# US 11,029,716 B1 · Providing low power charge pump for integrated circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,716 B1 - Document ID: US11029716B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/793,154 - Filed: 2020-02-18 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-18 - Assignees: Silicon Laboratories Inc. - Applicants: Silicon Laboratories Inc. - Inventors: Hua Beng Chan; Rex Tak Ying Wong; Ricky Setiawan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029716B1 ## CPC - G05F 1/575: characterised by the feedback circuit - H02M 3/073: {Charge pumps of the Schenkel-type} - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: an amplifier to compare a reference voltage to a feedback voltage and to output a comparison signal based on the comparison; a loop circuit coupled to the amplifier, where the loop circuit is to receive the comparison signal and provide a regulated voltage to the amplifier as the feedback voltage in a first mode of operation, and in a second mode of operation to provide a predetermined feedback ratio point to the amplifier as the feedback voltage; and an output device coupled to the amplifier. The output device may be configured to receive a supply voltage and the comparison signal and output the regulated voltage at an output node based at least in part on the comparison signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: an amplifier to compare a reference voltage to a feedback voltage and to output a comparison signal based on the comparison; a loop circuit coupled to the amplifier, wherein the loop circuit is to receive the comparison signal and provide a regulated voltage to the amplifier as the feedback voltage in a first mode of operation, and in a second mode of operation to provide a predetermined feedback ratio point to the amplifier as the feedback voltage; the loop circuit comprising an output device coupled to the amplifier, wherein the output device is to receive a supply voltage and the comparison signal and output the regulated voltage at an output node based at least in part on the comparison signal; a current source coupled to the amplifier; and a switch coupled to the current source, wherein in the first mode of operation the switch is enabled to cause the current source to provide a boost current to the amplifier, and in the second mode of operation the switch is disabled to decouple the current source from the amplifier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the loop circuit comprises a voltage divider coupled to the output node, wherein in the second mode of operation, the loop circuit is to provide the predetermined feedback ratio point to the amplifier as the feedback signal from a feedback node coupled between a first resistor and a second resistor of the voltage divider. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the loop circuit further comprises a second switch coupled between the output node and the feedback node, wherein in the first mode of operation the second switch is closed to provide the regulated voltage as the feedback voltage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a charge pump to supply a charge pump voltage to the amplifier, the charge pump voltage different than the supply voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the loop circuit is to be fully closed in the first mode of operation and to be partially closed in the second mode of operation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller to send a feedback control signal to cause the loop circuit to provide the regulated voltage to the amplifier as the feedback voltage during the first mode of operation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus comprises a voltage regulator to operate during the second mode of operation comprising a snooze operating mode, wherein the controller is to send the feedback control signal during the first mode of operation comprising a transition from a normal operating mode to the snooze operating mode. ### Claim 8 An apparatus comprising: an amplifier to compare a reference voltage to a feedback voltage and to output a comparison signal based on the comparison; a loop circuit coupled to the amplifier, wherein the loop circuit is to receive the comparison signal and provide a regulated voltage at an output node to the amplifier as the feedback voltage in a first mode of operation, and in a second mode of operation to provide a predetermined feedback ratio point to the amplifier as the feedback voltage; a current source coupled to the amplifier; and a switch coupled to the current source, wherein in the first mode of operation the switch is to couple the current source to provide a boost current to the amplifier, and in the second mode of operation the switch is to decouple the current source from the amplifier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an output device coupled to the amplifier, wherein the output device is to receive a supply voltage and the comparison signal and output the regulated voltage at the output node based at least in part on the comparison signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a replica device coupled to the output device, wherein the replica device is to receive the comparison signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the loop circuit comprises a voltage divider, wherein in the second mode of operation, the loop circuit is to provide the predetermined feedback ratio point to the amplifier as the feedback signal from a feedback node coupled between a first resistor and a second resistor of the voltage divider. ### Claim 12 A voltage regulator comprising: an amplifier to compare a reference voltage to a feedback voltage and to output a comparison signal based on the comparison; a loop circuit coupled to the amplifier, wherein the loop circuit is to: provide a regulated voltage to the amplifier as the feedback voltage in a first mode of operation; provide a predetermined feedback ratio point to the amplifier as the feedback voltage in a second mode of operation; receive a supply voltage and the comparison signal and output the regulated voltage at an output node based at least in part on the comparison signal; a current source coupled to the amplifier; and a switch coupled to the current source, wherein in the first mode of operation the switch is to cause the current source to provide a boost current to the amplifier, and in the second mode of operation the switch is to decouple the current source from the amplifier. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The voltage regulator of claim 12, wherein the loop circuit comprises a voltage divider coupled to the output node, wherein in the second mode of operation, the loop circuit is to provide the predetermined feedback ratio point to the amplifier as the feedback signal from a feedback node coupled between a first resistor and a second resistor of the voltage divider. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The voltage regulator of claim 13, wherein the loop circuit further comprises a second switch coupled between the output node and the feedback node, wherein in the first mode of operation the second switch is closed to provide the regulated voltage to the amplifier as the feedback voltage.