COMBINATORIAL CIRCUIT AND METHOD OF OPERATION OF SUCH A COMBINATORIAL CIRCUIT

摘要

An integrated level shifting combinatorial circuit receives a plurality of input signals in a first voltage domain and performs a combinatorial operation to generate an output signal in a second voltage domain. The circuit includes combinatorial circuitry includes first and second combinatorial circuit portions operating in respective first and second voltage domains. The second combinatorial circuit portion has an output node whose voltage level identifies a value of the output signal and includes feedback circuitry which applies a level shifting function to an intermediate signal generated by the first combinatorial circuit portion. A contention mitigation circuitry reduces a voltage drop across at least one component within the feedback circuitry in situations when the combinatorial circuitry's performance of the combinatorial operation causes the combinatorial circuitry to switch the voltage on the output node, the contention mitigation circuitry thereby assists the combinatorial circuitry in the output node voltage switching.

主权项

1. An integrated level shifting combinatorial circuit for receiving a plurality of input signals in a first voltage domain and performing a combinatorial operation to generate an output signal in a second voltage domain, said first voltage domain operating with a first voltage supply providing a first voltage level and a common voltage level and said second voltage domain operating with a second voltage supply providing a second voltage level and said common voltage level, said integrated level shifting combinatorial circuit comprising:
combinatorial circuitry configured to receive said plurality of input signals and to perform the combinatorial operation, the combinatorial circuitry comprising a first combinatorial circuit portion operating in said first voltage domain and a second combinatorial circuit portion operating in said second voltage domain, the second combinatorial circuit portion having an output node whose voltage level identifies a value of the output signal; said second combinatorial circuit portion including feedback circuitry configured to apply a level shifting function to an intermediate signal generated by said first combinatorial circuit portion; and contention mitigation circuitry operating in said second voltage domain and configured, when the combinatorial circuitry's performance of the combinatorial operation based on the received input signals causes the combinatorial circuitry to transition the voltage on said output node between said second voltage level and said common voltage level, to reduce a voltage drop across at least one component within the feedback circuitry, thereby assisting said combinatorial circuitry in transitioning the voltage on said output node.