Patent ID: 7626441

Claim:
A drive circuit with a BOT level shifter for transmitting an input signal from a drive logic to a BOT driver, wherein the BOT level shifter comprises an UP level shifter branch; a DOWN level shifter branch; and a signal evaluation circuit connected downstream of said UP and DOWN level shifter branches; wherein said UP level shifter branch is formed from two partial branches, which are each formed from the series arrangement of two respective n-channel transistors (M 1 , M 3 and M 2 , M 4 ), wherein the input signal is present at M 1 and the invert of the input signal is present at M 2 , a respective diode (D 1 and D 2 ) and two respective p-channel transistors (M 5 , M 7 and M 6 , M 8 ); and said DOWN level shifter branch is formed from two partial branches, which are each formed from the series arrangement of two respective p-channel transistors (M 11 , M 13 and M 12 , M 14 ), wherein the input signal is present at M 12 and the invert of the input signal is present at M 11 , a respective diode (D 11 and D 12 ) and two respective n-channel transistors (M 15 , M 17 and M 16 , M 18 ).