# US 12,015,339 B2 · Power supply circuit

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- Number: US 12,015,339 B2
- Document ID: US12015339B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/169,454
- Filed: 2023-02-15
- Published: 2023-08-24
- Granted: 2024-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2022-02-18
- Assignees: Rohm Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Rohm Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hisashi Sugie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015339B2

## CPC

- H02M 3/07: using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode {, e.g. charge pumps}
- G05F 1/468: {characterised by reference voltage circuitry, e.g. soft start, remote shutdown}
- G05F 1/56: using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices (G05F1/461 takes precedence)
- G05F 1/565: sensing a condition of the system or its load in addition to means responsive to deviations in the output of the system, e.g. current, voltage, power factor (G05F1/563 takes precedence)
- G05F 1/575: characterised by the feedback circuit
- H02M 1/0006: {Arrangements for supplying an adequate voltage to the control circuit of converters}
- H02M 1/0025: {Arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control loop of a converter}
- H02M 1/0045: {Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode}
- H02M 1/0048: {Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses (using snubbers H02M1/34)}
- H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
- H02M 3/073: {Charge pumps of the Schenkel-type}
- H02M 7/5387: in a bridge configuration
- Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
- 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)
- G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A linear regulator adjusts an intermediate voltage VREGOUT at an output node such that an output voltage VOUT at an output terminal approaches a first target voltage VOUT(REF1). A Dixon-type charge pump circuit enters a disable state when the output voltage VOUT is higher than a threshold voltage VTH(CP) determined to be lower than the first target voltage VOUT(REF1), outputs the intermediate voltage VREGOUT at a first input node to the output node in the disable state, enters an enable state when the output voltage VOUT is lower than the threshold voltage VTH(CP), and stabilizes the output voltage VOUT at the output terminal to a second target voltage VOUT(REF2) determined to be lower than the first target voltage VOUT(REF1) in the enable state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power supply circuit comprising:
an input terminal to be connected to receive an input voltage;
an output terminal to be connected to a load;
a linear regulator having an input node connected to the input terminal, and an output node, and structured to adjust an intermediate voltage at the output node such that an output voltage at the output terminal approaches a first target voltage; and
a Dixon-type charge pump circuit having a first input node connected to receive the intermediate voltage, a second input node connected to receive the input voltage, and an output node connected to the output terminal,
wherein the charge pump circuit is structured to enter a disable state when the output voltage is higher than a threshold voltage determined to be lower than the first target voltage, to output a voltage at the first input node to the output node in the disable state, to enter an enable state when the output voltage is lower than the threshold voltage, and to stabilize the output voltage to a second target voltage determined to be lower than the first target voltage in the enable state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein the charge pump circuit includes a first comparator having hysteresis for comparing a monitoring voltage corresponding to the output voltage with an upper threshold and a lower threshold corresponding to the second target voltage, and
the charge pump circuit repeats an operation period and a stop period in response to an output of the first comparator in the enable state.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein the charge pump circuit includes:
a flying capacitor;
a driver circuit structured to alternately apply the input voltage and a ground voltage to a first end of the flying capacitor in the enable state,
a first rectifier element provided between the first input node and a second end of the flying capacitor, and
a second rectifier element provided between the second end of the flying capacitor and the output node.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The power supply circuit according to claim 3, wherein the charge pump circuit further includes a second comparator structured to compare the output voltage with a voltage at the second end of the flying capacitor in a section in which the first end of the flying capacitor is low during a period in which the charge pump circuit is in the enable state, and structured to assert a stop signal when the output voltage is lower, and
the charge pump circuit enters the disabled state when the stop signal is asserted.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The power supply circuit according to claim 3, wherein the first rectifier element is a first synchronization rectifier transistor structured to be switched between on and off states in the enable state, and to be in on state in the disabled state, and
the second rectifier element is a second synchronization rectifier transistor structured to be complementarily switched with the first synchronization rectifier transistor in the enable state, and to be in an on state in the disabled state.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The power supply circuit according to claim 3, wherein the first rectifier element and the second rectifier element are diodes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein the charge pump circuit further includes a second comparator structured to compare the output voltage with the intermediate voltage, and to assert a stop signal when the output voltage is lower, and
the charge pump circuit enters the disabled state when the stop signal is asserted.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein the charge pump circuit further includes a second comparator structured to compare the output voltage with a voltage based on the input voltage, and to assert a stop signal when the output voltage is lower, and
the charge pump circuit enters the disabled state when the stop signal is asserted.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein the linear regulator includes
a first transistor having a source connected to the input node and a drain connected to the output node,
a second transistor having a source connected to the input node, a gate and a drain connected to a gate of the first transistor, and
an error amplifier connected to receive a reference voltage and a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage, and having an output connected to a gate of the first transistor and the gate and the drain of the second transistor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein the power supply circuit is integrated to one semiconductor substrate.