Patent ID: 6919743

Claim:
A drive circuit for outputting to an output node a potential corresponding to an input potential, comprising: a first level shift circuit outputting a potential produced by level shifting an input potential by a first voltage, in a first potential direction, to produce an output potential of said first level shift circuit, wherein said first level shift circuit includes a first current limiting element having a first electrode receiving a first power supply potential, a first transistor of a first conductivity type, having a first electrode receiving a second power supply potential, a second electrode, and an input electrode receiving the input potential, and second transistor of a second conductivity type, having a first electrode and an input electrode connected to the second electrode of said first current limiting element, and having a second electrode connected to the second electrode of said first transistor; and a second level shift circuit outputting a potential produced by level shifting the output potential of said first level shift circuit by a second voltage, in a second potential direction, opposite the first potential direction, to an output node, wherein said second level shift circuit includes a third transistor of the second conductivity type, having a first electrode receiving a third power supply potential, a second electrode, and an input electrode connected to the second electrode of said first current limiting element, and a fourth transistor of the first conductivity type, having a first electrode connected to the second electrode of said third transistor, and having a second electrode and an input electrode connected to the output node.