Advanced Micro Devices Corporation

Baumer Electric Ag

Albrecht Schoy

Reading G Maley

Bruno Weisshaupt

Helmut Vietze

Robin J Miller

An improved gate oxide protected level shifter is provided which has a higher speed of operation than is traditionally available. The level shifter includes a first capacitor coupled between a first output terminal and the input of an inverter and a second capacitor coupled between a first node and the output of the inverter. As a result, the speed of the transitions at the gates of the pair of cross-coupled P-channel MOS transistors is increased several times.

High speed gate oxide protected level shifter

A reference voltage generation circuit is provided for use in gate oxide protected circuits for generating an NMOS reference voltage and PMOS reference voltage in which the NMOS reference voltage is independent of an I/O buffer power supply potential and in which the PMOS reference voltage tracks the supply voltage. The reference voltage generation circuit includes a bandgap voltage reference circuit, a first operational amplifier, a voltage divider and a second operational amplifier. In one embodiment, the NMOS reference voltage is approximately +2.2 volts and is referenced with respect to ground. The PMOS reference voltage is approximately +1.1 volts and referenced with respect to the I/O buffer power supply voltage and the NMOS reference voltage.

Reference voltage generation scheme for gate oxide protected circuits

A measurement circuit in the output circuit of a sensor detects the polarity of a source to which a load is connected. The detection of one of the two polarities establishes one of two states which is stored in a storing element and the correct one of two drivers is switched to the output terminals. This state is maintained for as long as there is no change to the polarity at the output terminals. If the terminals are interchanged, then the measurement circuit correctly restores the stored state, so that the correct driver is associated with the load in each case. If positive instead of negative switching sensors are required, there is no need to replace the equipment. When the voltage is turned on, the equipment is initialized, so that it is set in accordance with the new circumstances.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Albrecht Schoy