Patent ID: 7088167
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor device comprising: a first circuit group operating by being driven by a power supply at a voltage level between a reference voltage and a first power-supply voltage, a second circuit group, which operates by being driven by a power supply at a voltage level between the reference voltage and a second power-supply voltage, which is higher than the first power-supply voltage, a high-side voltage-controlled device having a first type of electrical conduction at an input stage of the second circuit group for controlling an output of the second power-supply voltage; and a level conversion circuit, which is provided as an interface from the first circuit group to the second circuit group, operates by being driven by a power supply at a voltage level between the first power-supply voltage and the second power-supply voltage to control electrical conduction of the high-side voltage-controlled device and has: a first voltage-controlled device, which has the first type of electrical conduction and is provided directly between the high-side voltage-controlled device and a line of the first power-supply voltage for supplying the first power-supply voltage with the high-side voltage-controlled device put in an electrically conductive state; and a second voltage-controlled device, which has the first type of electrical conduction and is provided between the high-side voltage-controlled device and a line of the second power-supply voltage for supplying the second power-supply voltage with the high-side voltage-controlled device put in an electrically non-conductive state.