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:
Nov. 01, 2016

Filed:

Jan. 24, 2012
Applicants:

Amir Amirkhany, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Chaofeng Huang, San Jose, CA (US);

Inventors:

Amir Amirkhany, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Chaofeng Huang, San Jose, CA (US);

Assignee:

Rambus Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H03K 3/01 (2006.01); H01L 27/02 (2006.01); H03K 19/003 (2006.01); H03K 19/0185 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H03K 3/01 (2013.01); H01L 27/0251 (2013.01); H03K 19/00315 (2013.01); H03K 19/018521 (2013.01); H03K 19/018528 (2013.01);
Abstract

An integrated circuit supports multiple communication modes using different input/output (IO) voltages. The IC includes a low-voltage communication circuit operating at a low IO voltage in a low-voltage mode, and a high-voltage communication circuit operating at a high IO voltage in a high-voltage mode. The low-voltage communication circuit includes low-voltage transistors in a critical path that exhibits sensitivity to a destructive voltage less than the high IO voltage. The low-voltage communication circuit is therefore provided with protection circuitry to protect the low-voltage transistors from the high 10 voltage.


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