Minimum convertible voltage analysis for ratioless and robust subthreshold level conversion

Shien Chun Luo; Chi Ray Huang; Lih-Yih Chiou

doi:10.1109/ISCAS.2012.6271824

Minimum convertible voltage analysis for ratioless and robust subthreshold level conversion

Shien Chun Luo, Chi Ray Huang, Lih-Yih Chiou

Department of Electrical Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Subthreshold logics and memories are crucial elements in ubiquitous-computing applications. The subthreshold circuits need level converters to communicate with the other circuits that use high supply voltages. However, level conversion from sub-to-super-threshold voltage suffers from weak driving strength and severe process variations. The level conversion may depend on the size or threshold voltage of the transistors. This paper therefore analyzes level converters that can robustly convert subthreshold signals without using ratio-sized or multiple-threshold-voltage transistors. The limit of the subthreshold level conversion is thoroughly analyzed. This study suggests that level converters using current-mirror structures are superior candidates for converting subthreshold signals, according to the analytical and simulation results.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	ISCAS 2012 - 2012 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems
Pages	2553-2556
Number of pages	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ISCAS.2012.6271824
Publication status	Published - 2012
Event	2012 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, ISCAS 2012 - Seoul, Korea, Republic of Duration: 2012 May 20 → 2012 May 23

Other

Other	2012 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, ISCAS 2012
Country	Korea, Republic of
City	Seoul
Period	12-05-20 → 12-05-23

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Hardware and Architecture
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1109/ISCAS.2012.6271824

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Cite this

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title = "Minimum convertible voltage analysis for ratioless and robust subthreshold level conversion",

abstract = "Subthreshold logics and memories are crucial elements in ubiquitous-computing applications. The subthreshold circuits need level converters to communicate with the other circuits that use high supply voltages. However, level conversion from sub-to-super-threshold voltage suffers from weak driving strength and severe process variations. The level conversion may depend on the size or threshold voltage of the transistors. This paper therefore analyzes level converters that can robustly convert subthreshold signals without using ratio-sized or multiple-threshold-voltage transistors. The limit of the subthreshold level conversion is thoroughly analyzed. This study suggests that level converters using current-mirror structures are superior candidates for converting subthreshold signals, according to the analytical and simulation results.",

author = "Luo, {Shien Chun} and Huang, {Chi Ray} and Lih-Yih Chiou",

year = "2012",

doi = "10.1109/ISCAS.2012.6271824",

language = "English",

pages = "2553--2556",

booktitle = "ISCAS 2012 - 2012 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems",

note = "2012 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, ISCAS 2012 ; Conference date: 20-05-2012 Through 23-05-2012",

}

Luo, SC, Huang, CR & Chiou, L-Y 2012, Minimum convertible voltage analysis for ratioless and robust subthreshold level conversion. in ISCAS 2012 - 2012 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems., 6271824, pp. 2553-2556, 2012 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, ISCAS 2012, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 12-05-20. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISCAS.2012.6271824

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AU - Luo, Shien Chun

AU - Huang, Chi Ray

AU - Chiou, Lih-Yih

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N2 - Subthreshold logics and memories are crucial elements in ubiquitous-computing applications. The subthreshold circuits need level converters to communicate with the other circuits that use high supply voltages. However, level conversion from sub-to-super-threshold voltage suffers from weak driving strength and severe process variations. The level conversion may depend on the size or threshold voltage of the transistors. This paper therefore analyzes level converters that can robustly convert subthreshold signals without using ratio-sized or multiple-threshold-voltage transistors. The limit of the subthreshold level conversion is thoroughly analyzed. This study suggests that level converters using current-mirror structures are superior candidates for converting subthreshold signals, according to the analytical and simulation results.

AB - Subthreshold logics and memories are crucial elements in ubiquitous-computing applications. The subthreshold circuits need level converters to communicate with the other circuits that use high supply voltages. However, level conversion from sub-to-super-threshold voltage suffers from weak driving strength and severe process variations. The level conversion may depend on the size or threshold voltage of the transistors. This paper therefore analyzes level converters that can robustly convert subthreshold signals without using ratio-sized or multiple-threshold-voltage transistors. The limit of the subthreshold level conversion is thoroughly analyzed. This study suggests that level converters using current-mirror structures are superior candidates for converting subthreshold signals, according to the analytical and simulation results.

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