Level shifters including circuitry for reducing short circuits and display devices using the same

Provided are a level shifter and a display device including the level shifter. The level shifter includes: a first circuit that blocks a supply of a source voltage to a first node while a signal input to an input terminal is maintained at a logic high level, and that supplies the source voltage to the first node while the signal input to the input terminal is transitioned from a logic high level to a logic low level; a second circuit that supplies the source voltage to the first node only when a voltage of an output terminal is maintained at a logic low level; a first inverter that reverses a logical level of the signal input to the input terminal by using the voltage supplied from the first node and outputs the signal to a second node; and a second inverter that reverses the logical level of the signal input to the second node by using the source voltage and outputs the signal to the output terminal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0069495, filed on Jul. 29, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

The inventive concept relates to level shifters and to display devices that include such level shifters.

Applications that require various source voltages may be included in a single electronic circuit. Accordingly, in order to interface between the applications, a level shifter that converts a voltage level of a signal may be used.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the inventive concept provide level shifters that are capable of applying a wide range of source voltages by using a single voltage source.

Embodiments of the inventive concept also provides a display device using the level shifter.

According to some embodiments, level shifters may be provided that include a first circuit that is configured to block a supply of a source voltage to a first node while a signal input to an input terminal is maintained at a logic high level, and to supply the source voltage to the first node while the signal input to the input terminal transitions from a logic high level to a logic low level; a second circuit that is configured to supply the source voltage to the first node only when a voltage of an output terminal is maintained at a logic low level; a first inverter that uses the voltage supplied from the first node to generate a first output signal by reversing a logical level of the signal input to the input terminal and outputs the first output signal to a second node; and a second inverter that uses the source voltage to generate a second output signal by reversing the logical level of the first output signal that is output to the second node and outputs the second output signal to the output terminal.

The first circuit may comprise: a first P-channel transistor comprising a source terminal connected to a source voltage terminal, a drain terminal connected to a third node, and a gate terminal connected to a terminal that is maintained at a logic low state; a second P-channel transistor comprising a source terminal connected to the source voltage terminal, a drain terminal connected to the first node, and a gate terminal connected to the third node; and a first capacitor comprising a first terminal connected to the input terminal, and a second terminal connected to the third node.

The terminal that is maintained at a logic low state may comprise a ground terminal.

The second circuit may comprise a third P-channel transistor comprising a source terminal connected to the source voltage terminal, a drain terminal connected to the first node, and a gate terminal connected to the output terminal.

The level shifter may further comprise a second capacitor comprising a first terminal connected to the source voltage terminal and a second terminal connected to the first node.

The first inverter may comprise: a fifth P-channel transistor comprising a gate terminal connected to the input terminal, a source terminal connected to the first node, and a drain terminal connected to the second node; and a first N-channel transistor comprising a gate terminal connected to the input terminal, a drain terminal connected to the second node, and a source terminal to the ground terminal.

The second inverter may comprise: a fourth P-channel transistor comprising a gate terminal connected to the second node, a source terminal connected to the source voltage terminal, and a drain terminal connected to the output terminal; and a second N-channel transistor comprising a gate terminal connected to the second node, a drain terminal connected to the output terminal, and a source terminal connected to the ground terminal.

The first capacitor and the second capacitor may comprise metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices.

According to further embodiments, display devices may be provided that include a panel comprising a plurality of pixel arrays and a first driving circuit for driving the plurality of pixel arrays; a second driving circuit generating a signal for driving the panel; and a level shifter that is configured to convert a voltage level of the signal generated by the second driving circuit to a voltage level for driving the first driving circuit, wherein the level shifter comprises: a first circuit that is configured to block a supply of a source voltage to a first node while a signal input to an input terminal is maintained at a logic high level and to supply a source voltage to the first node while the signal input to the input terminal is transitioned from a logic high level to a logic low level; a second circuit that is configured to supply the source voltage to the first node only when a voltage of an output terminal is maintained at a logic low level; a first inverter that uses the voltage supplied from the first node to generate a first output signal by reversing a logical level of the signal input to the input terminal and outputs the first output signal to a second node; and a second inverter that uses the source voltage to generate a second output signal by reversing the logical level of the first output signal that is output to the second node and outputs the second output signal to the output terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this disclosure and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

All embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination.

The inventive concept provides a level shifter that may shift a voltage level of an input signal using a single source voltage VDDH (which has a voltage that is equal to the logic high level of the output signal of the level shifter), as opposed to by using both a source voltage VDDL that has a voltage of an input signal and the source voltage VDDH.

FIG. 1is a circuit diagram illustrating a level shifter according to an embodiment of the inventive concept.

Referring toFIG. 1, the level shifter includes a plurality of p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistors P1, P2, and P3, and a plurality of n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistors N1, N2, and N3.

The PMOS transistor P1and the NMOS transistor N1are complimentarily connected to each other to form a first inverter. The PMOS transistor P2and the NMOS transistor N2are likewise complimentarily connected to each other to form a second inverter.

The NMOS transistor N3and the PMOS transistor P3supply or block a source voltage VDDH to a node pwr. The node pwr is the source terminal of the PMOS transistor P1.

The level shifter ofFIG. 1may operate as follows.

A signal that swings from a logic low level of 0 V to a logic high level of a voltage VDDL is input to an input terminal A of the level shifter. The voltage VDDL is lower than the source voltage VDDH.

The gate terminal and the source terminal of the NMOS transistor N3are connected to each other so that the NMOS transistor N3operates as a diode, and the NMOS transistor N3supplies a voltage (VDDH-Vthn) to the node pwr, where the voltage Vthn refers to a threshold voltage of an NMOS transistor, and the voltage Vthp (discussed below) refers to a threshold voltage of a PMOS transistor.

When a signal input to the input terminal A is 0 V, that is, logic low level, the PMOS transistor P1is turned on and the NMOS transistor N1is turned off, thereby pulling up a voltage at a node YB to a voltage identical to the node pwr. Thus, under these circumstances, the node YB has a voltage (VDDH-Vthn). Accordingly, the PMOS transistor P2is turned off, and the NMOS transistor N2is turned on, and thus, a voltage of the output terminal Y is 0 V.

When the voltage of the output terminal Y is reduced to 0 V, the PMOS transistor P3is turned on, thereby raising the node pwr to the source voltage VDDH, and the voltage of the node pwr is supplied to the source terminal of the PMOS transistor P1. Accordingly, a stable logical state is maintained by raising the voltage of the node YB up to the source voltage VDDH.

When the signal input to the input terminal A has a voltage VDDL, that is, logic high level, and the voltage VDDL is higher than the voltage (VDDH-Vthn-Vthp), the PMOS transistor P1is turned off, and the NMOS transistor N1is turned on, and the voltage of the node YB is pulled down to 0 V. Accordingly, the PMOS transistor P2is turned on, and the NMOS transistor N2is turned off. Consequently, the voltage of the output terminal Y is raised to the source voltage VDDH.

Accordingly, a signal input at the input terminal A that swings from 0 V to the voltage VDDL is converted to a signal that swings from 0 V to the source voltage VDDH by the level shifter circuit ofFIG. 1.

However, if an input signal to the level shifter circuit ofFIG. 1is logic high level and the voltage of the input signal is lower than the source voltage VDDH of the inverter by Vthp, both the PMOS transistor P1and the NMOS transistor N1of the first inverter are turned on, thereby generating a short circuit between the node pwr and ground.

In order to reduce the occurrence of such a short circuit, the signal present at the output terminal Y is fed back to the gate of the PMOS transistor P3while the signal of the input terminal A has a voltage of a logic high level, thereby blocking the PMOS transistor P3. In this manner, the short circuit may be prevented while the input signal is logic high.

However, if a signal input to the input terminal A is the voltage VDDL, which is logic high, and the voltage VDDL is lower than a voltage (VDDH-Vthn-Vthp), the NMOS transistor N3, the PMOS transistor P1, and the NMOS transistor N1may all be turned on, thereby generating a short circuit. The short circuit may not be temporary but continuous so long as the input signal is maintained at a logic high level.

According to another embodiment of the inventive concept, a level shifter is provided that may reduce or prevent the occurrence of the short circuit situation described above.FIG. 2is a circuit diagram illustrating such a level shifter.

As shown inFIG. 2, the PMOS transistor P1and the NMOS transistor N1are complimentarily connected to each other to form a first inverter IN1that reverses a logical state of a signal input at the input terminal A. A gate terminal of the PMOS transistor P1is connected to the input terminal A, and a source terminal thereof is connected to a node pwr, and a drain terminal thereof is connected to a node YB. A gate terminal of the NMOS transistor N1is connected to the input terminal A, and a drain terminal thereof is connected to the node YB, and a source terminal thereof is connected to a ground terminal.

The PMOS transistor P2and the NMOS transistor N2are complimentarily connected to each other, thereby forming a second inverter IN2that reverses a logical state of a signal input at the node YB. A gate terminal of the PMOS transistor P2is connected to the node YB, and a source terminal thereof is connected to a source voltage VDDH, and a drain terminal thereof is connected to an output terminal Y. A gate terminal of the NMOS transistor N2is connected to the node YB, and a drain terminal thereof is connected to the output terminal Y, and a source terminal thereof is connected to the ground terminal.

When the voltage of the input terminal A is maintained at a logic high level, a first circuit BL1blocks the source voltage VDDH from being supplied to the node pwr. When the voltage of the input terminal A is transitioned from a logic high to a logic low, the first circuit BL1supplies the source voltage VDDH to the node pwr.

Specifically, the first circuit BL1is formed of the PMOS transistors P3and P4and the capacitor MC1. A gate terminal of the PMOS transistor P3is connected to the ground terminal, and a source terminal thereof is connected to the source voltage VDDH, and a drain terminal thereof is connected to a node ctrl. A gate terminal of the PMOS transistor P4is connected to the node ctrl, and a source terminal thereof is connected to the source voltage VDDH, and a drain terminal thereof is connected to the node pwr. The capacitor MC1may be formed, for example, by connecting the source terminal and the drain terminal of a PMOS transistor. The capacitor MC1is a coupling capacitor, wherein a first terminal thereof is connected to the input terminal A, and a second terminal thereof is connected to the node ctrl.

A second circuit BL2supplies the source voltage VDDH to the node pwr only when the voltage of the output terminal Y is maintained at a logic low level. Specifically, the second circuit BL2is formed of the PMOS transistor P5. A gate terminal of the PMOS transistor P5is connected to the output terminal Y, and a source terminal thereof is connected to the source voltage VDDH, and a drain terminal thereof is connected to the node pwr.

The capacitor MC2may be formed, for example, by connecting the source terminal and the drain terminal of a PMOS transistor. The capacitor MC2is a decoupling capacitor, wherein a first terminal thereof is connected to the node pwr, and a second terminal thereof is connected to the source voltage VDDH.

Hereinafter, operation of the circuit ofFIG. 2will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a waveform diagram of four of the signals generated in the level shifter circuit ofFIG. 2. InFIG. 3, the X-axis indicates time (seconds), and the Y-axis indicates a voltage (volt). A signal that swings from 0 V to a voltage VDDL is input to the input terminal A, where the voltage VDDL is lower than the source voltage VDDH.

Referring toFIG. 2, when the signal input to the input terminal A is maintained at the voltage VDDL, which is logic high, the NMOS transistor IN1is turned on and a voltage of the node YB is 0 V. Accordingly, the PMOS transistor P2is turned on, and the NMOS transistor N2is turned off, and thus the voltage of the output terminal Y is raised to the source voltage VDDH by the PMOS transistor P2, as shown in the portions of the waveform diagrams ofFIG. 3where a signal at a high logic level is input to terminal A.

Also, in portions of the waveform diagrams ofFIG. 3where the signal input to the input terminal A is maintained at a high logic level, the PMOS transistor P3is turned on (seeFIG. 2), and the voltage of the node ctrl is thus raised to the source voltage VDDH, as shown inFIG. 3. Accordingly, the PMOS transistor P4is turned off. Since the voltage of the output terminal Y is at the source voltage VDDH, the PMOS transistor P5is also turned off.

Accordingly, in the portions of the waveform diagrams ofFIG. 3where the signal input to the input terminal A is maintained at a logic high level, the source voltage VDDH is not supplied to the node pwr, and thus a short circuit is not generated.

When the signal input to the input terminal A is transitioned from the voltage VDDL, which is logic high, to 0 V, which is logic low, the voltage of the node ctrl is also decreased, as illustrated inFIG. 3, due to the coupling effect of the capacitor MC1. When the voltage of the node ctrl is decreased, the PMOS transistor P4is turned on, and the source voltage VDDH is supplied to the node pwr.

Accordingly, when the signal input to the input terminal A transitions to a low logic level (0 V), the PMOS transistor P1is turned on, and the NMOS transistor N1is turned off, and the voltage of the node YB is raised to of the source voltage VDDH. The PMOS transistor P2is turned off by the voltage of the node YB, the NMOS transistor N2is turned on, and the voltage of the output terminal Y is lowered to 0 V, as is also shown inFIG. 3.

Also, in portions of the waveform diagrams ofFIG. 3where the voltage of the output terminal Y is maintained at 0 V, the PMOS transistor P5is turned on, and the voltage of the node pwr is maintained at the source voltage VDDH, as shown inFIG. 3. Accordingly, by raising the voltage of the node YB to the source voltage VDDH, the PMOS transistor P1may stabilize a logical state of the output terminal Y while the signal applied to the input terminal A is maintained at the logic low level.

Accordingly, in the section where the signal input to the input terminal A is transitioned from a logic high level to a logic low level, the source voltage VDDH is supplied to the node pwr, and in the section where the signal input to the input terminal A is maintained at a logic low level, the voltage of the source voltage VDDH is supplied to the node pwr via the first circuit BL1.

The capacitor MC2operates as a decoupling capacitor that reduces the possibility that the voltage of the node pwr decreases abruptly when the PMOS transistor P1is turned on. Also, the capacitor MC2may secondarily reduce the possibility of insufficient supply of power by the PMOS transistor P4.

Next, a display device including a level shifter according to an embodiment of the inventive concept will be described below. However, it will be appreciated that the level shifters according to embodiments of the present invention are not only applicable to display devices but may also be applied to other kinds of devices.

FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating a display device including a level shifter according to an embodiment of the inventive concept.

Referring toFIG. 4, the display device includes a pixel array410, a first driving circuit420, a level shifter430, and a second driving circuit440.

Here, a panel1000includes the pixel array410and the first driving circuit420. According to another embodiment of the inventive concept, the level shifter430may also be included in the panel1000.

In the pixel array410, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines cross each other, and a plurality of transistors are formed at each of the crossing portions of the data lines and the gate lines for driving each cell. A thin-film transistor responds to a scan signal transmitted to a gate line, thereby supplying to a cell a pixel voltage supplied to a data line.

The first driving circuit420is one selected from the group consisting of a gate driving circuit for supplying a scan signal to the gate lines, a data driving circuit for converting digital video data to an analog pixel voltage to supply the same to the data lines, and a timing controller that controls the gate driving circuit and the data driving circuit and supplies a digital video signal to a data supplying circuit according to a clock signal.

The second driving circuit440generates a driving signal needed to drive the pixel array410in the panel1000, that is, various control signals and video signals.

The level shifter430converts a level of a driving signal generated by the second driving circuit440to a voltage level at which the driving signal is operable in the first driving circuit420, and level shifter circuits according to embodiments of the present invention such as, for example the level shifter circuits illustrated inFIG. 1orFIG. 2, may be used as the level shifter430.

Herein, references to a “source voltage terminal” refer to any terminal that is connected to a source voltage, and hence it will be understood that when multiple transistors, circuits and the like are connected to a “source voltage terminal” these transistors, circuits and the like may be commonly connected to the source voltage at the same point, may be connected to the same source voltage at different points and/or may be connected to different ones of multiple source voltages that have the same voltage level.