Single mode buck/boost regulating charge pump
AssigneeLinfinity Microelectronics
InventorGeorge C. Henry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A charge pump receives a direct current input voltage at a first level and provides a substantially constant direct current output voltage at a second level. Variations of the input voltage level above and below the output voltage level are handled seamlessly by a continuous mode control scheme that controls a charging current of the charge pump. The charge pump includes an error amplifier which produces a control signal based on a comparison of a feedback voltage proportional to the output voltage and a reference voltage. The control signal controls a variable current source to regulate the charging current provided to a charge storage component.
Claims17
A charge pump that provides a buck operation and a boost operation using a continuous control scheme for both operations, the charge pump including a charge storage component that is alternately charged and discharged to produce a substantially constant output voltage, the charge pump including a controllable current supply responsive to the output voltage, the controllable current supply configured to control a charging current provided to the charge storage component.
A regulating charge pump receiving a supply voltage and providing a regulated output voltage comprising:
- a charge storage component;
- a plurality of switches that interconnect the charge storage component and the supply voltage;
- a switch timing control circuit that regulates the conductivity of the plurality of switches;
- a reference voltage;
- an error amplifier that provides a control signal responsive to the reference voltage and to the output voltage;
- and
- a variable current supply that is responsive to the control signal from the error amplifier, the variable current supply configured to provide a regulated current to the charge storage component when the charge storage component is being charged.
A method of providing a stable output voltage comprising:
- receiving an input voltage;
- periodically coupling a regulated variable current source to a charge storage component to charge the charge storage component;
- periodically coupling the charge storage component in series with the input voltage to generate an output voltage;
- comparing a feedback voltage proportional to the output voltage to a reference voltage;
- and
- regulating the charging of the charge storage component such that the output voltage is a selected multiple of the reference voltage.
A charge pump converter configured to receive a direct current input voltage at a first level and to provide a substantially constant direct current output voltage at a second level, wherein variations of the input voltage level above and below the output voltage level are handled seamlessly by a continuous mode control scheme that controls a charging current of the charge pump regulator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.