US 6,388,506 B1 · Regulator with leakage compensation

Abstract

The present invention provides a circuit and method for generating a regulated voltage from a voltage source. The regulator circuit includes at least two boost circuits. A first boost circuit generates a first pump voltage. The first boost circuit includes a charge pump for generating the first pump voltage from a first voltage source. The charge pump includes a charge pump switch having a leakage current. A second boost circuit generates a second pump voltage. The second boost circuit includes a charge pump for generating the second pump voltage from a second voltage source. A compensation circuit coupled between the first boost circuit and the second boost circuit supplies a compensation current to the first boost circuit to compensate for energy losses caused by the first boost circuit leakage current. An amplifier includes a reference input coupled to a reference voltage, and a sense input coupled to a sense signal representative of the first pump voltage. The amplifier is operable in response to a difference between the reference voltage and the sense signal, to control the first boost circuit output.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A regulator circuit for providing a regulated output voltage, comprising:

a first boost circuit to generate a first pump voltage, the first boost circuit including a first charge pump to generate the first pump voltage from a first voltage source, the first charge pump including a first charge pump switch having a first leakage current;
a second boost circuit to generate a second pump voltage, the second boost circuit including a second charge pump to generate the second pump voltage from a second voltage source;
a compensation circuit coupled between the first boost circuit and the second boost circuit to supply a compensation current to the first boost circuit to compensate for energy losses caused by the first boost circuit leakage current;
a sense circuit, responsive to the regulated output voltage, to generate the sense signal;
and
an amplifier having a reference input responsive to a reference voltage, a sense input in communication the sense signal, and an output, operable in response to a difference between the reference voltage and the sense signal, to control the first and second boost circuits.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Regulator with leakage compensation

Life of this patent

Regulator with leakage compensation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25