DC/DC converter
AssigneeSony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
InventorsKazutoshi Ono, Nobuhiko Shigyo, Hideo Maeda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
When a bias voltage of a substrate is generated, an output voltage of a charge pump is controlled at an appropriate level, resultingly reducing a consumption current. The charge pump generates a predetermined output voltage from a predetermined DC power supply. A clock generator outputs a clock for operating the charge pump. A voltage monitoring unit monitors the output voltage of the charge pump and controls the clock output from the clock generator such that the output voltage is maintained within a predetermined range. A voltage regulator generates the bias voltage from the output voltage of the charge pump.
Claims5
A DC/DC converter, comprising:
- a charge pump configured to generate a specific output voltage from a specific DC power supply;
- a clock generator configured to output a clock for operating the charge pump;
- a voltage monitoring unit configured to:
- monitor the specific output voltage of the charge pump;
- and
- control the clock output from the clock generator such that the specific output voltage is maintained within a specific range;
- compare the specific output voltage with one of a first potential or a second potential;
- output a control signal that enables output of the clock when the specific output voltage goes beyond one of the first potential or the second potential:
- compare the specific output voltage with the first potential when the control signal indicates invalidity of the clock;
- compare the specific output voltage with the second potential when the control signal indicates validity of the clock;
- and
- compare the specific output voltage with the second potential when a specific forced signal is input even in a case where the control signal indicates invalidity of the clock;
- and
- a voltage regulator configured to generate a bias voltage from the specific output voltage of the charge pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.