Patent ID: 8143916

Claim:
A level shift circuit comprising: a high potential power supply for generating a high potential; a low potential power supply for generating a low potential; a ground potential power supply for generating a ground potential; a level shift section for receiving a low potential signal oscillating between the low potential and the ground potential, and converting the low potential signal into a high potential signal oscillating between the high potential and the ground potential; an inverter section for inverting-amplifying the high potential signal from the level shift section, the inverter section including two transistors; an N-type MOS transistor for supplying the ground potential to the inverter section, the N-type MOS transistor being connected in series to the inverter section between the high potential power supply and the ground potential power supply, and having its gate electrode directly connected to the low potential power supply; and an output signal line connected to an output node between a drain of each of the two transistors in the inverter section.