Self-sustained boost drive-current level shifter for time critical applications

• It is a Power management IC. • Level Shifters (LSs) ensure reliable voltage translations and signal integrity. • This work proposes a Boost Drive-current Level Shifter (BDLS) that addresses the limitations of conventional LSs in time-critical applications. • Post-layout simulation in 55 nm CMOS process demonstrates that the BDLS supports a wide conversion range from 0.2 V to 1.3 V. • Static power consumption of 3.5 nW, energy dissipation of 32.25 fJ per transition, and delay of 8.56 ns, while occupying only 5.84 µm 2 silicon area. Power management in modern ICs operating at sub-threshold and near-threshold voltage demands both high speed and energy efficiency. Multiple-voltage domains are central to such systems, where Level Shifters (LSs) ensure reliable voltage translations and signal integrity. This work proposes a Boost Drive-current Level Shifter (BDLS) that addresses the limitations of conventional LSs in time-critical applications. To tackle time critical applications, BDLS integrates a symmetrical gate driver inverter for current boosting, enabling balanced rise/fall times, and an inverter-feedback stabilization circuit that mitigates voltage drop and enhances operational reliability. Post-layout simulation in 55 nm CMOS process demonstrates that the BDLS supports a wide conversion range from 0.2 V to 1.3 V, with a static power consumption of 3.5 nW, energy dissipation of 32.25 fJ per transition, and delay of 8.56 ns, while occupying only 5.84 µm 2 silicon area.