Patent ID: 6255888
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A level shift circuit comprising:a voltage booster which is operated by a first supply voltage defining a first power supply, receives a first signal having a voltage level of said first supply voltage, said voltage booster, responsive to said first signal transitioning from a LOW to a HIGH level, outputs a second signal having a voltage level above the voltage level of said first supply voltage; anda level shift section which is operated by a second supply voltage defining a second power supply having a voltage level above the voltage level of said first supply voltage, receives and inverts said second signal to generate an inverted signal, and shifts a voltage level of said inverted signal to the same level as the voltage level of said second supply voltage;said level shift section including:(a) a first N-channel MOS transistor having (i) terminals of which one receives said first signal and (ii) a gate which is coupled to said first power supply,(b) an inverter which is operated by said second power supply and which has an input coupled to the other of said terminals of said first N-channel MOS transistor,(c) a first P-channel MOS transistor which is connected between said input of said inverter and said second power supply and which has a gate coupled to an output of said inverter.