Low ripple scalable DC-to-DC converter circuit
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorMarc J. Kobayashi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit for boosting an input voltage (VIN) to provide a low ripple output voltage (VOUT) regulates flow of current between a source of the input voltage (VIN) and a circuit node (17) in response to a feedback signal (16) representative of the output voltage (VOUT). A charge pump circuit operates to repetitively charge a pump capacitor (CPMP) to a voltage equal to the input voltage (VIN) and redistribute charge between the pump capacitor (CPMP) and a level-shifting capacitor (CLS) coupled between the circuit node (17) and an output conductor (15) conducting the output voltage (VOUT) so as to maintain the boosted output voltage (VOUT).
Claims23
A DC-to-DC conversion circuit having an input conductor for receiving an input voltage and an output conductor for conducting an output voltage, the DC-to-DC conversion circuit comprising:
- (a) a pass transistor having a first electrode coupled to receive the input voltage and a second electrode coupled to a first conductor;
- (b) amplifier circuitry having a first input coupled to receive a first reference voltage and an output coupled to a control electrode of the pass transistor;
- (c) level shifting circuitry coupled to the first conductor, the output conductor, the input conductor, and a conductor conducting a second reference voltage, the level shifting circuitry being capable of providing energy needed to boost the output voltage to a required level;
- and
- (d) a feedback circuit coupled between the output conductor and a second input of the amplifying circuit.
A DC-to-DC conversion circuit having an input conductor for receiving an input voltage and an output conductor for conducting an output voltage, the DC-to-DC conversion circuit comprising:
- (a) a pass transistor having a first electrode coupled to receive the input voltage and a second electrode coupled to a first conductor;
- (b) amplifier circuitry having a first input coupled to receive a first reference voltage and an output coupled to a control electrode of the pass transistor;
- (c) charge pump circuitry coupled to the first conductor, the output conductor, the input conductor, and a conductor conducting a second reference voltage;
- (d) a level-shifting capacitor coupled between the first conductor and the output conductor;
- and
- (e) a feedback circuit coupled between the output conductor and a second input of the amplifying circuit.
A DC-to-DC conversion circuit having an input conductor receiving a input voltage and an output conductor for conducting an output voltage, the DC-to-DC conversion circuit comprising:
- (a) a pass transistor having a first electrode coupled to receive the input voltage and a second electrode coupled to a first conductor;
- (b) amplifier circuitry having a first input coupled to receive a first reference voltage and an output coupled to a control electrode of the pass transistor;
- (c) a level-shifting capacitor coupled between the first conductor and the output conductor;
- (d) charge pump circuitry having a first input terminal coupled to receive a second reference voltage, a second input terminal coupled to receive the input voltage, a first output terminal coupled to the first conductor, and a second output terminal coupled to the output conductor;
- and
- (e) feedback circuitry coupled between the output conductor and a second input of the amplifying circuit.
A method of boosting an input voltage to provide a low ripple output voltage, comprising:
- (a) regulating flow of current between a source of the input voltage and a circuit node in response to a feedback signal representative of the output voltage;
- and
- (b) operating charge pump circuitry to repetitively charge a pump capacitor to a voltage equal to the input voltage and redistribute charge between the pump capacitor and a level-shifting capacitor coupled between the circuit node and an output conductor conducting the output voltage so as to maintain the output voltage at a regulated level of substantially greater magnitude than the input voltage.
A method of boosting an input voltage to provide a low ripple output voltage, comprising:
- (a) regulating flow of current between a source of the input voltage and a circuit node in response to a feedback signal representative of the output voltage;
- and
- (c) operating DC-to-DC converter circuitry to repetitively charge a pump inductor to a current supplied by a source of the input voltage and redistribute energy stored in the pump inductor between the pump inductor and a level-shifting capacitor coupled between the circuit node and an output conductor conducting the output voltage so as to maintain the output voltage at a regulated level of substantially greater magnitude than the input voltage.
A DC-to-DC conversion circuit having an input conductor receiving a input voltage and an output conductor for conducting an output voltage, the DC-to-DC conversion circuit comprising:
- (a) a pass transistor having a first electrode coupled to receive the input voltage and a second electrode coupled to a first conductor;
- (b) amplifier circuitry having a first input coupled to receive a first reference voltage and an output coupled to a control electrode of the pass transistor;
- (c) a level-shifting capacitor coupled between the first conductor and the output conductor;
- (d) charge pump circuitry having a first input terminal coupled to receive a second reference voltage, a second input terminal coupled to receive the input voltage, a first output terminal coupled to the first conductor, and a second output terminal coupled to the output conductor;
- and
- (e) feedback circuitry coupled between the output conductor and a second input of the amplifying circuit,
- wherein the charge pump circuitry includes a pump inductor, a first steering diode having an anode coupled to the first conductor and a first terminal of the pump inductor, a second steering diode having an anode coupled to a second terminal of the pump inductor and a cathode coupled to the output conductor, a first switch coupled between the input conductor and the first terminal of the pump inductor, and a second switch coupled between the second terminal of the pump inductor and the conductor conducting the second reference voltage.
A circuit for boosting an input voltage to provide a low ripple output voltage, comprising:
- (a) means for regulating flow of current between a source of the input voltage and a circuit node in response to a feedback signal representative of the output voltage;
- and
- (b) charge pump means for repetitively charging a pump capacitor to a voltage equal to the input voltage and redistributing charge between the pump capacitor and a level-shifting capacitor coupled between the circuit node and an output conductor conducting the output voltage so as to maintain the output voltage at a regulated level of substantially greater magnitude than the input voltage.
A circuit for boosting an input voltage to provide a low ripple output voltage, comprising:
- (a) means for regulating flow of current between a source of the input voltage and a circuit node in response to a feedback signal representative of the output voltage;
- and
- (b ) charge pump means for repetitively charging a pump inductor to a voltage determined by the input voltage and redistributing charge between the pump inductor and a level-shifting capacitor coupled between the circuit node and an output conductor conducting the output voltage so as to maintain the output voltage at a regulated level of substantially greater magnitude than the input voltage.
A DC-to-DC conversion circuit having an input conductor for receiving an input voltage and an output conductor for conducting an output voltage, the DC-to-DC conversion circuit comprising:
- (a) a pass transistor having a first electrode coupled to receive a first reference voltage and a second electrode coupled to a first conductor;
- (b) amplifier circuitry having a first input coupled to receive a second reference voltage and an output coupled to a control electrode of the pass transistor;
- (c) charge pump circuitry coupled to the first conductor, the output conductor, the input conductor, and a conductor conducting the first reference voltage;
- (d) a level-shifting capacitor coupled between the first conductor and the output conductor;
- and
- (e) a feedback circuit coupled between the output conductor and a second input of the amplifying circuit.
A DC-to-DC conversion circuit having an input conductor for receiving an input voltage and an output conductor for conducting an output voltage, the DC-to-DC conversion circuit comprising:
- (a) a pass transistor having a first electrode coupled to receive a first reference voltage and a second electrode coupled to a first conductor;
- (b) amplifier circuitry having a first input coupled to receive a first reference voltage and an output coupled to a control electrode of the pass transistor;
- (c) level shifting circuitry coupled to the first conductor, the output conductor, the input conductor, and a conductor conducting the second reference voltage, the level shifting circuitry being capable of providing energy needed to boost the output voltage to a required level;
- and
- (d) a feedback circuit coupled between the output conductor and a second input of the amplifying circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.