Patent ID: 7276953

Claim:
An integrated circuit powered by a power supply voltage having a first magnitude, comprising: at least one high voltage input node that receives an input signal having a potential swing of a second magnitude that is greater than the first magnitude; and a plurality of transistors, the majority of which are low voltage transistors, the plurality of transistors including at least one first high voltage input transistor having a gate terminal coupled to the at least one first high voltage input node and a source-drain path coupled between the power supply voltage and a first internal node, the at least one first high voltage input transistor designed to withstand a higher gate voltage than the low voltage transistors; at least one first current source circuit coupled to the source of the at least one first high voltage input transistor that provides a current controlled according to a first current reference voltage; the plurality of transistors further including at least one second high voltage input transistor having a gate terminal coupled to a reference voltage and a source-drain path coupled between the power supply voltage and a reference node; and at least a second current source circuit coupled to the source of the at least one second high voltage input transistor that provides a current controlled according to a second current reference voltage.