Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices – circuits – and – Signal converting – shaping – or generating – Amplitude control
Reexamination Certificate
2007-07-17
2007-07-17
Lam, Tuan T. (Department: 2816)
Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices, circuits, and
Signal converting, shaping, or generating
Amplitude control
C326S081000
Reexamination Certificate
active
11269245
ABSTRACT:
A level shifter apparatus and method for minimizing duty cycle distortion are provided. The level shifter includes a bank of comparators each having an associated threshold built into it. The comparators compare a difference in source voltages for two power domains to these built-in thresholds and output a signal indicative of whether the threshold is exceeded. The output signals from the comparators are provided to a thermometric decoder which generates control signals based on these output signals. The control signals are used to control stages in a level shifter for modifying the voltage output of the level shifter. Individual stages may be enabled to thereby monotonically modify the voltage output of the level shifter and thereby decrease a time required to achieve a voltage having a level that causes a state change in a driven circuit. As a result, duty cycle distortion is minimized and maximum operational frequency is increased.
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Boerstler David W.
Hailu Eskinder
Miki Kazuhiko
Qi Jieming
Gerhardt Diana R.
Hernandez William
International Business Machines - Corporation
Lam Tuan T.
Walder, Jr. Stephen J.
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