US 11,695,416 B2
Level shifter
Wan-Yen Lin, Kaohsiung (TW); Chia-Hui Chen, Hsinchu (TW); and Chia-Jung Chang, Hsinchu (TW)
Assigned to TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Filed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Hsinchu (TW)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/503,903.
Application 17/503,903 is a continuation of application No. 16/804,099, filed on Feb. 28, 2020, granted, now 11,152,937.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/855,363, filed on May 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0149837 A1, May 12, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H03K 19/0175 (2006.01); H03K 17/689 (2006.01); H03K 3/356 (2006.01); H03K 19/0185 (2006.01)
CPC H03K 17/689 (2013.01) [H03K 3/356104 (2013.01); H03K 19/0175 (2013.01); H03K 19/017509 (2013.01); H03K 19/018507 (2013.01); H03K 19/018514 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A level shifter, comprising:
first and second input terminals configured to receive complementary first and second input signals of a low voltage domain;
first and second output terminals configured to provide complementary first and second output signals of a high voltage domain;
an input circuit coupled between the first and second input terminals and the first and second output terminals, and further coupled with control nodes configured to provide first and second control signals based on the complementary first and second input signals, wherein providing the first and second control signals includes providing the lower of the complementary first and second input signals as the first or second control signal;
a tracking circuit coupled with the control nodes, and configured to generate first and second tracking signals based on the first and second control signals, wherein the tracking circuit is configured to output the first tracking signal according to which is greater of the first control signal and a low voltage of the high voltage domain, and wherein the tracking circuit is configured to output the second tracking signal according to which is greater between the second control signal and the low voltage of the high voltage domain; and
a cross-latch circuit coupled with the tracking circuit, and configured to provide the complementary first and second output signals of the high voltage domain to the first and second output terminals based on the tracking signals.