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:
Oct. 03, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 20, 1998
Joseph D Wert, Arlington, TX (US);
Richard L Duncan, Bedford, TX (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A circuit for voltage translation includes protection against gate oxide breakdown when translating a lower voltage signal into a higher voltage signal. An input signal inverter circuit inverts the lower voltage signal into an intermediate signal having an increased minimum value. By raising the maximum value of the intermediate signal to the voltage level of the higher voltage signal, an output signal inverter circuit produces a driving signal to drive an output stage. However, because the increased minimum value of the signal is maintained, the gate oxide breakdown voltage is not exceeded in the circuit. The circuit also includes a blocking transistor between the input signal inverter and the output signal inverter to prevent the larger driving signal from overloading the input inverter circuit.