Patent ID: 7199639
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor device comprising: a first circuit which operates on a first voltage of power supply and outputs a first signal with the amplitude of the first voltage of power supply; a second circuit which operates on a second voltage of power supply with a magnitude greater than the first voltage of power supply; and a level converter which converts said first signal to a second signal with the amplitude of said second voltage of power supply, and outputs the second signal to said second circuit, said level converter includes a sense amplifier, a differential pair of signal input nodes connected to said sense amplifier, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a first analog switch, and a second analog switch, wherein one end of said first capacitor is connected to one of said differential pair of signal input nodes, other end of said first capacitor is connected to an output of said first analog switch, one end of said second capacitor is connected to other one of said differential pair of signal input nodes, other end of said second capacitor is connected to an output of said second analog switch, at precharge state, each of other ends of said first and said second capacitors are precharged to the first voltage of power supply and said differential pair of signal input nodes are precharged to said second voltage of power supply, after said precharge state, said first signal is inputted to other end of said first capacitor through said first analog switch and the second signal which is a complimentary signal of said first signal is inputted to other end of said second capacitor through said second analog switch by switching on said first and second analog switches, and said sense amplifier amplifies a voltage difference of said differential pair of signal input nodes.