The present invention provides a high-voltage tolerant input buffer
circuit including a first NMOS transistor having its source terminal
connected to the input pin, its gate terminal connected to a first
reference voltage and its drain terminal connected to a first output
terminal; a second NMOS transistor having its gate terminal connected to
said first reference voltage and its source terminal connected to said
first output terminal; a first PMOS transistor having its gate terminal
connected to the drain terminal of said second NMOS transistor, its drain
terminal connected to a second reference voltage lower than said first
reference voltage and its source terminal connected to a second output
terminal; a second PMOS transistor having its drain terminal connected to
the drain terminal of said second NMOS transistor, its source terminal
connected to said second output terminal, and its gate terminal connected
to a control voltage; and a third PMOS transistor having its drain
terminal connected to said second output terminal, its source terminal
connected to a supply voltage, and its gate terminal connected to said
control voltage.