High voltage inverter utilizing low voltage oxide MOFSET devices

摘要

An inverter circuit includes an input stage and an output stage, each including pairs of complementary transistors having low-voltage oxides. The transistors within the input stage are configured to receive the input signal and to provide control voltages in response to input signal voltage variations. The voltage level of one control voltage is clamped between an intermediate voltage and a high voltage, and the voltage level of the other control voltage is clamped between the intermediate voltage and a low voltage. The switching states of each complementary transistor in the output stage are controlled by the control voltages, which results in an output signal voltage varying between the high and the low voltage. The voltage clamping advantageously allows the inverter circuit to switch between the high and the low voltage level without exceeding a maximum gate-source or a gate-drain voltage rating for any transistor, and without requiring additional passive components.

主权项

1. An inverter circuit, comprising:
an input stage coupled to a first voltage source providing a first voltage, the input stage being configured to receive an input signal and to provide a first control voltage and a second control voltage in response to voltage variations in the input signal; and an output stage configured to provide an output signal providing a voltage which varies between a second voltage and a third voltage in response to the first control voltage and the second control voltage; wherein the input stage includes first and second complementary pairs of transistors, the first complementary pair of transistors directly coupled together at a common node that receives the first voltage, and the second complementary pair of transistors directly coupled together at the common node to receive the first voltage; wherein a voltage of the input signal varies between the second voltage and the third voltage; wherein the first control voltage varies between the first voltage and the second voltage; and wherein the second control voltage varies between the first voltage and the third voltage.