Patent ID: 7365573
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A mixed-voltage interface for transferring a plurality of signals from a first circuit block operating at a first voltage level to a second circuit block operating at a second voltage level, different from the first voltage level, comprising: a signal line linking the first circuit block to the second circuit block; a first converter disposed in the first circuit block, for converting parallel data representing the plurality of signals to serial data; a transmitter for sending the serial data on the signal line from the first circuit block to the second circuit block; a receiver disposed in the second circuit block, for receiving the serial data from the signal line; a second converter for converting the received serial data to parallel data; an input buffer and an output buffer disposed on the signal line, the serial data being sent from the transmitter to the output buffer, from the output buffer to the input buffer, and from the input buffer to the receiver, wherein the output buffer includes a first output buffer stage operating at the first voltage level and a second output buffer stage operating at a third voltage level; and the input buffer includes a first input buffer stage operating at the third voltage level and a second input buffer stage operating at the second voltage level.