Constant gate-to-source-voltage-driving driver architecture for switched-mode power supplies

A method of supplying power, comprising:

• operating a power supply circuit in a first phase, the power supply circuit comprising:
• a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) circuit having a first input voltage node and a second input voltage node;
• and
• a charge pump comprising:
• a capacitive element having a first terminal and a second terminal;
• a first switch coupled between a first input node of the charge pump and the first terminal of the capacitive element;
• a second switch coupled between the second terminal of the capacitive element and a second input node of the charge pump;
• a third switch coupled between the first terminal of the capacitive element and the first input voltage node of the SMPS circuit;
• and
• a fourth switch coupled between the second terminal of the capacitive element and the second input voltage node of the SMPS circuit;
• and
• operating the power supply circuit in a second phase, different from the first phase.

A power supply circuit comprising:

• a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) circuit comprising:
• a first transistor;
• a second transistor coupled to the first transistor via a first node;
• a third transistor coupled to the second transistor via a second node;
• a fourth transistor coupled to the third transistor via a third node;
• a first capacitive element having a first terminal coupled to the first node;
• a first driver having an output coupled to a control input of the first transistor;
• a second driver having an output coupled to a control input of the second transistor;
• a third driver having an output coupled to a control input of the third transistor;
• and
• a fourth driver having an output coupled to a control input of the fourth transistor;
• and
• a charge pump coupled to at least one of the first, second, third, or fourth driver.