Patent ID: 6864718

Claim:
A complementary metal oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) charge pump level converter circuit comprising: a differential cascode voltage switch module operating with a high supply voltage having a low voltage first input and a complementary low voltage second input coupled to a first and a second cascode structures respectively for generating a first output and a complementary second output; a first pre-charge module operating with a low supply voltage coupled between the first input and a gate of a first transistor of the first cascode structure; and a second pre-charge module operating with the low supply voltage coupled between the second input and a gate of a second transistor of the second cascode structure, wherein the first input is further coupled to a gate of a third transistor which is in series with the first transistor in the first cascode structure, and the second input is further coupled to a gate of a fourth transistor which is in series with the second transistor in the second cascode structure, and wherein the first and second pre-charge modules drive the first and second transistors in response to a change of the first and second inputs while protecting the third and fourth transistors from high voltage stress.