Patent ID: 8054281

Claim:
A level shifter comprising: first and second transistors serially coupled between a first power supply for supplying a first power and a second power supply for supplying a second power having a lower voltage level than that of the first power, the first and second transistors being different type transistors from each other; a first capacitor coupled between a gate electrode of the first transistor and a gate electrode of the second transistor; an input line for a first input signal coupled to the gate electrode of the first transistor or the gate electrode of the second transistor, and coupled to a first electrode of the first capacitor; a third transistor between a second electrode of the first capacitor and a third power supply, the third transistor having a gate electrode coupled to an input line for a second input signal, wherein the gate electrode of the first transistor and the gate electrode of the third transistor are configured to be driven by waveforms that are opposite to each other; and a fourth transistor between the second electrode of the first capacitor and the third transistor, the fourth transistor having a gate electrode and a first electrode that are coupled to each other and the second electrode of the first capacitor, such that the fourth transistor is diode-connected.