Voltage booster circuit of the charge-pump type with bootstrapped oscillator

A charge pump comprising:

• means using a switching technique for creating a voltage of greater magnitude than a supply voltage;
• and
• means for controlling the switching technique, comprising:
• first means for receiving an oscillator signal at an oscillator frequency and generating a plurality of intermediate signals;
• second means for receiving the plurality of intermediate signals and generating a first plurality of phase-split signals, each of the first plurality of phase-split signals switching between a first voltage and a second voltage;
• and
• third means for receiving the plurality of intermediate signals and generating a second plurality of phase-split signals, each of the second plurality of phase-split signals switching between the first voltage and a third voltage that is different from the second voltage.

A charge pump comprising:

• means using a switching technique for creating a voltage of greater magnitude than a supply voltage;
• and
• means for controlling the switching technique comprising:
• oscillator means for generating an oscillator signal at an oscillator frequency;
• phase-split means for receiving the oscillator signal and generating a plurality of non-overlapping phase-split signals at the oscillator frequency;
• non-boosting generator means for receiving the plurality of non-overlapping phase-split signals and generating a plurality of non-bootstrapped non-overlapping output signals switching between a zero voltage and the supply voltage substantially at the oscillator frequency;
• and
• boosting generator means for receiving the plurality of non-overlapping phase-split signals and generating a plurality of bootstrapped non-overlapping output signals, the bootstrapped non-overlapping output signals switching between the zero voltage and a voltage of greater magnitude than the supply voltage and switching substantially synchronously with the non-bootstrapped non-overlapping output signals.

A charge pump comprising:

• a voltage-boosting circuit;
• first means for receiving an oscillator signal and generating a plurality of intermediate signals;
• second means, coupled to the voltage-boosting circuit and responsive to the plurality of intermediate signals, for providing a first plurality of phase-split signals to the voltage-boosting circuit, each of the first plurality of phase-split signals switching between a first voltage and a second voltage;
• and
• third means, coupled to the voltage-boosting circuit and responsive to the plurality of intermediate signals, for providing a second plurality of phase-split signals to the voltage-boosting circuit, each of the second plurality of phase-split signals switching between a first voltage and a third voltage that is different from the second voltage.

An apparatus comprising:

• a charge pump circuit for creating an output voltage of greater magnitude than a supply voltage in response to signals received at an input of the charge pump circuit;
• and
• a control circuit, coupled to the charge pump circuit, the control circuit having an input that receives an oscillator signal at an oscillator frequency, a first output that provides a first plurality of phase-split signals to the input of the charge pump circuit, each of the first plurality of phase-split signals switching between a first voltage and a second voltage, and a second output that provides a second plurality of phase-split signals to the input of the charge pump circuit, each of the second plurality of phase-split signals switching between a first voltage and a third voltage that is different from the second voltage;
• wherein the control circuit includes;
• a phase splitter, having an input that receives that receives the oscillator signal, a first output that provides a first plurality of internal signals, and a second output that provides a second plurality of internal signals;
• a first output stage, having an input that receives the first plurality of internal signals and the second plurality of internal signals and an output that provides the first plurality of phase-split signals;
• and
• a second output stage, having an input that receives the first plurality of internal signals and the second plurality of internal signals and an output that provides the second plurality of phase-split signals.