Broadcom Corporation

Motorola Corporation

Darrin Robert Benzer

Robert Elio

Kent Charles Oertle

Duncan McFarland

Duncan A McFarland

Duncan Mcfarland

Robert F Elio

A high-voltage fail-safe input/output (I/O) interface circuit includes a voltage-divider circuit coupled to an I/O pad of the I/O interface circuit, and a selector circuit configured to couple, to a power supply line of the I/O interface circuit one of an output of the voltage-divider circuit or and I/O supply voltage. The voltage-divider circuit and the selector circuit are implemented on the same chip with the I/O interface circuit.

High voltage fail-safe IO design using thin oxide devices

According to one embodiment, a level shifter circuit operable with a low voltage input comprises first and second pull-down switches configured to receive the low voltage input as respective non-inverted and inverted control voltages, first and second pull-up switches coupled between the respective first and second pull-down switches and an output supply voltage, and a pull-up boost switching stage coupled to a node between the first pull-up switch and the first pull-down switch. The pull-up boost switching stage is configured to turn ON in response to the second pull-down switch turning ON, and to turn OFF before the first pull-up switch turns OFF. In one embodiment, the level shifter circuit may be implemented as part of an input/output (IO) pad of an integrated circuit (IC) fabricated on a semiconductor die.

Low voltage input level shifter circuit and method for utilizing same

Systems and methods are disclosed for operating a core circuitry of an integrated circuit at a lower voltage than the coupled IO circuitry using a tolerant circuit. In one embodiment includes a voltage tolerant circuit comprising a voltage detect module adapted to detect when a voltage is sufficient to switch bias conditions without violating maximum transistor operating conditions and a comparator adapted to detect when a PAD voltage is greater than an IO power supply voltage.

5 volt tolerant IO scheme using low-voltage devices

Methods are disclosed for translating or shifting a voltage level of a single ended input. More specifically, the present invention provides a method of translating or shifting a voltage level that doesn't require a complementary input or an additional power supply if the complementary signal isn't available. One embodiment of the method of translating a voltage level of a single-ended input signal using at least one native transistor device having a threshold voltage less than 0V comprises outputting a first voltage level if the single ended input signal is in a first state. A second voltage level is output if the single ended input is in a second state.

Multi-level/single ended input level shifter circuit

Systems and methods are disclosed for reducing or eliminating hot carrier injection stress in circuits. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an integrated circuit comprising an IO PAD, an output circuit coupled to at least the IO PAD and a stress circuit. The stress circuit is coupled to at least the output circuit and is adapted to limit a high voltage across the output circuit when the output circuit is enabled, thereby reducing stress on the output circuit. In one embodiment, the stress circuit comprises at least one transistor device (a p-channel device or two stacked p-channel devices, for example) and the output circuit comprises a transistor device (an n-channel device or two stacked n-channel devices).

Method and circuit for reducing HCI stress

The input stage of the fully differential amplifier output stage is configured in a differential pair configuration with a tail current. The tail current is divided between two legs of the input stage and is higher in the leg that has the higher of the two input voltage levels (in or inb). The devices in each leg of the fully differential amplifier output stage may be cascoded to avoid electrical voltage overstress. The top device in each leg of the differential input stage may be coupled in a diode configuration and is utilized to mirror the current into another NMOS current mirror as well as to a PMOS output device. The gate of the PMOS output devices are connected in a cross-coupled configuration. The NMOS current mirrors are utilized to mirror the current into the NMOS output devices in a non-cross-coupled configuration.

Method and apparatus for a fully differential amplifier output stage

5 Volt tolerant IO scheme using low-voltage devices

Systems and methods are disclosed for a multi-level level shifter circuit having a single ended input and adapted to translate one or more signals from one voltage level to another. More specifically, the present invention provides a level shifter that doesn't require a complementary input or an additional power supply if the complementary signal isn't available. One embodiment of the level shifter circuit device having a single-ended input comprises at least three transistor devices. The first transistor device is coupled to at least the input and is adapted to have a threshold voltage less than 0V. The second transistor device is coupled to at least the first transistor device, while a level shifter transistor device is coupled to at least the first and second transistor devices.

A circuit and method are provided for generating a programmable clock signal VRCLK at a frequency of a reference signal VREF such that the phase of VRCLK in relation to the phase of VREF is variable. VREF and VRCLK are each coupled to a frequency comparing circuit which computes their respective frequencies. The frequency comparing circuit subtracts the respective frequencies of VREF and VRCLK to produce a frequency adjusting signal VFREQ which corresponds to the difference in the frequencies of VREF and VRCLK. VFREQ is used to adjust the frequency of VRCLK.

Growing community of inventors

Chandler, AZ, United States of America

Darrin Robert Benzer