Patent ID: 6927617
Filing Date: 2005-08-09
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. A circuit comprising: a high-withstand-voltage element configured to convert an input signal at a first voltage into a second higher level signal, the high-withstand-voltage element including a source, a gate, and a drain; a first power supply; a second power supply; a first resistor configured to pull up the drain of the high-withstand-voltage element to the voltage of the second power supply; a diode connected between the drain of the high-withstand-voltage element and the first power supply; and a second resistor connected between the source of the high-withstand voltage element and ground; wherein an increase of the drain current supplied by the first power source through the diode increases a voltage across the second resistor in order to (a) boost a source potential of the high-withstand-voltage element and (b) decrease the gate to source voltage of the high-withstand-voltage element by the amount of the increase of the boost in the source potential.