Patent ID: 6429716
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A pre-buffer voltage level shifting circuit operative with an output buffer comprising:a multi-supply voltage level shifting circuit, coupleable to at least one of a plurality of differing supply voltages, comprised of single gate oxide devices including a non-linear circuit and a multi-mode bypass circuit operatively coupled to produce a pre-buffer output signal to the output buffer wherein the pre-buffer output signal has a level within gate degradation levels of the single gate oxide devices for each of at least a first and second supply voltage; wherein the multi-supply voltage level shifting circuit includes a current mirror operatively coupled to at least one of the first and second supply voltages, and wherein the nonlinear device, is operatively coupled to an output of the current mirror circuit, having diode voltage/current characteristics and wherein the nonlinear device is coupled to receive a digital input signal from a signal source; and including a reference voltage controlled switch operatively coupled to limit a voltage level to an output buffer transistor to facilitate multi-supply voltage level shifting based on one of the first and second supply voltages.