Patent ID: 8890789

Claim:
A level shift circuit comprising: first and second transistors of a first conductive type which are coupled between a first supply terminal, and first and second output terminals, respectively, and have respective control terminals receiving input signals which are relatively low in amplitude and complementary to each other; third and fourth transistors of a second conductive type which are coupled between a second supply terminal, and the first and second output terminals, respectively; a fifth transistor of the second conductive type which is coupled between a control terminal of the third transistor and the second output terminal, and has a control terminal coupled to the first output terminal; a sixth transistor of the second conductive type which is coupled between a control terminal of the fourth transistor and the first output terminal, and has a control terminal coupled to the second output terminal; a first load element which is coupled between the control terminal of the third transistor and the second supply terminal, and operates to change a voltage across the control terminal of the third transistor so that the third transistor turns off; and a second load element which is coupled between the control terminal of the fourth transistor and the second supply terminal, and operates to change a voltage across the control terminal of the fourth transistor so that the fourth transistor turns off, wherein the control terminal of the third transistor is coupled to the second output terminal by way of the fifth transistor and coupled to the second supply terminal by way of the first load element, wherein the control terminal of the fourth transistor is coupled to the first output terminal by way of the sixth transistor and coupled to the second supply terminal by way of the second load element, and wherein output signals that are relatively high in amplitude and complementary to each other are output from the first and second output terminals.