Patent ID: 8436671

Claim:
A level shifter, comprising: an input node; an output node; a pull-up transistor, wherein the pull-up transistor is configured to be in a conductive state during an entire period of operation; a pull-down transistor; and at least one first diode-connected device coupled between the pull-up transistor and the output node, a gate of the at least one first diode-connected device coupled to a source or a drain of the pull-up transistor; and at least one second diode-connected device coupled between the pull-down transistor and the output node, wherein the level shifter is arranged to be coupled to a high power supply voltage, to receive an input signal having a first voltage level corresponding to a high logic level at the input node, and to supply an output signal having a second voltage level corresponding to a high logic level at the output node, the high power supply voltage is higher than the first voltage level, the at least one first diode-connected device arranged to allow the output signal to be pulled up to about a first diode voltage drop below the high power supply voltage using the pull-up transistor and the at least one second diode-connected device arranged to allow the output signal to be pulled down to about a second diode voltage drop above ground using the pull-down transistor, and the first diode voltage drop is from the at least one first diode and the second diode voltage drop is from the at least one second diode-connected device.