US 10,483,846 B1 · Multi-mode charge pump

Abstract

A multi-mode charge pump generates a regulated voltage at an output node from a battery input voltage. The multi-mode charge pump has a plurality of flying capacitors and a plurality of switches coupled to the flying capacitors in order to selectively couple the flying capacitors to the battery, the output node or a reference potential. The regulated voltage is provided across a storage capacitor coupled to the flying capacitors, and the regulated voltage is input to a comparator. The comparator also receives a reference voltage and compares the regulated voltage to the reference voltage to generates an asynchronous regulation signal. A controller in the multi-mode charge pump can automatically transition between operation modes such as a buck mode, a doubler mode and a tripler mode by controlling actuation of the switches in response to the asynchronous regulation signal and clock signals.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A multi-mode charge pump for generating a regulated voltage at an output node from a battery, comprising:

a plurality of flying capacitors;
a plurality of switches, each coupled to at least one of the flying capacitors, wherein the plurality of switches is configured to selectively couple the flying capacitors to the battery, to the output node or to a reference potential;
a storage capacitor selectively coupled to one or more of the flying capacitors, wherein the regulated voltage is provided across the storage capacitor;
a comparator having a first input coupled to receive the regulated voltage, a second input coupled to receive a reference voltage, and an output providing an asynchronous regulation signal;
and
a controller configured to automatically transition between operational modes of the multi-mode charge pump by controlling actuation of the plurality of switches in response to the asynchronous regulation signal, wherein the operational mode is selected from a buck mode, a doubler mode, and a tripler mode.

3 more elements

A method for generating a regulated voltage at an output node from a battery, the method comprising:

coupling, by a plurality of switches in a multi-mode charge pump, one or more of a plurality of flying capacitors to the battery, the output node or a reference potential;
providing the regulated voltage across a storage capacitor coupled to at least one of the flying capacitors;
receiving, by a comparator, the regulated voltage at a first input coupled to the storage capacitor;
outputting, by the comparator, an asynchronous signal generated by comparing the regulated voltage to a reference voltage coupled to a second input of the comparator;
receiving, by a controller, the asynchronous signal;
and
actuating, by the controller in response to the asynchronous signal, the plurality of switches to transition between operational modes of the multi-mode charge pump, wherein the operational mode is selected from a buck mode, a doubler mode, and a tripler mode.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-mode charge pump

Life of this patent

Multi-mode charge pump

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20