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.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 20, 2009

Filed:

Dec. 17, 2007
Applicants:

William B. Andrews, Macungie, PA (US);

Mou C. Lin, High Bridge, NJ (US);

John Schadt, Bethlehem, PA (US);

Inventors:

William B. Andrews, Macungie, PA (US);

Mou C. Lin, High Bridge, NJ (US);

John Schadt, Bethlehem, PA (US);

Assignee:

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation, Hillsboro, OR (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H03K 19/0175 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, a programmable level shifter can be selectively configured to operate in either a high-speed mode or a low-power mode. In both modes, the level shifter converts an input signal in one power supply domain into an output signal in another power supply domain. In the high-speed mode, p-type devices are configured as a current-mirror amplifier that provides the level shifter with relatively fast switching speed. In the low-power mode, the same p-type devices are configured as a cross-coupled latch that provides the level shifter with relatively low power consumption. Selectively enabled n-type devices provide the low-power mode with larger effective n-type devices to flip the cross-coupled latch formed by the p-type devices in the low-power mode.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…