Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Voltage level shifter with multi-step programmable high supply voltage and high supply voltage-dependent variable low supply and gate bias voltages
-
Application No.: US18350327Application Date: 2023-07-11
-
Publication No.: US12283952B2Publication Date: 2025-04-22
- Inventor: Siva Kumar Chinthu , Venkatesh Periyapatna Gopinath , Suresh Pasupula , Devesh Dwivedi
- Applicant: GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc.
- Applicant Address: US NY Malta
- Assignee: GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc.
- Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US NY Malta
- Agency: Hoffman Warnick LLC
- Agent David Cain
- Main IPC: H03K19/00
- IPC: H03K19/00 ; H03K19/0185 ; H03K19/20

Abstract:
A structure includes a level shifter, first and second variable voltage generators, and a programmable voltage generator. The level shifter includes low and high supply voltage nodes and two parallel branches, including multiple transistors, connected between the nodes. The programmable voltage generator generates and applies a high supply voltage (VH) to the high supply voltage node. VH is programmable to one of multiple possible VH levels. Based on the voltage level of VH, the first variable voltage generator generates and applies a low supply voltage (VL) to the low supply voltage node and the second variable voltage generator generates and applies a gate bias voltage (VGB) to gates of some transistors. By tracking VH and adjusting VL and VGB based on thereon, the voltage level shifter operates within the SOA at high VHs, remains operable at low VHs, and maintains operating speed at mid-level VHs.
Public/Granted literature
Information query