Importance

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Abstract

In one embodiment, a level shifter has a cascade voltage-switching logic (CVSL) structure having two pull-up networks connected in a positive feedback arrangement, each pull-up network connected in series with a corresponding pull-down network. The effective transistor sizes of the two pull-up networks are different such that, at power on, if a level-shifter node connected to an output inverter initially has an in-between voltage level (e.g., at or near the midpoint between the output voltage-domain power-supply voltage and ground), the node voltage will quickly be driven either high or low (depending on the level-shifter design and other initial conditions), thereby reducing leakage current through the output inverter that could otherwise be maintained if the pull-up networks had the same effective transistor size. In addition, one of the pull-down networks has an additional pull-down transistor to accelerate node-voltage driving away from the midpoint to ensure proper operation of the level shifter.

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First Claim