Patent ID: 8169257

Claim:
A system, comprising: a first circuit having a first power supply terminal coupled to positive power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal, and an input/output; a second circuit having a first power supply terminal coupled the second power supply terminal of the first circuit, a second power supply terminal, and an input/output; a third circuit having a first power supply terminal coupled the second power supply terminal of the second circuit, a second power supply terminal, and an input/output; a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the input/output of the first circuit and a second terminal coupled to the input/output of the second circuit; and a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor and a second terminal coupled to the input/output of the third circuit, wherein the first circuit is for precharging the first terminal of the first capacitor to a first voltage during a precharge phase, wherein the first voltage is between a voltage present on the first power supply terminal and the second power supply terminal of the first circuit; wherein the second circuit is for precharging the second terminal of the first capacitor and the first terminal of the second capacitor to a second voltage during the precharge phase, wherein the second voltage is between a voltage present on the first power supply terminal and the second power supply terminal of the second circuit; and wherein the third circuit is for precharging the second terminal of the second capacitor to a third voltage during the precharge phase, wherein the third voltage is between a voltage present on the first power supply terminal and the second power supply terminal of the third circuit.