Patent ID: 6617880
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A method comprising:detecting a rising signal transition at an I/O buffer pad of an I/O buffer; pulling up a voltage level at the I/O buffer pad to an intended overshoot voltage level using a P-kicker device and; pulling down the voltage level at the I/O buffer pad to a termination voltage level Vtt using a pull-down device, wherein the pulling up of the voltage level at the I/O buffer pad to the intended overshoot voltage level and the pulling down of the voltage level at the I/O buffer pad to the termination voltage level Vtt counteract to produce a low voltage midrail overshoot level less than or equal to a maximum gate voltage level and greater than the termination voltage level Vtt in order to prevent gate oxide breakdown caused by overshoot voltage levels in excess of the maximum gate voltage level.