Resonant charge pump circuit with synchronized switching

A method for operating a resonant charge pump circuit having a resonant circuit that includes a bucket capacitor and a bucket inductor, the method comprising:

• switching to a first state that enables current to flow from an input terminal into the resonant circuit to charge the bucket capacitor and the bucket inductor;
• switching to a second state that enables current to flow from the resonant circuit to discharge the bucket capacitor and the bucket inductor to an output terminal;
• synchronizing the switching between the first and second states by using a signal output from a detector circuit to cause a first control signal and a second control signal to be output to control the current flows from the input terminal to the output terminal;
• determining a current level through the resonant circuit;
• and
• based on a determination that the current level is greater than a predetermined current level, synchronizing the switching between the first and second states by using an alternate clock signal output from an alternate clock generator to cause the first control signal and the second control signal to be output to control the current flows from the input terminal to the output terminal, wherein:
• the first and the second control signals are synchronized and complementary;
• the first control signal controls the switching to the first state;
• and
• the second control signal controls the switching to the second state.

A resonant charge pump circuit, comprising:

• a resonant circuit;
• means for switching connected to the resonant circuit, wherein the means for switching switches between a first state that enables current to flow from an input terminal into the resonant circuit, and a second state that enables current to flow from the resonant circuit to an output terminal;
• and
• means for synchronizing that uses a signal output from a detector circuit to cause a first control signal and a second control signal to be output to control current flows from the input terminal to the output terminal;
• means for determining a current level through the resonant circuit;
• and
• based on a determination that the current level is greater than a predetermined current level, means for synchronizing the switching between the first and second states that uses an alternate clock signal output from an alternate clock generator to cause the first control signal and the second control signal to be output to control the current flows from the input terminal to the output terminal, wherein:
• the first and the second control signals are synchronized and complementary;
• the first control signal controls the switching to the first state;
• and
• the second control signal controls the switching to the second state.