Progressive start-up circuit for activating a charge pump

An integrated power converter comprising a dynamic controller and a switching matrix adapted to couple to a fly capacitor, a load capacitor, and an energy source, the dynamic controller electrically responsive to and operably controlling the switching matrix, the integrated power converter adapted to provide an output voltage across the load capacitor, the dynamic controller comprising:

• a voltage reference circuit for providing a reference voltage;
• a comparator responsive to the reference voltage and the output voltage to generate a switching command;
• a timing circuit adapted to receive the switching command and to command the switching matrix.

A progressive start-up circuit configured to activate a charge pump powered by a low input voltage and coupled to a load, the bootstrap circuit adapted to activate the charge pump by transferring charge from an energy source to a storage capacitor, the bootstrap circuit comprising:

• a start-up capacitor adapted to have a floating first terminal referenced to ground in response to the charge pump being deactivated, the start-up capacitor when charged operatively coupling the input voltage to the storage capacitor;
• and
• a start-up switch adapted to couple the low input voltage to a second terminal of the startup capacitor, in response to a discharged storage capacitor, to charge the start-up capacitor.

A electronic device including an energy source, a load device, and a power converter interposed between the battery and the load device, the power converter comprising:

• a power output stage including a load capacitor and a fly capacitor, the power output stage configured to receive an input voltage from an energy source and to provide an output voltage across the load capacitor, the power output stage further configured to switch between a charge state and discharge state, wherein the charge state includes the fly capacitor being electrically in parallel to the input voltage and wherein the discharge state includes the input voltage and the fly capacitor being additively electrically coupled series across the load capacitor;
• and
• a dynamic controller operably coupled to the power output stage and adapted to respond to a voltage across the load capacitor and to a predetermined reference voltage to command the switching from the charge state to the discharge state.

A battery including an energy source, a power converter and output terminals, the output terminals adapted to electrically couple to a load device, the power converter interposed between the energy source and the output terminals, the power converter comprising:

• a power output stage including a load capacitor and a fly capacitor, the power output stage configured to receive an input voltage from said energy source and to provide an output voltage across the load capacitor, the load capacitor being electrically coupled across the output terminals, the power output stage further configured to switch between a charge state and discharge state, wherein the charge state includes the fly capacitor being electrically in parallel to the energy source and wherein the discharge state includes the fly capacitor being electrically coupled across the load capacitor;
• and
• a dynamic controller operably coupled to the power output stage and adapted to respond to an output voltage across the load capacitor and to a predetermined reference voltage to command the switching from the charge state to the discharge state.