IP Library Granted Patent US 7,920,012
Granted Patent B2
US 7,920,012 · App. 12/797,812 · Granted Apr 5, 2011

Semiconductor device

Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,920,012
App. No.
12/797,812
Granted
Apr 5, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A level shifter circuit of the present invention includes a level shifter for converting a low-voltage signal to a high-voltage signal, and is provided with a unit that sets a voltage condition of an input signal to a transistor for input of the level shifter, when a high-voltage power supply is inputted to the level shifter circuit of the present invention before a low-voltage power supply.

Claims (12)

1. A semiconductor device to which a first power supply potential and a second power supply potential higher than said first power supply potential are supplied, the semiconductor device comprising:

an internal circuit operated by being supplied with said first power supply potential to output a first internal signal;

an inverter circuit operated by being supplied with said first power supply potential and having a P-channel MOS transistor and an N-channel MOS transistor within which a parasitic diode is formed to output a second internal signal obtained by inverting said first internal signal;

a level shifter circuit operated by being supplied with said second power supply potential and having a level shifter for outputting a level shift signal depending on said first and second internal signals, which are complementary to each other, inputted to first and second input terminals, respectively;

a current generating circuit including a current mirror circuit for supplying a current to a current path to a power supply node for supplying said first power supply potential to said inverter circuit through said parasitic diode, when said second power supply is inputted before said first power supply; and

a bias circuit connected between said current generating circuit and said inverter circuit.

2. A semiconductor device to which a first power supply potential and a second power supply potential higher than said first power supply potential are supplied, the semiconductor device comprising:

an internal circuit operated by being supplied with said first power supply potential to output a first internal signal;

an inverter circuit operated by being supplied with said first power supply potential and having a P-channel MOS transistor and an N-channel transistor within which a parasitic diode is formed to output a second internal signal obtained by inverting said first internal signal;

a plurality of level shifter circuits operated by being supplied with said second power supply potential and each having a level shifter for outputting a level shift signal depending on said first and second internal signals, which are complementary to each other, inputted to first and second input terminals, respectively;

a current generating circuit including a current mirror circuit for supplying a current to a current path to a power supply node for supplying said first power supply potential to said inverter circuit through said parasitic diode, when said second power supply is inputted before said first power supply; and

a plurality of bias circuits arranged to correspond to said plurality of level shifter circuits and connected between said current generating circuit and said inverter circuit.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 23, 2010
From: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025032/0799 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2007-171472 · Jun 29, 2007 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12146964 · Jun 26, 2008
Related Publication 20100244924A1 · Sep 30, 2010