted first-stage limited voltage swing shifted output signal and the inverted first-stage limited voltage swing shifted output signal and generates a non-inverted second-stage shifted output signal and an inverted second-stage shifted output signal; a signal generator that generates an amplified single level shifted final output signal that has an output voltage level that is higher than the input voltage level, wherein the amplified single level shifted final output signal corresponds to the single binary input signal and is based on the non-inverted second-stage shifted output signal and the inverted second-stage shifted output signal; and a diode circuit that limits a lower voltage of the limited voltage swing output signals to the non-zero lower value.