Arm Limited

Flora Leymarie

Jean-Claude Duby

Thierry Padilla

Mikael Rien

Fabrice Blanc

Circuitry comprises a high voltage rail providing a high voltage level corresponding to a higher voltage domain, an intermediate voltage source, a low voltage rail, and devices that operate in a lower voltage domain. First devices in an upper voltage region are powered between the high voltage rail and an intermediate voltage rail powered by the intermediate source. Second devices in a lower voltage region are powered between the intermediate and low rails. On power up, the intermediate source is powered before the high voltage rail. An isolating circuit connects the intermediate source to a node when the high voltage rail is powered and isolates the node from the intermediate source when the high voltage rail is not powered to impede current flow from the intermediate source to the high voltage rail.

Protecting lower voltage domain devices during operation in a higher voltage domain

An apparatus is disclosed for receiving input signals in a first higher voltage domain and for generating and outputting signals in a second lower voltage domain, said apparatus comprising: an input pad; output circuitry, said output circuitry being configured to switch to output a first predetermined value in response to a rising input signal exceeding an upper threshold value and to switch to output a second predetermined value in response to a falling input signal falling below a lower threshold value; a first input path; a second input path; and a controllable connecting path between said first and second inputs.

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Claix, France

Flora Leymarie