Abstract: An apparatus is provided to enable power supply input to be isolated from power supply output. Power is received from a first power signal at a first of a plurality of charge stores. A second power signal is output from a second of the plurality of charge stores. The second power signal is isolated from the first power supply. The first charge store can be charged from the power input whilst isolated from the power output. The second charge store can be discharged to the power output, while isolated from the power input.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a power input, a power output, and a plurality of independent powering units each comprising at least one charge store. Each of the plurality of powering units is capable of receiving power from the power input while isolating the power output, and each of the plurality of powering units is capable of outputting power to the power output while isolating the power input.

Abstract: The present invention provides a receiver circuit and method for receiving an input signal from a source voltage domain and converting the input signal into an output signal for a destination voltage domain. The source voltage domain operates from a supply voltage that exceeds a stressing threshold of components within the receiver circuitry, and the receiver circuitry is configured to operate from the supply voltage of the source voltage domain. The receiver circuitry comprises first internal signal generation circuitry configured to convert the input signal into a first internal signal in a first voltage range, and second internal signal generation circuitry configured to convert the input signal into a second internal signal in a second voltage range.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a circuit for translating an input signal from a source voltage domain to an output signal for a destination voltage domain that is is different than the source voltage domain. The circuit may include a level shifting portion configured to operate with a supply voltage that exceeds a stressing threshold of one or more components within the circuit. The level shifting portion may be configured to generate the output signal for the destination voltage domain based on the input signal and a power management signal. The circuit may include an isolating portion configured to isolate the one or more components from the supply voltage during activation and deactivation of the circuit based on the power management signal.

Abstract: A power supply clamp connectable between power rails of an electronic circuit comprises a switching component which is switchable to provide a connection path between the power rails of the electronic circuit; a first detector configured to detect an electrostatic discharge event having a first characteristic time period and to generate a detector output signal in response to the detection; a series of one or more successive intermediate amplification stages between the first detector and the switching component, the series of amplification stages providing a control signal path for a control signal to control switching of the switching component in response to the detector output signal; and a second detector configured to detect an electrostatic discharge event having a second characteristic time period, shorter than the first characteristic time period, the second detector being provided at a node in the control signal path subsequent to the first detector (for example, at a second or subsequent one of the

Abstract: Power is received from a first power signal a first of a plurality of charge stores. A second power signal is output from a second of the plurality of charge stores. The second power signal is isolated from the first power supply.

Abstract: Power is received from a first power signal at a first of a plurality of charge stores. A second power signal is output from a second of the plurality of charge stores. The second power signal is isolated from the first power supply.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may include signal generation circuitry that receives an input signal from a first voltage domain and generates multiple internal signals based on the input signal. The integrated circuit may include signal evaluation circuitry that receives the multiple internal signals from the signal generation circuitry and provides an intermediate signal based on the multiple internal signals. The integrated circuit may include signal conversion circuitry that receives the intermediate signal and provides an output signal for a second voltage domain based on the intermediate signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided with interface circuitry used to provide an interface between functional circuitry of the integrated circuit and components external to the integrated circuit. The interface circuitry includes a plurality of interface cells having interface components configured to operate from a first power supply. Each interface cell incorporates a power supply line section extending across its width and configured to cooperate with power supply line sections of other interface cells to provide a power supply line structure shared by the plurality of interface cells, for provision of the first power supply to the interface components. Each power supply line section includes a first supply line portion and a second supply line portion, the first supply line portion being sized to support a current carrying constraint of the interface circuitry, while the second supply line portion is sized insufficiently to support that current carrying constraint.

Abstract: The present invention provides a receiver circuit and method for receiving an input signal from a source voltage domain and converting the input signal into an output signal for a destination voltage domain. The source voltage domain operates from a supply voltage that exceeds a stressing threshold of components within the receiver circuitry, and the receiver circuitry is configured to operate from the supply voltage of the source voltage domain. The receiver circuitry comprises first internal signal generation circuitry configured to convert the input signal into a first internal signal in a first voltage range, and second internal signal generation circuitry configured to convert the input signal into a second internal signal in a second voltage range.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to circuit. The circuit may include a first input stage having first devices and a first path for slow slew input detection. The circuit may include a second input stage having second devices and a second path for fast slew input detection. The circuit may include a separation stage that couples the second input stage to the first input stage during a first mode of operation so as to reduce power consumption of the circuit during slow slew input detection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a receiver circuit and method for receiving an input signal from a source voltage domain and converting the input signal into an output signal for a destination voltage domain. The source voltage domain operates from a supply voltage that exceeds a stressing threshold of components within the receiver circuitry, and the receiver circuitry is configured to operate from the supply voltage of the source voltage domain. The receiver circuitry comprises first internal signal generation circuitry configured to convert the input signal into a first internal signal in a first voltage range, and second internal signal generation circuitry configured to convert the input signal into a second internal signal in a second voltage range.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to circuit. The circuit may include a first input stage having first devices and a first path for slow slew input detection. The circuit may include a second input stage having second devices and a second path for fast slew input detection. The circuit may include a separation stage that couples the second input stage to the first input stage during a first mode of operation so as to reduce power consumption of the circuit during slow slew input detection.

Abstract: Output signal generation circuitry 100 may be used for converting an input signal 110 from a source voltage domain to an output signal for a destination voltage domain, the destination voltage domain operating from a supply voltage that exceeds a stressing threshold of components within the output signal generation circuitry. The output signal generation circuitry may comprise level shifting circuitry 160 operating from the supply voltage, which is configured to generate at an output node 130 the output signal for the destination voltage domain in dependence on the input signal. The output signal generation circuitry may also comprise tracking circuitry 280A, 280B, 280C, 280D associated with at least one component of the level shifting circuitry to ensure that a voltage drop across the at least one component does not exceed the stressing threshold, wherein the tracking circuitry additionally introduces a delay in a change in the output signal in response to a change in the input signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided with interface circuitry used to provide an interface between functional circuitry of the integrated circuit and components external to the integrated circuit. The functional circuitry is configured to operate from a first power supply and has a power supply distribution network associated therewith providing the first power supply to the functional components of the functional circuitry. The interface comprises a plurality of interface cells that have interface components operating from a second power supply different to the first power supply. A power supply line structure is shared by the plurality of interface cells, and arranged to provide the second power supply to the interface components. In addition, at least a subset of the interface cells include additional interface components that operate from the first power supply.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may include signal generation circuitry that receives an input signal from a first voltage domain and generates multiple internal signals based on the input signal. The integrated circuit may include signal evaluation circuitry that receives the multiple internal signals from the signal generation circuitry and provides an intermediate signal based on the multiple internal signals. The integrated circuit may include signal conversion circuitry that receives the intermediate signal and provides an output signal for a second voltage domain based on the intermediate signal.

Abstract: A power supply clamp connectable between power rails of an electronic circuit comprises a switching component which is switchable to provide a connection path between the power rails of the electronic circuit; a first detector configured to detect an electrostatic discharge event having a first characteristic time period and to generate a detector output signal in response to the detection; a series of one or more successive intermediate amplification stages between the first detector and the switching component, the series of amplification stages providing a control signal path for a control signal to control switching of the switching component in response to the detector output signal; and a second detector configured to detect an electrostatic discharge event having a second characteristic time period, shorter than the first characteristic time period, the second detector being provided at a node in the control signal path subsequent to the first detector (for example, at a second or subsequent one of the

Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a circuit for translating an input signal from a source voltage domain to an output signal for a destination voltage domain that is is different than the source voltage domain. The circuit may include a level shifting portion configured to operate with a supply voltage that exceeds a stressing threshold of one or more components within the circuit. The level shifting portion may be configured to generate the output signal for the destination voltage domain based on the input signal and a power management signal. The circuit may include an isolating portion configured to isolate the one or more components from the supply voltage during activation and deactivation of the circuit based on the power management signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a receiver circuit and method for receiving an input signal from a source voltage domain and converting the input signal into an output signal for a destination voltage domain. The source voltage domain operates from a supply voltage that exceeds a stressing threshold of components within the receiver circuitry, and the receiver circuitry is configured to operate from the supply voltage of the source voltage domain. The receiver circuitry comprises first internal signal generation circuitry configured to convert the input signal into a first internal signal in a first voltage range, and second internal signal generation circuitry configured to convert the input signal into a second internal signal in a second voltage range.

Abstract: Output signal generation circuitry 100 may be used for converting an input signal 110 from a source voltage domain to an output signal for a destination voltage domain, the destination voltage domain operating from a supply voltage that exceeds a stressing threshold of components within the output signal generation circuitry. The output signal generation circuitry may comprise level shifting circuitry 160 operating from the supply voltage, which is configured to generate at an output node 130 the output signal for the destination voltage domain in dependence on the input signal. The output signal generation circuitry may also comprise tracking circuitry 280A, 280B, 280C, 280D associated with at least one component of the level shifting circuitry to ensure that a voltage drop across the at least one component does not exceed the stressing threshold, wherein the tracking circuitry additionally introduces a delay in a change in the output signal in response to a change in the input signal.