Abstract: A low-power consumption level shifter circuit is provided by preventing a through current which is generated when a level of a signal is changed. In order to prevent a through current which flows when a level of a signal of the input is changed, the p-channel TFTs are controlled so that the p-channel TFTs and the n-channel TFT or the p-channel TFTs and the n-channel TFT are not turned on at once. A high level signal is inputted to the gate of the n-channel TFT, and at the moment when the n-channel TFT is turned on, the p-channel TFT is turned off. Similarly, at the moment when the n-channel TFT is turned on, the p-channel TFT is turned off. The p-channel TFTs and the n-channel TFT, or the p-channel TFTs and the n-channel TFT are not turned on at once, thereby a path in which the through current flows is cut off.

Abstract: To provide a circuit used for a shift register or the like. The basic configuration includes first to fourth transistors and four wirings. The power supply potential VDD is supplied to the first wiring and the power supply potential VSS is supplied to the second wiring. A binary digital signal is supplied to each of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. An H level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VDD, and an L level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VSS. There are four combinations of the potentials of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. Each of the first transistor to the fourth transistor can be turned off by any combination of the potentials. That is, since there is no transistor that is constantly on, deterioration of the characteristics of the transistors can be suppressed.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus of the present invention includes a first to a fourth external terminals and a decoding circuit. The semiconductor apparatus in a first mode inputs a first encoded data from the first external terminal, decodes a second encoded data by the decoding circuit to generate a first decoded data, outputs the first decoded data from the fourth external terminal, and the semiconductor apparatus in a second mode, inputs the second encoded data from the first external terminal, outputs the second encoded data input from the first external terminal from the second external terminal, inputs the second encoded data output from the second external terminal from the third external terminal, decodes the second encoded data input from the third external terminal by the decoding circuit to generate a second decoded data and outputs the second decoded data from the fourth external terminal.

Abstract: A core unit implements a predetermined function. An I/O unit controls input from and output to the outside. The core unit and the I/O unit are subject to independent control for supply of power. When power is turned off in the core unit, a signal output from the I/O unit to the core unit is fixed at a low level, while power is maintained in the I/O unit. A first level shifter and a second level shifter are provided between the core unit and the I/O unit and cancel a difference in power supply voltage level between the units. Power is turned off in the first level shifter and the second level shifter when power is turned off in the core unit.

Abstract: A voltage level shifter apparatus is provided. The voltage level shifter apparatus includes a first dynamic-bias generator, a second dynamic-bias generator, and a level supply circuit. The first dynamic-bias generator dynamically outputs a first bias signal, wherein the level of the first bias signal is determined in accordance with the received input data signal. The second dynamic-bias generator outputs a second bias signal, wherein the level of the second bias signal is determined in accordance with the received input data signal. Besides receiving the input data signal, the level supply circuit is further coupled to the first dynamic-bias generator and the second dynamic-bias generator for receiving the first bias signal and the second bias signal, and generating the output data signal in accordance with the input data signal, the first bias signal, and the second bias signal.

Abstract: p-channel MOS transistors are turned on alternatively when a positive phase signal and an opposite phase signal each generated from a first voltage signal. Moreover, n-channel MOS transistors are turned on alternatively when a positive phase signal and an opposite phase signal each generated from a second voltage signal. When being turned on, the p-channel MOS transistors supply current to transmission lines, respectively. When being turned on, the n-channel MOS transistors discharge current supplied from the transmission lines to a ground. A current to voltage conversion circuit converts current passing through the transmission lines into a voltage signal. Another current to voltage conversion circuit converts current passing through another transmission lines into a voltage signal.

Abstract: A level shifter and a flat panel display comprising the same, with reduced power consumption. The level shifter includes: a first transistor to apply a first voltage to an output terminal in correspondence with a first input signal; a second transistor to apply a second voltage to an output terminal in correspondence with voltage applied between gate and source electrodes thereof; a third transistor to lower the voltage applied between the gate and source electrodes of the second transistor according to the first input signal; and a capacitor to keep the voltage applied between the gate and source electrodes of the second transistor to turn on the second transistor in correspondence with the second input signal.

Abstract: A voltage level shifting device for translating a lower operating voltage to a higher operating voltage includes a first input node coupled to a first pull down device and a second input node coupled to a second pull down device. The second node receives a complementary logic signal with respect to the first input node, the first and second input nodes associated with the lower operating voltage. A first pull up device is in series with the first pull down device and second pull up device is in series with the second pull down device, with the first and second pull up devices coupled to a power supply at the higher operating voltage. An output node is between the second pull down device and the second pull up device, the output node controlling the conductivity of the first pull up device. A clamping device is in parallel with the first pull up device, and configured to prevent the second pull up device from becoming fully saturated.

Abstract: A signal converting circuit includes a voltage level converter circuit, a power circuit, a signal separation circuit, a signal modifying circuit, and a clamping circuit. The power circuit provides voltage to the signal modifying circuit and the voltage level converter circuit. The voltage level converter circuit converts signals from the RS232 interface to I2C interface compliant signals. When the I2C interface transmits signal to the RS232 interface, the signal separation circuit separates signal from the RS232 interface into two separate signals. The signal modifying circuit receives controlling signals sent from the RS232 interface and modifies the signals into a standard square wave signal, the modified standard square wave signal is sent to the clamping circuit. The clamping circuit clamps the voltage level of the signal according to the level that the I2C interface accepts.

Abstract: A supply voltage switching circuit for a computer includes a chipset, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a third transistor. The chipset includes a first MOSFET and a second MOSFET. A 5V system voltage and a 5V standby voltage are respectively inputted to sources of the first MOSFET and the second MOSFET. Gates of the first MOSFET and the second MOSFET are respectively coupled to collectors of the second transistor and the third transistor. A base of the first transistor is coupled to a terminal for receiving a control signal from the computer. The 5V standby voltage is inputted to a collector of the first transistor. Bases of the second transistor and the third transistor are coupled to the collector of the first transistor. A 12V system voltage and the 5V standby voltage are respectively inputted to collectors of the second transistor and the third transistor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first and a second amplifier circuit (10, 20), which are in each case driven by an input signal (Vin) having a high and a low signal level and a reference signal (Vref) having a constant signal level and, on the output side (D11, D21) generate a first control signal (S1) and a second control signal (S2). The control signals (S1, S2) are generated independently of one another and are used to regulate a first controllable resistor (31) and a second controllable resistor (32) of a third amplifier circuit (30). Depending on the resistance value of the first and second controllable resistors (31, 32) of the third amplifier circuit, an output signal (Vout) that is amplified in comparison with the input signal (Vin) can be generated at an output terminal (A). The integrated circuit can be used as an input amplifier of an integrated semiconductor memory and permits an adaptive behavior of the input amplifier with regard to fluctuations of the average absolute input signal level.

Abstract: There is provided a CML to CMOS converter comprising two current sources both connected between a first power supply, having a first potential, and a driving node, first and second push-pull drive stages each having a current path connected between a second power supply, having a second potential, and the driving node, and each having a control input for one half of a CML signal and an output node. Each of the two output nodes is connected to the control node of a respective one of the current sources, each current source being connected to decrease the current it supplies to the driving node if the potential of its respective output of the converter moves towards the potential of the first power supply.

Abstract: A voltage level conversion circuit for converting a voltage level of a low voltage system input signal into a voltage level of a high voltage system signal comprises a latch circuit comprising plural high-breakdown-voltage MOS transistors having a high power supply voltage as a breakdown voltage, a first high-breakdown-voltage N channel MOS transistor which discharges one of the latch nodes of the latch circuit, and a second high-breakdown-voltage N channel MOS transistor which discharges the other latch node, and a pulse signal obtained by boosting a low voltage system pulse signal is applied to a gate of the first or second high-breakdown voltage N channel MOS transistor when the input signal transits.

Abstract: A bus switch chip is limited to operating with a power-supply voltage of 1.8 volts relative to a 0-volt ground. Differential bus signals switched through the bus switch chip swing from 2.7 to 3.3 volts, well above the chip's specified power-supply voltage. The bus switch chip is level-shifted by applying a 1.5-volt signal as the chip's ground, and a 3.3-volt signal as its power supply, so the chip's net power supply is within the specification at 1.8 volts. High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) and Digital Visual Interface (DVI) require that the differential signals are never driven to ground. However, some non-compliant video transmitters drive differential signals to ground when disabled. External pullup resistors or internal pullup transistors in the bus switch chip are added to the bus signals from non-compliant transmitters to pull disabled signals above the 1.5-volt chip ground to prevent damage from signals below the chip's 1.5-volt ground.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a driver for a multi-voltage island/core architecture of an integrated circuit chip are provided. A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) inverter is built with a high threshold voltage p-channel field-effect transistor (hi-Vt PFET) and a regular threshold voltage n-channel field-effect transistor (NFET), which uses the maximum positive voltage supply (Vdd) on the chip. The threshold voltage of the hi-Vt PFET is determined based on the maximum Vdd, the Vdd of the Voltage island/core that drives the CMOS inverter, and a subthreshold leakage current requirement of the hi-Vt PFET.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling two circuits having different supply voltages is described herein.

Abstract: A level shift circuit includes first and second level shifters which respectively output first and second output signals that are produced by level shifting two kinds of input clock signals whose high level periods do not overlap. The level shift circuit also includes control transistors and control lines which, together, prevent a feedthrough current from flowing into the second level shifter when the first output signal is high level, and prevent a feedthrough current from flowing into the first level shifter when the second output signal is high level, so as to suspend the level shift operation of the first and second level shifters. With the level shift circuit, power consumption during a specific time period in a non-active period of the clock signal can be eliminated, where the specific time period of one clock signal is the active period of the other clock signal.

Abstract: The present invention permits an I/O port to be used with a variety of different I/O devices, regardless of their device type implementation, such as tri-state I/O devices, pull-up I/O devices, or pull-down I/O devices. Thus, one set of pins may be used for various different I/O devices.

Abstract: In a voltage-level shifter, an input line is configured to convey an input voltage to be shifted. A pair of transistors is coupled to and is configured to receive the input voltage from the input line. There is a first side and a second side, with each side comprising the following: a low-voltage transistor that is coupled to the pair of transistors, a medium-voltage transistor that is coupled to the low-voltage transistor, a high-voltage transistor that is coupled to the medium-voltage transistor, and an output line, which is coupled to the first and second sides, for providing an output voltage that is higher than the input voltage.

Abstract: Logic circuitry is powered by a partially rectified alternating current (ac) waveform. The waveform is partially rectified in the sense that it does not provide a clean, primarily dc power signal. Instead, it is possible to power logic circuitry with a waveform that includes a substantial ac component. The partially rectified ac waveform may be applied to logic circuitry incorporating thin film transistors based on amorphous or polycrystalline organic semiconductors, inorganic semiconductors or combinations of both.

Abstract: In the structure in which an input signal IN and a reverse-phase signal XIN thereof are externally input, an external IC is required for generating the reverse-phase signal XIN, and the number of required input signal terminals is two. A level shift circuit formed on an insulating substrate, such as a glass substrate, using transistors with large characteristic variations, for example, TFTs with high thresholds Vth, includes a complementary generator unit (11) driven by a first power supply (VCC) having an amplitude voltage equal to the amplitude voltage of a signal externally input from the substrate to generate complementary signals from a single-phase input signal IN. The complementary signals generated by the complementary generator unit (11) are level-shifted by a level shift unit (14). Therefore, it is no longer necessary to externally input the reverse-phase signal XIN.

Abstract: An input circuit (a first transistor pair) that receives complementary input signals is connected to a latch circuit (a second transistor pair) that converts the amplitude of an input signal into second amplitude higher than first amplitude. A current mirror circuit (a third transistor pair) is disposed between the latch circuit and a high-level power supply line. The current mirror circuit makes a source voltage of the second transistors being turned on lower than the source voltage of the second transistors being turned off. The second transistors being turned on are likely to be turned off although the on-current of corresponding first transistors is low. To the contrary, the second transistors being turned off are likely to be turned on. Accordingly, even when a voltage of a high logic level of an input signal is low, the level conversion circuit can surely operate without malfunction.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (70) includes a first power supply bus (72) and a second power supply bus (74). The first power supply bus (72) provides a first power supply voltage (VDD) to a first plurality of circuit elements (12 and 76). The second power supply bus (74) provides a second power supply voltage (LVDD) to a second plurality of circuit elements (14), where the second power supply voltage is lower than the first power supply voltage. During a normal operating mode of the integrated circuit (70), the first power supply bus (72) provides the first power supply voltage to the first plurality of circuit elements (12 and 76) and the second power supply voltage is not provided to the second plurality of circuit elements (14). During a low power operating mode, the second power supply bus (74) provides the second power supply voltage to the second plurality of circuit elements (14) and the first power supply voltage is not provided to the first plurality of circuit elements (12 and 76).

Abstract: The CML (current mode logic) to CMOS converter with a leakage balancing transistor for jitter reduction includes: a differential input stage; an output stage having a first branch coupled to a first output of the differential input stage and a second branch coupled to a second output of the differential input stage; and a leakage balancing transistor coupled to the first branch of the output stage.

Abstract: An isolation cell provided between a first module (which can operate in either a power-up mode or a power down mode) and a second module. According to an aspect of the present invention, the isolation cell can be located to operate drawing power from either the first module or the second module without a floating node in the power-down mode of the first module. Due to the absence of the floating nodes, unneeded power drain is reduced/avoided. In one embodiment, a switch operates to connect power to a series of pair of inverters (propagating the signal from the first module to the second module) when the first module is in power-up mode and disconnects the power in the power-down mode.

Abstract: A level shift circuit includes first and second inverters and an inversion circuit. The first inverter has a first input terminal and a first output terminal for generating the output signal. The first inverter includes a first transistor having a first current driving capacity. The second inverter has a second input terminal connected to the first output terminal and a second output terminal connected to the first input terminal. The second inverter includes a second transistor having a second current driving capacity smaller than the first capacity. The inversion circuit has an output terminal connected to the first input terminal. The inversion circuit receives an input signal including a first input signal and a second input signal one of which is a one-shot pulse signal. The inversion circuit includes a third transistor having a third current driving capacity smaller than the first capacity and larger than the second capacity.

Abstract: A state indicating information setting circuit and a status bit setting circuit are responsive to detection of a predetermined state by a predetermined state detecting part for setting predetermined state indicating information and, then, appropriately resetting the detection state in the state detecting part.

Abstract: An electronic interface is provided for connecting to various types of networks. The network places a data stream on a bus high signal and a bus low signal. The interface includes a ground synthesizer circuit, a capacitive isolator circuit, and an edge triggering circuit. The ground synthesizer circuit, coupled to the bus high signal and bus low signal, synthesizes a ground from the bus high signal and bus low signal. The capacitive isolator circuit, coupled to the ground synthesizer circuit, generates an isolated bus high signal from the bus high signal. The edge triggering circuit, coupled to the capacitive isolator circuit, regenerates the data stream into a first reconstructed data stream by comparing the isolated bus high signal with the ground. The resulting circuit comprises a digital data receiver that may be part of a transceiver.

Abstract: A source-follower transistor based buffer provides high linearity. A replica transistor is used to generate a replica voltage substantially equal to the output voltage of the buffer. The replica voltage is level shifted by a level shift circuit and applied at the drain of the source-follower transistor to improve the linearity of the buffer. The buffer may be used in conjunction with a switched-capacitor sampling circuit. A damping circuit may be used to reduce charge glitches due to sampling. The damping circuit may be a low pass filter. The buffer may be used in an interface circuit that produces an output signal from an input signal and controls the level of the output signal.

Abstract: An I/O circuit between a low voltage circuit and a high voltage circuit includes a switching device, a native device and a gate control logic circuit. The switching device provides an output signal to the high voltage circuit in response to a data input signal received from the low voltage circuit. The native device passes the data input signal to control an on or off state of the switching device. The gate control logic circuit operates in an output disabled mode and an output enabled mode. In the output disabled mode, the gate control logic circuit disables the native device for preventing a leakage current passing therethrough. In the output enabled mode, the gate control logic circuit enables the native device to pass the data input signal through without a substantial voltage drop, thereby enhancing a switching speed of the switching device.

Abstract: A programmable level shifter. The programmable level shifter comprises a first P-type FET, a first N-type FET, a second P-type FET, a second N-type FET, and a programmable device. The first P-type FET is coupled between a fist power line and a non-inverted output node, and a gate pole thereof is coupled to a inverted output node. The first N-type FET is coupled between the first P-type FET and a second power line. The programmable device is coupled between the first power line and the non-inverted output node, which can be programmed to change an effective resistance between the first power line and the inverted output node when the second P-type FET is turned on.

Abstract: A first converter circuit converts a state signal, whose level is constant or slowly varies during a predetermine period of time, into a pulse signal to allow the signal to propagate across an electrically insulating area. A second converter circuit converts the pulse signal, which has propagated through an insulating circuit, into the original state signal or a signal having the same characteristics as the original state signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a core circuit and a buffer circuit. The buffer circuit includes a plurality of input buffers and a plurality of output buffers that service a plurality of voltage domains on a single set of input/output lines. These voltage domains are controllable to service multiple voltage levels, consistent with various interface standards. In one construction, the core circuit operates at 1.2 volts and the buffer circuit supports both a 1.2 volts interface standard and a 3.3 volts interface standard.

Abstract: In a level conversion circuit mounted in an integrated circuit device using a plurality of high- and low-voltage power supplies, the input to the differential inputs are provided. In a level-down circuit, MOS transistors that are not supplied with 3.3 V between the gate and drain and between the gate and source use a thin oxide layer. In a level-up circuit, a logic operation function is provided.

Abstract: An analog portion of a mixed-mode integrated circuit system includes a plurality of analog input cells, a plurality of analog output cells, and an interconnect array. The input cells are configured to program analog functions. The output cells are configured to provide Analog and digital outputs corresponding to the programmed analog functions. The interconnect array processes the programmed analog functions into signals indicative of the analog functions. The interconnect array selectively provides the signals to the plurality of analog output cells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to programmable bidirectional buffers and methods for programming such buffers. One method of according to an aspect of the present invention is a method of configuring a bidirectional buffer including first and second signal nodes. The method includes applying a configuration signal on one of the first and second signal nodes and configuring the buffer responsive to the applied configuration signal.

Abstract: A disk controller IC (11), driven by a first supply voltage (V1), is provided with a push-pull type output circuit having an output terminal (P1). The output circuit may be turned ON/OFF by a control signal. On the other hand, disk driver IC (12) is provided with a first voltage and a series of a pull-up resistor (R1) and a diode (D3) connected in series between an input terminal and the first supply voltage. An interface is established for the ICs (11, 12) by connecting the output terminal (P1) and the input terminal (P2) together.

Abstract: A multiple partition memory array has a command user interface for each partition, and a logic interface. The logic interface receives signals from each of the command user interfaces to restrict executable commands in the command user interfaces to those commands that will not tax the system given the current status of each of the command user interfaces.

Abstract: A circuit for converting voltage levels for a liquid crystal display panel that comprises a signal including a first state of a first voltage level and a second state of a second voltage level, a first power supply providing the first voltage level, a first high-voltage transistor including a gate electrode coupled to the first power supply, a first electrode receiving the signal, and a second electrode coupled to a node, a second power supply providing a third voltage level, and a second high-voltage transistor including a first electrode coupled to the second power supply and a second electrode coupled to the node, wherein a voltage level at the node is pulled to approximately the third voltage level in response to the first state of the signal, and pulled to approximately the second voltage level in response to the second state of the signal.

Abstract: A signal transmission circuit, a CMOS semiconductor device, and a circuit board improve the signal transmission characteristic of a signal line having a large capacitance that is generated on the long signal line inside a large-scale integrated circuit when the signal line is long or when many driven circuits are connected to the signal line. The midpoint voltage of the power source voltage of the drive circuit and driven circuit is output. An assist-circuit having low output impedance is then connected to the signal line. The voltage of the signal line is thus held at the midpoint voltage of the power source voltage. At the same time, a drive signal that is output from the driver circuit is excited centered at the midpoint voltage (threshold voltage of the driven circuit) with a small amplitude. The driven circuit is then driven by this drive signal that is restricted to the small amplitude.

Abstract: A 1000BASE-T transceiver linked to an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) through a transformer currently transmits and receives outgoing and incoming signals via the UTP. The transceiver employs an energy efficient class B or AB line driver supplying asymmetric output currents to the transformer's primary winding terminals so that the transformer's secondary winding induces the outgoing signal on the UTP. Resistors couple the transformer's primary winding terminals to inputs of separate amplifiers producing a differential output signal mimicking the incoming 1000BASE-T signal. Since both the incoming and outgoing signals contribute to voltages appearing at the transformer's primary winding terminals, echo cancellation circuits provide additional compensating signals to the amplifier inputs for canceling echo in each amplifier input due to the resistive and reactive loading on each driver output current and arising from the asymmetric nature of the class B or AB driver's output currents.

Abstract: There is disclosed an interface circuit capable of correcting the resistance value of a terminator according to a change in an ambient temperature or the like without causing any distortion in an output waveform during data transmitting, and any reception errors during data receiving. In this case, the interface circuit comprises: a data input/output terminal; a data driver; a data receiver; terminators corrected for resistance values; a detection circuit; and a correction circuit. The detection circuit detects the stoppage of data transmitting/receiving by detecting the predetermined states of potentials respectively of a D+ terminal and a D? terminal. The correction circuit outputs a control signal CTRL to each of the terminators when the result of the detection by the detection circuit shows the stoppage of the data transmitting/receiving. The resistance value of each of the terminators is corrected in response to the control signal CTRL outputted from the correction circuit.

Abstract: A first converter circuit converts a state signal, whose level is constant or slowly varies during a predetermine period of time, into a pulse signal to allow the signal to propagate across an electrically insulating area. A second converter circuit converts the pulse signal, which has propagated through an insulating circuit, into the original state signal or a signal having the same characteristics as the original state signal.

Abstract: A design and verification aide that can be used to produce BZ codes under static or dynamic process, voltage, temperature and external reference resistor (PVT and R) conditions for impedance controlled buffers or any other application using BZ codes. The simulation technique follows that of a flash ADC, and effectively replaces an awkward state-machine BZ controller with a subcircuit consisting of 5 BZREFN's, 5 BZREFP's, 10 HSPICE behavioral comparators, and the BZVREF. The resulting N- and P-codes may be adjusted by a parameterized dither count with minimum and maximum code values enforced by the model, and the comparators can be modified to model offset voltage.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing reflections in a transmission line and for recovering energy from the load in the transmission during the process. At least three drive signal levels are utilized. The transition from the second level to the third level during a rising transition and the transition from the second level to the first level during a falling transition is timed to coincide with the arrival of the reflected signal from the immediately-preceding transition. A capacitor is advantageously used as the source for the intermediate drive signal levels and advantageously facilitates energy recovery and conservation.

Abstract: Noise of a low frequency band, generated inside a logic circuit, is remarkably reduced. A semiconductor integrated circuit device is provided with: a high voltage supply circuit generating, from a high voltage external power supply that is externally input, a high voltage internal power supply having a certain voltage level; and a low voltage supply circuit generating, from a low voltage external power supply that is externally input, a low voltage internal power supply having a certain voltage level. In inputting/outputting a signal between a logic circuit block and an I/O unit, a signal level is shifted through a level shifter unit. Since the logic circuit block is operated by the high voltage internal power supply and the low voltage internal power supply, the inductance in the semiconductor integrated circuit device is not subjected directly to DC fluctuation in consumed currents. Therefore, the characteristic impedance of power supply becomes equivalently smaller, thereby reducing low frequency noise.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a core circuit and a buffer circuit. The buffer circuit includes a plurality of input buffers and a plurality of output buffers that service a plurality of voltage domains on a single set of input/output lines. These voltage domains are controllable to service multiple voltage levels, consistent with various interface standards. In one construction, the core circuit operates at 1.2 volts and the buffer circuit supports both a 1.2 volts interface standard and a 3.3 volts interface standard.

Abstract: A drive circuit includes a first level shift circuit outputting a potential higher than an input potential by a prescribed voltage; a pull-up circuit outputting to an output node a potential lower than an output potential of the first level shift circuit by the prescribed voltage; a second level shift circuit outputting a potential lower than the input potential by the prescribed voltage; a pull-down circuit outputting to the output node a potential higher than an output potential of the second level shift circuit by the prescribed voltage; and a capacitor connected between output nodes of the first and second level shift circuits. Accordingly, through-current is reduced.

Abstract: A register-file bit read apparatus includes a decoder operable to receive a number of address-bit signals and responsively assert a select signal on one of M select lines. Each select line corresponds to a respective one of M register-file cells. The apparatus also includes a multiplexer having Q output nodes and M selectors. Each selector is coupled to one of the select lines and that select line's corresponding register-file cell. The selectors are in Q groups, each coupled to a respective one of the multiplexer's output nodes. The apparatus also includes an output logic gate having Q inputs, coupled to respective ones of the multiplexer output nodes. The multiplexer includes Q pull-ups, each of which is coupled to a respective one of the multiplexer output nodes and is operable to drive its multiplexer output node responsive to one of the address-bit signals.

Abstract: A circuit receives a first supply voltage on a first terminal where the first supply voltage is used to supply circuitry within the circuit. The circuit includes an input terminal receiving a first signal and an input circuit coupled to the input terminal. The first signal has a logical high value at a second voltage and a logical low value at a third voltage. The second voltage is used to establish a switching threshold of at least some of the input and output signals of the circuit. The input circuit provides a reset signal to circuitry within the circuit causing the circuitry to reset. The reset signal is asserted when the first signal on the input terminal has a logical low value and the third voltage comprises a voltage below a predetermined trigger threshold of the input circuit.