Patent ID: 8610462

Claim:
A level shifter comprising: input and output terminals, wherein the level shifter is operable to shift an input signal that ranges from a ground voltage to a first positive voltage to an output signal that ranges from the ground voltage to a second positive voltage that is greater than the first positive voltage; a first kicker transistor having a first source-drain terminal operable to receive a buffered version of the input signal and having a second source-drain terminal coupled to the output terminal, wherein the first kicker transistor is operable to receive a gate signal that turns on the first kicker transistor when the input signal is at the ground voltage and wherein, as the input signal transitions from the ground voltage to the first positive voltage, the first kicker transistor is operable to pull the output terminal at least up to the first positive voltage; and a shifter circuit coupled between the input and output terminals and operable to shift the input signal that ranges from the ground voltage to the first positive voltage to the output signal that ranges from the ground voltage to the second positive voltage that is greater than the first positive voltage, wherein the shifter circuit comprises at least a given transistor having a first thickness and wherein the first kicker transistor has a second thickness that is different from the first thickness.