Described is a level-shifter that can save area between voltage domains with limited voltage differential, and further save power by steering current between two power supply rails. The level-shifter comprises: an input to receive a first signal between a first reference rail and a second reference rail; an output to provide a second signal the first reference rail and a third reference rail, wherein in a voltage level of the third reference rail is higher than a voltage level of the second reference rail, and wherein a voltage level of the first reference is lower than the voltage level of the second reference rail and the third reference rail; and a circuitry coupled to the input and the output, wherein the circuitry is to steer current from the third reference rail to the second reference rail.

Described is a level-shifter that can save area between voltage domains with limited voltage differential, and further save power by steering current between two power supply rails. The level-shifter comprises: an input to receive a first signal between a first reference rail and a second reference rail; an output to provide a second signal the first reference rail and a third reference rail, wherein in a voltage level of the third reference rail is higher than a voltage level of the second reference rail, and wherein a voltage level of the first reference is lower than the voltage level of the second reference rail and the third reference rail; and a circuitry coupled to the input and the output, wherein the circuitry is to steer current from the third reference rail to the second reference rail.

A switch comprising a spin-transistor and a first control wire. The spin-transistor is configured so that when a magnetic field applied to the spin-transistor is less than a threshold value, the transistor is in a conductive state in which electric current flows through the spin-transistor. When the magnetic field applied to the spin-transistor is greater than the threshold value, the spin-transistor is in a resistive state in which the electric current flowing through the spin-transistor is substantially reduced. The first control wire is for receiving a current to affect the magnetic field applied to the spin-transistor.

A switch comprising a spin-transistor and a first control wire. The spin-transistor is configured so that when a magnetic field applied to the spin-transistor is less than a threshold value, the transistor is in a conductive state in which electric current flows through the spin-transistor. When the magnetic field applied to the spin-transistor is greater than the threshold value, the spin-transistor is in a resistive state in which the electric current flowing through the spin-transistor is substantially reduced. The first control wire is for receiving a current to affect the magnetic field applied to the spin-transistor.

A digital circuit includes at least one quantum wire resonant tunneling transistor that includes an emitter terminal, a base terminal, a collector terminal, an emitter region in connection with the emitter terminal, a base region in connection with the base terminal, a collector region in connection with the collector terminal, an emitter barrier region between the emitter region and the base region, and a collector barrier region between the collector region and the base region. At least one of the emitter region, the base region, and the collector region includes a plurality of metal quantum wires.

Within the integrated circuit there are a significant number of components and not all of them are electronic switches. In an effort to increase data speeds, lower power consumption, simplify circuits increase functionality within the integrated circuit, and increase the overall processing power of the circuit chip the use fiber-optic transmission lines as a communication medium between logic circuits instead of metallic conductors is more effective when utilized within the circuit chip. This would be used purely for the transmission of data and communication. With fiber-optic transmission lines, microscopic LED's and photodiode's the electronic/electrical design of logic gates would become simpler, there would be faster communication, less corrupted data, and a longer lifespan for the semiconductor circuit chips that are data processors.

Within the integrated circuit there are a significant number of components and not all of them are electronic switches. In an effort to increase data speeds, lower power consumption, simplify circuits increase functionality within the integrated circuit, and increase the overall processing power of the circuit chip the use fiber-optic transmission lines as a communication medium between logic circuits instead of metallic conductors is more effective when utilized within the circuit chip. This would be used purely for the transmission of data and communication. With fiber-optic transmission lines, microscopic LED's and photodiode's the electronic/electrical design of logic gates would become simpler, there would be faster communication, less corrupted data, and a longer lifespan for the semiconductor circuit chips that are data processors.

In one embodiment, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) driving device for driving a plurality of LEDs has a switching matrix utilizing a plurality of one of a turn off thyristors or turn off triacs coupled to the plurality of LEDs. A controller is coupled to the switching matrix responsive to a voltage of a rectified AC halfwave, wherein combinations of the plurality of LEDs are altered to ensure a maximum operating voltage of the plurality of LEDs is not exceeded. A current limiting device is coupled to the combinations of the plurality of LED to regulate current. In a second embodiment an offline charge pump utilizes a switching matrix to recombine capacitors in accordance with the voltage on the AC half wave and then in, accordance with a desired output voltage to feed a load, such that said recombinations occur at a frequency much higher than the frequency of the AC rectified half wave such that charge is pumped from the input at one voltage to the output at another voltage through the AC halfwave while, providing a constant output voltage to the load.

An inverter logic circuit includes a bipolar junction transistor and a zener diode. The zener diode is connected between the base of the bipolar junction transistor and ground (or other reference voltage). The zener diode is reverse biased such that a leakage current through the zener diode allows for sufficient current through the emitter-base terminals of the bipolar junction transistor when a voltage is applied across the emitter and base terminals of the bipolar junction transistor to turn the transistor ON in the absence of an external signal to the base. As such the bipolar junction transistor functions as a normally ON bipolar junction transistor.

A level converter for a vehicle control device, including: a first voltage terminal; a second voltage terminal; at least one output terminal; an input terminal; a first switch for switching a first current path between the first voltage terminal and the at least one output terminal or one of the output terminals; and a second switch for switching a second current path between the second voltage terminal and the at least one output terminal or another of the output terminals; the first and second switches being switchable in response to different levels at the input terminal so that when a first level is present at the input terminal, the first switch is closed and the second switch is open, and so that when a second level is present, the first switch is open and the second switch is closed. Also described is a related control device, utility vehicle and method.