# US 11,121,624 B1 · Configurable multi-output charge pump

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,121,624 B1
- Document ID: US11121624B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/992,954
- Filed: 2020-08-13
- Granted: 2021-09-14
- Earliest claimed: 2020-08-13
- Assignees: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Daran DeShazo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121624B1

## CPC

- H02M 3/07: using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode {, e.g. charge pumps}
- H02M 1/009: {having two or more independently controlled outputs (for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561)}
- H02M 3/072: {adapted to generate an output voltage whose value is lower than the input voltage}
- H02M 3/157: with digital control
- A61N 1/3605: {Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system}
- A61N 1/3782: {producing a voltage above the power source level}
- 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)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

A configurable multi-output charge pump for power supply generation includes one or more flying capacitors (FCs) arranged to be switchably connected into a plurality of circuit configurations operative to provide respective output voltages at a common charging node. A configuration logic circuit is operative to generate one or more configuration setting control signals to effectuate a particular circuit configuration. One or more storage capacitors (SC) are independently and individually connectable to the common charging node depending on a selection control logic having a configurable duty cycle, wherein each SC is operative to supply a respective voltage output to drive a corresponding electrical load.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A charge pump, comprising:
charging circuitry including one or more flying capacitors (FCs) arranged to be switchably connected into a plurality of circuit configurations, each operative to provide at a common charging node a voltage that is a multiple of an input voltage;
storage capacitor circuitry including one or more storage capacitors (SCs), each arranged to be switchably connected to the common charging node, wherein an SC is operative to be charged to a particular voltage depending on which circuit configuration of the charging circuitry is driving the common charging node, each SC adapted to supply a respective voltage output at a corresponding output node associated therewith;
a mapping selection logic circuit for generating one or more output selection signals operating to actuate a particular combination of one or more selection switches to control which SC is connected to the common charging node for a configurable amount of time; and
a configuration logic circuit for generating one or more configuration setting control signals to actuate a particular combination of one or more configuration switches to connect a select set of FCs for each circuit configuration of the charging circuitry, wherein the configuration logic circuit is operative to effectuate a charge phase connection state and a storage phase connection state for said each circuit configuration, the configuration logic circuit further operating responsive to which SC is selected to be connected to the common charging node, thereby effectuating a corresponding circuit configuration for generating a particular multiple of the input voltage at the common charging node.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The charge pump as recited in claim 1, wherein the mapping selection logic circuit includes a mapping decoder operative to decode an x-bit mapping control signal into [n] output selection signals, where x=log2(n) and [n] is a maximum number of SCs independently connectable to the common charging node.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The charge pump as recited in claim 2, wherein the mapping selection logic circuit is operative in response to one or more duty cycle control signals configured to provide duty cycle information with respect to the x-bit mapping control signal for indicating which SC of the charge pump is to be connected to the common charging node for what duration of time.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The charge pump as recited in claim 3, wherein the configuration logic circuit includes a configuration decoder operative to decode a y-bit configuration control signal into [p] configuration setting control signals, where y=log2(p) and [p] is a maximum number of circuit configurations into which the one or more FCs can be connected.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The charge pump as recited in claim 4, further comprising:
a clock generator to generate a charge phase control signal, a storage phase control signal and a latch signal, wherein the charge phase control signal and the storage phase control signal have complementary logic states with respect to each other and are separated for a select time period during which the latch signal is asserted;
charge phase combinational logic circuit operative in response to the charge phase control signal and a particular one of the [p] configuration setting control signals that is latched for a select duration of time based on the latch signal;
a store phase combinational logic circuit operative in response to the storage phase control signal and the particular one of the [p] configuration setting control signals; and
power select switching circuitry for selecting between the input voltage and one or more voltage outputs for powering the one or more configuration switches to connect the select set of FCs depending on a selected circuit configuration of the charging circuitry.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The charge pump as recited in claim 5, wherein the duty cycle information with respect to the x-bit mapping control signal is optimized based on respective current loads expected be drawn from the one or more SCs depending on corresponding load circuitry coupled to each SC.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The charge pump as recited in claim 5, wherein the plurality of circuit configurations are configured to provide at the common charging node a voltage that is one or more fractional multiples of the input voltage.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The charge pump as recited in claim 5, wherein the plurality of circuit configurations are configured to provide at the common charging node a voltage that is one or more integer multiples of the input voltage.

### Claim 9

A power supply generation method, comprising:
providing charging circuitry including one or more flying capacitors (FCs) arranged to be switchably connected into a plurality of circuit configurations, each operative to provide at a common charging node a voltage that is a multiple of an input voltage;
providing storage capacitor circuitry including one or more storage capacitors (SCs), each arranged to be switchably connected to the common charging node, wherein an SC is operative to be charged to a particular voltage depending on which circuit configuration of the charging circuitry is driving the common charging node, each SC adapted to supply a respective voltage output at a corresponding output node associated therewith;
generating one or more output selection signals to actuate a particular combination of one or more selection switches to control which SC is connected to the common charging node for a configurable amount of time; and
generating one or more configuration setting control signals to actuate a particular combination of one or more configuration switches to connect a select set of FCs for each circuit configuration of the charging circuitry, wherein a charge phase connection state and a storage phase connection state are effectuated for said each circuit configuration, and further wherein the one or more configuration setting control signals are generated responsive to which SC is selected to be connected to the common charging node, thereby effectuating a corresponding circuit configuration for generating a particular multiple of the input voltage at the common charging node.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The power supply generation method as recited in claim 9,
further comprising decoding an x-bit mapping control signal to generate [n] output selection signals, where x=log2(n) and [n] is a maximum number of SCs independently connectable to the common charging node.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The power supply generation method as recited in claim 10, further comprising generating one or more duty cycle control signals configured to provide duty cycle information with respect to the x-bit mapping control signal for indicating which SC of the charge pump is to be connected to the common charging node for what duration of time.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The power supply generation method as recited in claim 11, further comprising decoding a y-bit configuration control signal to generate [p] configuration setting control signals, where y=log2(p) and [p] is a maximum number of circuit configurations into which the one or more FCs can be connected.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The power supply generation method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:
generating a charge phase control signal, a storage phase control signal and a latch signal, wherein the charge phase control signal and the storage phase control signal have complementary logic states with respect to each other and are separated for a select time period during which the latch signal is asserted; and
alternatively using the charge phase control signal and the storage phase control signal that is separated by the charge phase signal for the select time period, in combination with a particular one of the [p] configuration setting control signals that is latched based on the latch signal, for transitioning between the charge phase connection state and the storage phase connection state of a corresponding circuit configuration of the charging circuitry until a next circuit configuration of the charging circuitry is effectuated.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The power supply generation method as recited in claim 13, further comprising optimizing the duty cycle information with respect to the x-bit mapping control signal based on respective current loads expected be drawn from the one or more SCs depending on corresponding load circuitry coupled to each SC.