QUALCOMM Incorporated
Static and intermittent dynamic multi-bias core for dual pad voltage level shifter

Abstract:

An output driver in an integrated circuit includes a voltage shifter. The output driver has a low voltage section configured to provide a low voltage signal responsive to an input signal and a high voltage section configured to provide a high voltage signal responsive to the input signal. A first biasing circuit is configured to provide a bias to a first transistor in the high voltage section such that the bias is modified during a transition in the output signal. A second biasing circuit is configured to turn on a second transistor in the high voltage section when the output signal is at a low voltage level. The second transistor is configured to discharge a terminal of the first transistor. The input signal switches between 0 Volts and 0.9 Volts. The output signal switches between 0 Volts and 1.2 Volts or between 0 Volts and 1.8 Volts.