A Universal Voltage Level Converter for Multi-VDD Based Low-Power Nano-CMOS Systems-on-Chips (SoCs)

Level Converters are key components of multi-voltage based systems-on-chips. Recently, a great deal of research has been focused on power dissipation reduction using various types of level converters in multi-voltage systems. These level converters include either level up conversion or level down conversion. In this paper we propose a unique level converter called universal level converter (ULC). This level converter is capable of four types of level converting functions, such as up conversion, down conversion, passing and blocking. The universal level converter is simulated in CADENCE using 90nm PTM technology model files. Three types of analysis such as power, parametric and load analysis are performed on the proposed level converter. The power analysis results prove that the proposed level converter has an average power reduction of approximately 87.2% compared to other existing level converters at different technology nodes. The parametric analysis and load analysis show that the proposed level converter provides a stable output for input voltages as low as 0.6V with a varying load from 1fF-200fF. The universal level converter works at dual voltages of 1.2V and 1.02V (85% of Vddh) with VTH value for NMOS as 0.339V and for PMOS as -0.339V. The ULC has an average power consumption of 27.1μW at a load