Charge pump having very low voltage ripple

A charge pump circuit having low output voltage ripple, said charge pump circuit comprising:

• a servo amplifier comprising a DC amplifier having a gain stage and a first output transistor, said servo amplifier configured for providing an output current;
• a first charge pump capacitor and a second charge pump capacitor configured to provide a continuous path with said servo amplifier to a load device, said first charge pump capacitor and said second charge pump capacitor being configured for alternate coupling to said first output transistor;
• a pair of switches for coupling said first charge pump capacitor and said second charge pump capacitor to said first output transistor;
• a pair of switches configured for coupling said first charge pump capacitor and said second charge pump capacitor to a load device;
• and
• wherein said servo amplifier, said first charge pump capacitor and said second charge pump capacitor are configured to provide for continuous control of said output current delivered to a load device to minimize output voltage ripple.

A charge pump circuit configured for providing a low voltage ripple, said charge pump circuit comprising:

• a servo amplifier comprising a feed-forward circuit having a wideband amplifier and an output transistor;
• a first charge pump capacitor and a second charge pump capacitor configured in a feedback arrangement with said servo amplifier;
• a plurality of switch devices for alternately coupling said first charge pump capacitor and said second charge pump capacitor to said servo amplifier;
• and wherein said servo amplifier, said first charge pump capacitor and said second charge pump capacitor are configured to provide for continuous control of an output current delivered to an output load to minimize output voltage ripple.

A method for providing a charge pump output voltage having a low voltage ripple, said method comprising the steps of:

• charging a first charge pump capacitor to an input voltage;
• coupling said first charge pump capacitor with switching to a servo amplifier in a feedback arrangement during a first phase to discharge said first charge pump capacitor and provide an output current to a load device while charging a second charge pump capacitor to said input voltage;
• and
• coupling said second charge pump capacitor with switching to said servo amplifier in a feedback arrangement during a second phase to discharge said second charge pump capacitor and provide an output current to said load device while recharging said first charge pump capacitor to said input voltage, and;
• simultaneously coupling said first charge pump capacitor and said second charge pump capacitor to said servo amplifier in a feedback arrangement during transitioning between said first phase and said second phase to provide for continuous control of an output current delivered to an output load to minimize output voltage ripple.

A charge pump circuit configured for providing a low voltage ripple, said charge pump circuit comprising:

• a first charge pump capacitor configured for control of an output current during a first phase;
• a second charge pump capacitor configured for control of said output current during a second phase;
• a plurality of switch devices for alternately coupling said first charge pump capacitor and said second charge pump capacitor to a load device;
• and
• wherein said first charge pump capacitor, said second charge pump capacitor, and said plurality of switches are configured to provide for continuous control of said output current delivered to an output load to minimize output voltage ripple.