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US 11,689,202 B2Granted
Voltage generators with charge pumps for switch circuits
AssigneeSkyworks Solutions, Inc.
InventorsFlorinel G. Balteanu, Paul T. DiCarlo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein are non-limiting examples of voltage generators that use multiple charge pumps coupled in series to generate a targeted voltage. The charge pumps implement multiple charge pump units that reduce the introduction of noise into a circuit in which they are implemented. The charge pumps units work in parallel on different clock phases to reduce spurious noise. This is in contrast to using a single charge pump with a relatively large flying capacitor or a plurality of charge pumps in series. This can, for example, reduce spurious signals or spurs that arise due at least in part to the characteristics of the clock signal. The disclosed technologies may be particularly advantageous for SOI-based components and circuits.
Claims20
A voltage generator comprising:
- a first charge pump having a first voltage terminal, a ground terminal coupled to a reference potential node, and a first plurality of charge pump units that are coupled in parallel to one another, each charge pump unit of the first plurality of charge pump units configured to receive a supply voltage, to receive a clock signal offset in phase from clock signals to the other charge pump units, and to generate a first output signal based on the received clock signal that is coupled to the first voltage terminal, the first charge pump further including an output resistor coupled in series with each charge pump unit, each output resistor having the same resistance value;
- a second charge pump having a second voltage terminal, an intermediate voltage terminal coupled to the first voltage terminal of the first charge pump to receive the first output signal from the first charge pump unit, and a second plurality of charge pump units that are coupled in parallel to one another, each charge pump unit of the second plurality of charge pump units configured to receive a supply voltage, to receive a clock signal offset in phase from clock signals to the other charge pump units, and to generate a second output signal based on the received clock signal that is coupled to the second voltage terminal, the second output signal being a voltage that is greater in magnitude than the first output signal from the first charge pump unit, the second charge pump further including an output resistor coupled in series with each charge pump unit, each output resistor having the same resistance value.
A radio-frequency (RF) module comprising:
- a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components;
- and
- a voltage generator implemented on the packaging substrate, the voltage generator including a first charge pump having a first voltage terminal, a ground terminal coupled to a reference potential node, and a first plurality of charge pump units that are coupled in parallel to one another, each charge pump unit of the first plurality of charge pump units configured to receive a supply voltage, to receive a clock signal offset in phase from clock signals to the other charge pump units, and to generate a first output signal based on the received clock signal that is coupled to the first voltage terminal, the first charge pump further including an output resistor coupled in series with each charge pump unit, each output resistor having the same resistance value;
- the voltage generator also including a second charge pump having a second voltage terminal, an intermediate voltage terminal coupled to the first voltage terminal of the first charge pump to receive the first output signal from the first charge pump unit, and a second plurality of charge pump units that are coupled in parallel to one another, each charge pump unit of the second plurality of charge pump units configured to receive a supply voltage, to receive a clock signal offset in phase from clock signals to the other charge pump units, and to generate a second output signal based on the received clock signal that is coupled to the second voltage terminal, the second output signal being a voltage that is greater in magnitude than the first output signal from the first charge pump unit, the second charge pump further including an output resistor coupled in series with each charge pump unit, each output resistor having the same resistance value.
1 more element
A wireless device comprising:
- a transceiver configured to generate a radio-frequency (RF) signal;
- a front-end module (FEM) in communication with the transceiver, the FEM including a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components, the FEM further including a voltage generator implemented on the packaging substrate, the voltage generator including a first charge pump having a first voltage terminal, a ground terminal coupled to a reference potential node, and a first plurality of charge pump units that are coupled in parallel to one another, each charge pump unit of the first plurality of charge pump units configured to receive a supply voltage, to receive a clock signal offset in phase from clock signals to the other charge pump units, and to generate a first output signal based on the received clock signal that is coupled to the first voltage terminal, the first charge pump further including an output resistor coupled in series with each charge pump unit, each output resistor having the same resistance value;
- the voltage generator also including a second charge pump having a second voltage terminal, an intermediate voltage terminal coupled to the first voltage terminal of the first charge pump to receive the first output signal from the first charge pump unit, and a second plurality of charge pump units that are coupled in parallel to one another, each charge pump unit of the second plurality of charge pump units configured to receive a supply voltage, to receive a clock signal offset in phase from clock signals to the other charge pump units, and to generate a second output signal based on the received clock signal that is coupled to the second voltage terminal, the second output signal being a voltage that is greater in magnitude than the first output signal from the first charge pump unit, the second charge pump further including an output resistor coupled in series with each charge pump unit, each output resistor having the same resistance value;
- and
- an antenna in communication with the FEM, the antenna configured to transmit an amplified RF signal.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.