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:
Jul. 08, 2008
Filed:
Jan. 27, 2006
Dipankar Bhattacharya, Macungie, Lehigh County, PA (US);
Makeshwar Kothandaraman, Whitehall, Lehigh County, PA (US);
John C. Kriz, Palmerton, Carbon County, PA (US);
Bernard L. Morris, Emmaus, Lehigh County, PA (US);
Joseph E. Simko, Whitehall, Lehigh County, PA (US);
Dipankar Bhattacharya, Macungie, Lehigh County, PA (US);
Makeshwar Kothandaraman, Whitehall, Lehigh County, PA (US);
John C. Kriz, Palmerton, Carbon County, PA (US);
Bernard L. Morris, Emmaus, Lehigh County, PA (US);
Joseph E. Simko, Whitehall, Lehigh County, PA (US);
Agere Systems Inc., Allentown, PA (US);
Abstract
A voltage level translator circuit for translating an input signal referenced to a first voltage supply to an output signal referenced to a second voltage supply includes an input stage for receiving the input signal, the input stage including at least one transistor device having a first threshold voltage associated therewith. The voltage level translator circuit further includes a latch circuit operative to store a signal representative of a logic state of the input signal, the latch circuit including at least one transistor device having a second threshold voltage associated therewith, the second threshold voltage being greater than the first threshold voltage. A voltage clamp circuit is connected between the input stage and the latch circuit. The voltage clamp circuit is operative to limit a voltage across the input stage, an amplitude of the voltage across the input stage being controlled as a function of a voltage difference between the first and second voltage supplies.