Fractional charge pump converters

A method of operating a fractional charge pump converter comprising:

• controlling or setting switches into a state that configures a fractional charge pump converter to a charging state, wherein, in the charging state, a first one and a second one of charge storage devices are charged, wherein:
• the switches comprise a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch, wherein:
• the first switch has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal, wherein the first terminal connected to an input signal line, the second terminal is connected to the first one of the charge storage devices, and the third terminal is connected to an output signal line;
• the second switch has a fourth terminal, a fifth terminal, a sixth terminal, a seventh terminal, and an eighth terminal, wherein the fourth terminal is connected to the first one of the charge storage devices, the fifth terminal is connected to the input signal line, the seventh terminal is connected to the output signal line, and the eighth terminal is connected to the second one of the charge storage devices, and wherein the sixth terminal is electrically between the fourth terminal and the eighth terminal so that the first one and the second one of the charge storage devices are connected in series with each other in the charging state;
• and
• the third switch has a ninth terminal connected to the second one of the charge storage devices;
• and
• controlling or setting the switches to a different state that configures the first one of the charge storage devices and the second one of the charge storage devices in parallel with each other and the first one of the charge storage devices and the second one of the charge storage devices are in series with the input signal line and the output signal line so that the charge pump converter is the fractional charge pump converter from the charging state to a multiplying state, wherein, in the multiplying state, the charge storage devices are discharged.

A user element including a charge pump converter, the charge pump converter comprising:

• a first switch;
• a second switch;
• a first charge storage device connected between the first switch and the second switch;
• a third switch;
• and
• a second charge storage device connected between the second switch and the third switch, wherein the charge pump converter is operable to operate:
• the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch such that the charge pump converter is in a charging state that charges the first charge storage device and the second charge storage device;
• and
• the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch such that the first charge storage device and the second charge storage device are in parallel with each other and the first charge storage device and the second charge storage device are in series with an input signal line and an output signal line so that the charge pump converter is in a multiplying state that discharges the first charge storage device and the second charge storage device;
• wherein:
• the first switch has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal, wherein the first terminal is connected to the input signal line, the second terminal is connected to the first charge storage device, and the third terminal is connected to the output signal line;
• the second switch has a fourth terminal, a fifth terminal, a sixth terminal, a seventh terminal, and an eighth terminal, wherein the fourth terminal is connected to the first charge storage device, the fifth terminal is connected to the input signal line, the seventh terminal is connected to the output signal line, and the eighth terminal is connected to the second charge storage device, and wherein the sixth terminal is electrically between the fourth terminal and the eighth terminal so that the first one and the second one of the charge storage devices are connected in series with each other in the charging state;
• and
• the third switch has a ninth terminal connected to the second charge storage device.