The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 29, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 29, 1991
VLSI Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A logic level shifter characterized by a first inverting stage which shifts an input signal downwardly to a lower level, and a second inverting stage which shifts the lower level upwardly to an output signal level which is greater than the input signal level. Feedback from the output is used to virtually eliminate static current drain when the input logic level is 0. The method of the invention involves downwardly shifting an input range of voltages to a lower range of voltages, and then upwardly shifting the lower range of voltages to an output range of voltages which is greater than the input range of voltages. There is preferably a first inversion in the downward shift and a second inversion in the upward shift. A sensing step senses the output voltage to reduce the static current consumed by the process.