Voltage-level shifter

Abstract: In a voltage-level shifter, a P-channel MOS transistor (early cut-off circuit) is interposed between a voltage source of the voltage-level shifter and a source of a P-channel MOS transistor which tends to be turned on when a voltage of a voltage source of an input signal supplies a low voltage or a large potential difference exists between the voltage source of the input signal and the voltage source of the voltage-level shifter, and is supplied on its gate with the input signal of the voltage-level shifter. Accordingly, the interposed P-channel MOS transistor is turned off prior to the P-channel MOS transistor having a tendency of being turned on, so that the voltage level of the output signal of the voltage-level shifter can be rapidly fixed at the "L" level.

Description: The present invention relates to an improvement of a voltage-level shifter. A semiconductor device using a plurality of voltage sources requires a voltage-level shifter for shifting potentials of signals to potential levels of the respective voltage sources. A voltage-level shifter in the prior art will be described below. Fig. 6 shows a circuit structure of a conventional voltage-level shifter in the prior art, and Fig. 8 shows an operation timing of the conventional voltage-level shifter. In these figures, I30 indicates an input signal, 030 indicates an output signal, VCC indicates a first voltage source, VPP indicates a second voltage source, VSS indicates a ground voltage source, 3001 indicates a voltage-level shifter, Qn3001 and Qn3002 indicate N-channel MOS transistors, Qp3001 and Qp3002 indicate P-channel MOS transistors, and N3001 indicates a node name. A circuit structure in Fig. 6 will be described below. The input signal I30 is connected to a source of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn3001 and a gate of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn3002. A gate of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn3001 is connected to the first voltage source VCC, and a source of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn3002 is connected to the ground voltage source VSS. A source of the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3001 and a source of the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3002 are connected to the second voltage source VPP. A drain of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn3001, a drain of the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3001 and a gate of the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3002 are connected together. The output signal 030 is connected to a drain of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn3002, a gate of the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3001 and a drain of the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3002. Fig. 7 shows a basic structure of the voltage-level shifter in Fig. 6. The structure in Fig. 7 differs from that in Fig. 6 in that an N-channel MOS transistor Qn3001' is supplied on its gate with a signal formed by inverting the input signal by an inverter INV32, has a source connected to the voltage source VSS of the input signal, and has a drain connected to the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3202. In other words, the structure in Fig. 31 eliminates the inverter circuit INV32 by employing the appropriate connection structure of the N-channel MOS element Qn3001, but performs the same operation as the basic structure in Fig. 7. Accordingly, the operation will be described below only in connection with the structure in Fig. 6. Referring to an operation timing diagram of Fig. 8, the operation will be described below. When the input signal I30 is at the "L" (Low) level, the node N3001 is at the "L" level, the N-channel MOS transistor Qn3002 is off, P-channel MOS transistor Qp3002 is on, output signal 030 is at the "H" level set by the second voltage source VPP, and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3001 is completely off. When the input signal I30 transits from the "L" level to the "H" level, the N-channel MOS transistor Qn3002 is completely turned off, the node N3001 attains a potential (VCC-Vtn) which is lower than the potential of the first voltage source VCC by a threshold voltage (Vtn) of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn3001, and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3002 is substantially turned off. Then, the output signal 030 attains the "L" level, the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3001 is completely turned off, the node N3001 attains the potential of the second voltage source VPP, and the p-channel MOS transistor Qp3002 is completely turned off. Fig. 9 shows another voltage-level shifter. This voltage-level shifter amplifies both the maximum and minimum values of an amplitude of an input signal to produce a signal having a large amplitude. The voltage-level shifter includes a signal inverter circuit 50 inverting the input signal, a positive level shifter 51 which receives the input signal and an output signal of the signal inverter circuit 50 to amplify the maximum value of the amplitude of the input signal, a negative level shifter 52 which receives the input signal and the output signal of the signal inverter circuit 50 to amplify the minimum value of the amplitude of the input signal, and a positive/negative level shifter 53 which receives output of the positive and negative level shifters 51 and 52 to compose them. However, in the voltage-level shifters of the conventional structures shown in Figs. 6 and 8, when the input signal I30 transits from the "L" level to the "H" level, the N-channel MOS transistor Qn3002 is completely off, and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3002 is substantially off as already described. In particular, if the first voltage source VCC supplies a low voltage, and/or a large potential difference exists between the first and second voltage sources VCC and VPP, the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3002 is on. Therefore, a through current flows from the second voltage source VPP to the ground voltage source VSS via the N-channel MOS transistor Qn3002 and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp3002, which causes a disadvantage that the voltage level of the output signal 030 cannot fixed at the "L" level. The conventional voltage-level shifter shown in Fig. 9 requires three level shifters and hence many transistors forming them, and is constructed to compose the shifted outputs of the positive and negative level shifters, resulting in reduction of the operation speed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a voltage-level shifter which can operate as follows if a voltage source of an input signal supplies a low voltage and/or a large potential difference exists between a voltage source of an input signal and a voltage source of a voltage-level shifter. When the input signal transits from an "L" level to the "H" level, an MOS transistor to be turned off is surely controlled to be turned off, and a voltage level of an output signal of the voltage-level shifter is surely fixed at the "L" level while surely preventing flow of a through current. Another object of the invention is to provide a voltage-level shifter, in which both maximum and minimum values of an input signal are amplified by level shift at one stage, so that a speed for the level shift can be improved, and component transistors are reduced in number to simplify a structure. In order to achieve the above objects, a voltage-level shifter according to the invention is designed such that, when an input signal transits from the "L" level to the "H" level, electric charges are actively supplied to a gate of an MOS transistor to be turned off for controlling this MOS transistor to be surely turned off. According to the voltage-level shifter of the invention, there is especially provided a circuit which fixes an output signal of the voltage-level shifter at the "L" level during transition of the level of the input signal from the "L" level to the "H" level, even if the MOS transistor to be turned off is turned on. The above objects are achieved with a voltage level shifter having the features of claim 1. According to the voltage-level shifter of the invention thus constructed, when the input signal transits from the "L" level to the "H" level, the electric charge supply circuit supplies electric charges to the gate of the second MOS transistor, so that the off state of the second MOS transistor changes toward the complete off state. Therefore, even when the voltage source VCC of the input signal supplies a low voltage, and/or a large potential difference exists between the voltage source VCC of the input signal and the voltage source VPP of the level shifter, the output signal is surely fixed at the "L" level. It is possible to restrict effectively a through current flowing from the voltage source VPP of the level shifter to the ground VSS. Furthermore, according to the voltage-level shifter of the invention, the amplitude of the input signal is increased by the level shift at a single stage for outputting the signal of a large amplitude, so that the operation of shifting the voltage level can be performed fast, and required transistors can be reduced in number. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTI0N OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of the invention: Fig. 1 shows a structure of a voltage-level shifter according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows an operation timing of the voltage-level shifter according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows a structure for generating the S1 input signal of the invention; Fig. 4 shows a structure for generating the input signals of the invention; Fig. 5 shows an operation timing of the structure shown in Fig. 4 ; Fig. 6 shows a structure of a voltage-level shifter in the prior art; Fig. 7 shows a basic structure of the voltage-level shifter in the prior art; Fig. 8 shows an operation timing of the voltage-level shifter in the prior art; and Fig. 9 shows a structure of another conventional voltage-level shifter. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] A voltage-level shifter of a first embodiment of the invention will now be described below. Figs. 1 and 3 show a circuit structure, and Fig. 2 shows an operation timing. In Figs. 1 and 3, I1 and S1 indicate input signals, O1 indicates an output signal, 101 indicates a voltage-level shifter, 301 indicates a signal generating circuit (electric charge supply circuit), VCC indicates a first voltage source (voltage source of the input signal), VPP indicates a second voltage source (voltage source of the voltage-level shifter) and VSS indicates a ground voltage source. In the voltage-level shifter 101 in Fig. 1, Qn101 indicates an N-channel MOS transistor (first N-channel switch element), Qn101 indicates an N-channel MOS transistor (second N-channel switch element), Qp101 indicates a P-channel MOS transistor (first P-channel MOS transistor) and Qp102 indicates a P-channel MOS transistor (second P-channel MOS transistor). In the signal generating circuit (electric charge supply circuit) 301 in Fig. 3, Qn301 indicates an N-channel MOS transistor (third N-channel MOS transistor), C301 indicates a capacitor, N101 and N301-N303 indicate node names, 30 indicates a NOT circuit, 31 indicates a delay circuit, and 32 indicates an NOR gate. A circuit structure in Fig. 1 will be described below. The input signal I1 is connected to a source of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn101 and a gate of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn102, and a gate of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn101 is connected to the input signal S1. A source of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn102 is connected to the ground voltage source VSS, and sources of the P-channel MOS transistors Qp101 and transistor Qp102 are connected to the second voltage source VPP. A drain of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn101, a drain of the P-channel MOS transistor Qp101 and a gate of the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102 are connected together, and the output signal O1 is connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn101, the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor Qp101 and the gate of the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102. The circuit structure in Fig. 3 will be described below. A NOT signal of the input signal I1 is sent to the node N302. A delay signal of a phase opposite to that of the node 302 is sent to the node N303. An NOR (negative OR) between the nodes N302 and N303 is supplied to the node N301. The capacitor C301 is connected between the node N301 and the input signal S1. The input signal S1 is connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn301, of which source and gate are connected to the first voltage source VCC. Owing to the connection structure of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn101, as already described, the circuit serves also as a signal inverter circuit for inverting the input signal I1. An operation will be described below with reference to the operation timing diagram of Fig. 2. First, when the input signal I1 is at the "L" level, the node N301 in the signal generating circuit 301 is at the "L" level, and the input signal S1 is at a potential (VCC-Vtn) which is lower than the first voltage source VCC by a value corresponding to a threshold voltage (Vtn) of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn301. In the voltage-level shifter 101, the node N101 is at the "L" level, the N-channel MOS transistor Qn102 is off, the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102 is on, the output signal O1 is at the potential of the second voltage source VPP and thus at the "H" level, and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp101 is completely off. In the signal generating circuit 301, the node N301 generates a pulse signal changing between the "L" level and the "H" level during a delay time determined between the node N302 and the node N303. Therefore, the input signal S1 connected to the node N301 via the capacitor C301 generates a pulse signal changing between a potential of (VCC-Vtn) and a potential of (2xVCC-Vtn). In the voltage-level shifter 101, since the input signal I1 is at the "H" level, the N-channel MOS transistor Qn102 is completely off. The node N101 is at the potential of (VCC-2xVtn) when the input signal S1 is at the potential of (VCC-Vtn), but attains lower one between the potential of (2xVCC-Vtn) and the potential of the first voltage source VCC when the input signal S1 attains the potential of (2xVCC-Vtn). Assuming that VCC is 1.5V and Vtn is 0.7V, the node N101 attains the potential VCC. As described above, since the node N101 is set to VCC, the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102 is substantially turned off. Then, the output signal O1 attains the "L" level, and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp101 is completely turned on, so that the node N101 attains the potential of the second voltage source VPP, and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102 is completely turned off. The foregoing voltage-level shifter 101 has such a feature that, when the input signal I1 transits from the "L" level to the "H" level, the potential of the input signal S1 is raised to or above the first voltage source VCC, and the node N101 is set to the potential of the first voltage source VCC, whereby the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102 is substantially turned off. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a through current flowing from the second voltage source VPP to the ground voltage source VSS via the N-channel MOS transistor Qn102 and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102, and the voltage level of the output signal 01 can be rapidly fixed at the "L" level. In particular, even when the first voltage source VCC supplies a low voltage, and/or there is a large potential difference between the first and second voltage sources VCC and VPP, the voltage level of the output signal O1 can be rapidly fixed at the "L" level. Figs. 1 and 4 show a circuit structure, and Fig. 5 shows an operation timing. In Figs. 1 and 4, I1, I4 and S1 indicate input signals, O1 indicates an output signal, VCC indicates the first voltage source, VPP indicates the second voltage source and VSS indicates the ground voltage source. 101 indicates the voltage-level shifter, 401 indicates a signal generating circuit, Qn101, Qn102 and Qn401 indicate N-channel MOS transistors (third N-channel MOS transistor), Qp101 and Qp102 indicate P-channel MOS transistors. 40 indicates a NOT circuit, 41 indicates a delay circuit, and 42 indicates an NOR gate. C401 indicates a capacitor, and N401 and N402 indicate node names. The circuit structure in Fig. 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The circuit structure in Fig. 4 will be described below. A NOT signal of the input signal I4 is sent to the node N402, and an NOR between the node N402 and the input signal I1 is supplied to the node N401 as a delay signal of a phase opposite to that of the node N402. The capacitor C401 is connected between the node N401 and the input signal S1. The input signal S1 is connected to a drain of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn401, of which source and gate are connected to the first voltage source VCC. An operation will be described below with reference to the operation timing diagram of Fig. 5. First, when the input signal I4 is at the "L" level, the input signal I1 in the signal generating circuit 401 is at the "L" level, the node N401 is at the "L" level, and the input signal S1 is at a potential (VCC-Vtn) which is lower than the first voltage source VCC by a value corresponding to a threshold voltage (Vtn) of the N-channel MOS transistor Qn401. In the voltage-level shifter 101, similarly to the first embodiment, the node N101 is at the "L" level, the N-channel MOS transistor Qn102 is off, the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102 is on, the output signal O1 is at the potential of the second voltage source VPP and thus at the "H" level, and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp101 is completely off. When the input signal I4 transits from the "L" level to the "H" level, the signal generating circuit 401 operates such that the node N401 generates a pulse signal changing between the "L" level and the "H" level during a delay time of the input signal I1 from the node N402. Therefore, the input signal S1 connected to the node N401 via the capacitor C401 generates a pulse signal changing between a potential of (VCC-Vtn) and a potential of (2xVCC-Vtn). In the voltage-level shifter 101, the input signal I1 transits from the "L" level to the "H" level with a delay from input signal I4, and the N-channel MOS transistor Qn102 is completely turned off. The node N101 attains lower one between the potential of (2xVCC-Vtn) and the potential of the first voltage source VCC because the input signal S1 has already changed its potential from (VCC-Vtn) to (2xVCC-Vtn). Assuming that VCC is 1.5V and Vtn is 0.7V, the node N101 attains the potential VCC. As described above, since the node N101 attains VCC, the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102 is substantially turned off. Then, the output signal 01 attains the "L" level, and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp101 is completely turned on, so that the node N101 is set to the potential of the second voltage source VPP, and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102 is completely turned off. The foregoing voltage-level shifter 101 has such a feature that, when the input signal I1 transits from the "L" level to the "H" level, the input signal S1 is already raised to or above the first voltage source VCC, and thus the node N101 is set to the potential of the first voltage source VCC more rapidly than the first embodiment, whereby the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102 is substantially turned off. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a through current flowing from the second voltage source VPP to the ground voltage source VSS via the N-channel MOS transistor Qn102 and the P-channel MOS transistor Qp102, and the voltage level of the output signal 01 can be rapidly fixed at the "L" level. In particular, even when the first voltage source VCC supplies a low voltage, and/or there is a large potential difference between the first and second voltage sources VCC and VPP, the voltage level of the output signal 01 can be rapidly fixed at the "L" level.

Claims: Voltage-level shifter comprising: a high voltage power source (Vpp); first and second MOS transistors (Qp101,Qp102); a first MOS switch element (Qn101) including: a source receiving an input signal (11); a gate receiving a different input signal (S1); and a drain connected to a drain of the first MOS transistor and a gate of the second MOS transistor; and a second MOS switch element (Qn102) including: a gate receiving the input signal; a source that is grounded; and a drain, the potential of which serves as an output signal (O1); wherein the high voltage power source is connected to each source of the first and second MOS transistors, wherein a gate of the first MOS transistor, a drain of the second MOS transistor, and the drain of the second MOS switch element are connected to one another, wherein a potential of the input signal changes between ground potential at a "L" level and a set potential at a "H" level (Vcc), wherein a potential of the different input signal changes between a potential at a different "H" level higher than the set potential and a potential at a different "L" level lower than the potential at the different "H" level, wherein the high power voltage source supplies a potential higher than the set potential of the input signal, and wherein the output signal transits from the potential supplied by the high voltage power source to the ground potential while the potential of the input signal transits from the "L" level to the "H" level and the potential of the different input signal transits from the different "L" level to the different "H" level. Voltage-level shifter according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the first and second MOS transistors (Qp101,Qp102) is a P-channel MOS transistor, and each of the first and second MOS switch elements (Qn101,Qn102) is a N-channel MOS transistor. Voltage-level shifter according to claim 2, characterized by further including: a signal generating circuit (301) which generates the different input signal (S1) of a potential exceeding the set potential of the input signal (I1) when the input signal transits from the "L" level to the "H" level, and supplies the generated signal to the gate of the first N-channel MOS switch element (Qn101). Voltage-level shifter according to claim 3, characterized in that the signal generating circuit (301) includes: a NOT circuit (30) inverting the input signal (I1), a delay circuit (31) delaying an output signal of the NOT circuit for a predetermined time and inverting the same, a NOR gate (32) producing a signal by negating a logical sum of the output signal of the NOT circuit and the output signal of the delay circuit, a third N-channel MOS transistor (Qn301) having a source and a gate connected to a voltage source (Vcc) of the input signal (11), and a capacitor (C301) interposed between a drain of the third N-channel MOS transistor (Qn301) and the NOR gate; whereby the different input signal (S1) of a potential exceeding the set potential of the input signal (I1) is generated at the drain of the third N-channel MOS transistor (Qn301). Voltage-level shifter according to claim 2, characterized by further including: a signal generating circuit (401), which generates the different input signal (S1) of a potential exceeding the set potential (Vcc) of the input signal (I1) prior to the transition of the input signal (I1) from the "L" level to the "H" level, and supplies the generated signal (S1) to the gate of the first N-channel MOS switch element (Qn101).

Inventors: HIRANO HIROSHIGE, HIRANO, HIROSHIGE
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H03K19
IPC codes: H03K5, H03K19