Patent ID: 6870407

Claim:
An integrated circuit (IC), comprising: core circuitry, coupled to a reference voltage and a first source voltage, that generates a first pull-up signal and a first pull-down signal each operable within a lower voltage range defined by said reference and first source voltages; a digital level shifter, coupled to said reference and first source voltages and to a second source voltage, said second source voltage being greater than said first source voltage, said digital level shifter receiving said first pull-up signal and providing a second pull-up signal indicative thereof, and receiving said first pull-down signal and providing a second pull-down signal indicative thereof, wherein said second pull-up and pull-down signals are operable between said reference and second source voltages; and a scaled driver device, comprising: first and second cascoded scaled P-channel devices coupled together at a first node and between said first source voltage and an output; and an N-channel device coupled between said output and said reference voltage; wherein said first scaled P-channel device has a gate receiving said second pull-up signal, and wherein said second scaled P-channel device has a gate coupled to a static voltage having a voltage level that protects said first scaled P-channel device from gate oxide breakdown.