Optimal Design for Level-Shifter-Less Approach Using Channel Length Modulation & Body Biasing

A multi-V_DD design realizes LSIs to be low power by allowing to use multiple different power supply voltages. In this design, conversion of the voltage amplitude of the signal is necessary. This is usually done by inserting a circuit called a level shifter, between voltage domains as an interface. However, insertion of level shifter has disadvantages in silicon footprint, power consumption, and delays. In this paper, we propose a level-shifter-less approach by increasing channel length. We also propose the optimal design using both channel length modulation and body biasing.