Regulator system for charge pump circuits

A regulator system for regulating output current of a charge pump circuit, said output current having a magnitude being controlled by a set of clock signals coupled to said charge pump circuit, said regulator system comprising:

• a control circuit which generates a set of at least one control signal as a function of said output current;
• and
• a clock circuit which generates said set of clock signals having a magnitude and a frequency, at least one of said magnitude and said frequency depending on said set of at least one control signal;
• said set of clock signals being applied to said charge pump circuit thereby varying said magnitude of said output current;
• wherein said set of at least one control signal contains a first and a second control signal, said control circuit comprising:
• a sense circuit which generates a first set of voltage signals as a function of said output current;
• a first circuit for generating said first control signal having a magnitude depending on said first set of voltages;
• and
• a second circuit for generating said second control signal having a frequency depending on said first set of voltages.

A method for regulating output current of a charge pump circuit, said output current having a magnitude controlled by a set of clock signals coupled to said charge pump circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a set of at least one control signal as a function of said output current;
• generating said set of clock signals having a magnitude and a frequency, said magnitude depending on said set of at least one control signal;
• and
• applying said set of clock signals to said charge pump circuit thereby varying said magnitude of said output current.

A method for regulating output current of a charge pump circuit, said output current having a magnitude controlled by a set of clock signals coupled to said charge pump circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a set of at least one control signal as a function of said output current;
• generating said set of clock signals having a magnitude and a frequency, at least one of said magnitude and said frequency depending on said set of at least one control signal;
• and
• applying said set of clock signals to said charge pump circuit thereby varying said magnitude of said output current;
• wherein said set of at least one control signal contains two control signals, and wherein said step of generating said set of at least one control signal comprises;
• generating a first set of voltage signals as a function of said output current;
• generating a first control signal having a magnitude depending on said first set of voltages;
• and
• generating a second control signal having a frequency depending on said first set of voltages.

A regulator system for regulating output current of a charge pump circuit, said output current having a magnitude being controlled by a set of clock signals coupled to said charge pump circuit, said regulator system comprising:

• a plurality of current mirrors for generating a set of currents as a function of said output current;
• a plurality of resistive elements each connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of current mirrors for generating a set of first voltage signals when said set of currents flow through said set of resistive elements;
• a first decoder for generating a second set of voltage signals as a function of said first set of voltage signals, said second set of voltage signals being non-sequential;
• an amplitude modulation unit for generating a first control signal as a function of said second set of voltage signals;
• a second decoder for generating a third set of voltage signals as a function of said first set of voltage signals, said third set of voltage signals being non-sequential;
• a frequency modulation unit for generating a second control signal as a function of said third set of voltage signals;
• and
• an oscillator generating said set of clock signals in response to said first and said second control signals;
• said set of clock signals being applied to said charge pump circuit thereby varying said magnitude of said output current.

A regulator system for regulating output current of a charge pump circuit, said output current having a magnitude being controlled by a set of clock signals coupled to said charge pump circuit, said regulator system comprising:

• a control circuit which generates a set of at least one control signal as a function of said output current;
• and
• a clock circuit which generates said set of clock signals having a magnitude and a frequency, said magnitude and said frequency depending on said set of at least one control signal;
• said set of clock signals being applied to said charge pump circuit thereby varying said magnitude of said output current.

A method for regulating output current of a charge pump circuit, said output current having a magnitude controlled by a set of clock signals coupled to said charge pump circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a set of at least one control signal as a function of said output current;
• generating said set of clock signals having a magnitude and a frequency, said magnitude and said frequency depending on said set of at least one control signal;
• and
• applying said set of clock signals to said charge pump circuit thereby varying said magnitude of said output current.