Diode Connected Regulation of Charge Pumps
AssigneeSanDisk Corporation
InventorsFeng Pan, Jonathan H. Huynh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit including a charge pump and regulation circuitry is described. The output of the charge pump is connected to provide a first output signal that is connectable to drive a load. A diode is connected to provide a second output signal of lower voltage from the first output signal. The regulation circuitry is connected to the second output level and is connectable to the charge pump to regulate its output. The circuit also includes a current source connectable from the second line to ground, where control circuitry connects the current source to the second line when the first line is connected to the load.
Claims21
A circuit, comprising:
- a charge pump;
- a first output signal connected to receive the output of the charge pump and connectable to a load;
- a first diode connected to provide a second output signal of lower voltage from the first output signal;
- regulation circuitry connected to receive the second output signal and connectable to the charge pump to regulate the output thereof;
- a current source connectable between the second output signal and ground;
- and
- control circuitry whereby the current source is enabled and is connected to receive the second output signal when the first line is connected to the load.
A method of operating a circuit including a charge pump and a regulator connectable to the charge pump to regulate the output thereof, the method comprising:
- receiving the output of said charge pump to provide a first output signal therefrom;
- receiving said output of the charge pump as input at a first diode and deriving as output therefrom a second output signal of lower voltage than the first output signal;
- supplying the second output signal as input to the regulator to regulate the output of the charge pump in response thereto;
- connecting the first output signal to a load;
- and
- in response to connecting the first output signal to the load, enabling a current source between the second output signal and ground.
A method of operating a charge pump, comprising:
- deriving from the output of the charge pump a second output of lower voltage;
- regulating the output of the charge pump based on the second output;
- connecting the output of the charge pump to a load;
- and
- in response to connecting the output of the charge pump the load, enabling a current source connected between the second output and ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.