Variable stage charge pump
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.I.
InventorsDomenico Pappalardo, Maurizio Gaibotti, Gaetano Palumbo, Antonino Conte, Stefano Lo Giudice
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable charge pump contains several individual simple charge pumps, each with a pumping capacitor and a switching mechanism. Additionally, a switching network is coupled to the individual charge pumps so that the different lines in the charge pump can be connected together in a serial mode or parallel mode (or mixed serial and parallel modes) to match the needs of the output load. The switching network is easily changed to provide the necessary driving capability as the needs of the output load changes.
Claims30
A charge pump capable of having multiple stages, comprising:
- at least two pumping lines, each line including:
- an input terminal for accepting an input voltage,
- an output terminal for delivering an output voltage, the output voltage different than the input voltage,
- a pumping capacitor having a first terminal coupled between the input and output terminals and having a second terminal structured to accept a phase signal, and
- a switch coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal and structured to disrupt a connection between the terminals when activated by a switching signal;
- the charge pump further including:
- a switching network structured to couple the pumping lines either in a serial mode or a parallel mode depending on a state of the switching network.
A variable stage charge pump, comprising:
- a plurality of units, each unit including:
- an input terminal and an output terminal;
- a first switch coupled between the input terminal and a first terminal of a first capacitor, a second terminal of the first capacitor for receiving a pumping signal;
- a second switch coupled between the input terminal and a first terminal of a second capacitor, a second terminal of the second capacitor for receiving a second pumping signal;
- a third switch coupled between the first terminals of the first and the second capacitors;
- a fourth switch coupled between the first terminal of the first capacitor and the output terminal;
- and
- a fifth switch coupled between the first terminal of the second capacitor and the output terminal;
- a second plurality of phase selecting switches coupled to one of the capacitors in one of the units and structured to be coupled to one of the capacitors in another unit.
A charge pump capable of having multiple stages, comprising:
- at least two pumping lines, each line including:
- an input terminal for accepting an input voltage,
- an output terminal for delivering an output voltage, the output voltage different than the input voltage,
- a pumping capacitor having a first terminal coupled between the input and output terminals and having a second terminal structured to accept a phase signal, and
- a switched diode coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal and structured to disrupt a connection between the terminals when activated by a switching signal;
- the charge pump further including:
- a switching network coupled between the pumping lines and structured to couple the pumping lines either in a serial mode or a parallel mode depending on a state of the switching network.
A method of interconnecting a set of charge pumps each including phase switches and pumping capacitors, comprising:
- accepting a voltage input signal at an input terminal;
- applying a series of phase signals to the pumping capacitors and applying phase signals to the phase switches to produce an output voltage at an output terminal, the output voltage different than the input voltage;
- and
- applying signals to a switching network coupled between the set of charge pumps, the signals for controlling whether the set of charge pumps should operate in a parallel or serial fashion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.