# US 10,319,417 B2 · Apparatuses and methods for mixed charge pumps with voltage regulator circuits

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- Number: US 10,319,417 B2
- Document ID: US10319417B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/815,037
- Filed: 2017-11-16
- Published: 2018-03-15
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-02
- Assignees: Micron Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Micron Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Xiaojiang Guo; Qiang Tang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10319417B2

## CPC

- G11C 5/147: {Voltage reference generators, voltage or current regulators; Internally lowered supply levels; Compensation for voltage drops (G11C5/141 takes precedence)}
- G11C 5/145: {Applications of charge pumps; Boosted voltage circuits; Clamp circuits therefor (G11C5/141 takes precedence)}
- G11C 16/30: Power supply circuits
- G11C 11/4074: Power supply or voltage generation circuits, e.g. bias voltage generators, substrate voltage generators, back-up power, power control circuits
- G11C: STATIC STORES (semiconductor memory devices H10B)

## Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for mixed charge pumps with voltage regulator circuits is disclosed. An example apparatus comprises a first charge pump circuit configured to provide a first voltage, a second charge pump circuit configured to provide a second voltage, a plurality of coupling circuits configured to voltage couple and current couple the first voltage and the second voltage to a common node to provide a regulated voltage, and a feedback circuit configured to regulate the first voltage and the second voltage based on the regulated voltage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for providing charge to capacitive loads comprising:
activating a first charging applied to first and second electrical components, wherein a first portion of the first charging is applied to the first electrical component and a second portion of the first charging is applied to the second electrical component;
activating a second charging applied to the second electrical component, wherein the second electrical component is charged to a regulated voltage in response to the second portion of the first charging and a portion of the second charging; and
selectively activating the first and second charging based on a comparison of the regulated voltage to a reference voltage.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein activating the first charging applied to the first and second electrical components includes charging the first electrical component to a first voltage and charging the second electrical component to a second voltage less than the first voltage.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein selectively activating the first and second charging includes regulating the first and second charging to different voltage levels.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein regulating the first and second charging to different voltage levels includes voltage coupling and current coupling the first charging to a common node coupled to the second electrical component.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein regulating the first and second charging to different voltage levels includes voltage coupling and current coupling the second charging to the common node coupled to the second electrical component.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein applying the second portion of the first charging to the second electrical component includes voltage coupling and current coupling the first charging to the common node.