Dynamic regulation scheme for high speed charge pumps

A charge pump comprising:

• an input node coupled to receive an input voltage from a power voltage source;
• an oscillator unit generating a periodic enable regulator signal and a periodic reset signal;
• a regulator clock unit coupled to the oscillator unit generating a precharge (PC) signal and a reset regulator signal in response to the enable regulator signal;
• a pump clock unit receiving a master clock signal and generating a plurality of pump clock signals;
• a charge pump unit coupled to the input node and operatively controlled by the plurality of pump clock signals, and coupled to an output terminal coupled to produce an output signal (VPUMP);
• a reference unit generating a reference signal;
• and
• a regulator unit coupled to receive the VPUMP signal, the PC signal, the reference signal and the enable regulator signal, the regulator unit responsive to the enable regulator signal to operate in either a precharge mode or a regulation mode, wherein the regulator unit further comprises:
• a power supply source node coupled to an external power source voltage;
• a power supply return node;
• a first switch operatively controlled by the PC signal to couple the power supply return node to voltage substantially equal to the external power source voltage;
• and
• a second switch operatively controlled by the PC signal to couple the power supply return node to ground.

A dynamic regulator generating a clock pulse for use in a charge pump unit, the dynamic regulator comprising:

• a first input node coupled to an output node of the charge pump;
• a second input node coupled to a reference signal;
• a latch having a first supply node coupled to a voltage source, a second supply node, a first signal node coupled to the first input node, and a second signal node coupled to the second input node;
• a load coupling the second supply node to ground, the load having a characteristic time constant;
• and
• a precharge unit coupled to the second supply node and receiving a precharge control signal, the precharge unit selectively coupling the second supply node to a return node of the voltage source.

A method for generating a clock signal for use in a charge pump device, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a regulator coupled to sense a reference voltage, a charge pump output voltage, and a periodic enable signal;
• placing the regulator in a precharge state;
• precharging internal nodes of the regulator during the precharge state;
• placing the regulator in a standby state;
• decoupling the internal nodes of the regulator from power supplies during the standby state such that the regulator consumes substantially reduced power;
• coupling the internal nodes of the regulator to the reference voltage and the charge pump output voltage during the standby state;
• placing the regulator in an enabled state in which the internal nodes of the regulator are coupled to be driven by the power supplies;
• and
• immediately after transition to the enable state, clocking the dynamic regulator to produce the clock signal.