Low power DC-DC converter

• US 10,044,259 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dialog Semiconductors (UK) Limited
• Original Assignee: Dialog Semiconductors (UK) Limited
• Inventors: D'Amico, Stefano, Dalena, Francesco, Pasca, Mirko
• Primary Examiner(s): Hernandez, William
• Application Number:
  US15/357,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20170070139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 327185, 327227, 327228, 327229, 327306, 327536, 327548
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 2200/0082 Lowering the supply voltage and saving power
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1212 the amplifier comprising a pair of transistors, wherein an output terminal of each being connected to an input terminal of the other, e.g. a cross coupled pair
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1228 the amplifier comprising one or more field effect transistors

Abstract

A DC-DC converter comprises an oscillator and a charge pump, to ensure operation at low voltage. The oscillator comprises one or more source degenerated transistors comprising a degeneration impedance located between a source of the transistor and a ground connection. The degeneration impedance comprises an inductor and a capacitor. Also provided is an energy harvesting device comprising such a DC-DC converter.

Claims

1. A DC-DC converter comprising an oscillator with a charge pump wherein the oscillator comprises one or more source degenerated transistors, wherein each transistor comprises a degeneration impedance located between a source of the transistor and a ground connection, wherein the degeneration impedance comprises an inductor and a capacitor.

2. The DC-DC converter of claim 1, being a boost converter.

3. The DC-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the oscillator is a low voltage oscillator.

4. The DC-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the oscillator is a differential oscillator.

5. The DC-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the charge pump comprises a plurality of charge pump stages.

6. An energy harvesting device comprising a DC-DC converter that includes an oscillator with a charge pump wherein the oscillator comprises one or more source degenerated transistors, wherein each transistor comprises a degeneration impedance located between a source of the transistor and a ground connection, wherein the degeneration impedance comprises an inductor and a capacitor.

7. The energy harvesting device of claim 6, wherein the DC-DC converter is a boost converter.

8. The energy harvesting device of claim 6, wherein the oscillator is a low voltage oscillator.

9. The energy harvesting device of claim 6, wherein the oscillator is a differential oscillator.

10. The energy harvesting device of claim 6, wherein the charge pump comprises a plurality of charge pump stages.

11. A method of DC-DC conversion comprising the step of:

providing an oscillator with a charge pump wherein the oscillator comprises one or more source degenerated transistors, wherein each transistor comprises a degeneration impedance located between a source of the transistor and a ground connection, wherein the degeneration impedance comprises an inductor and a capacitor.

12. The method of claim 11, being a boost conversion.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the oscillator is a low voltage oscillator.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the oscillator is a differential oscillator.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the charge pump comprises a plurality of charge pump stages.

16. A method of harvesting energy comprising the step of:

providing a DC-DC converter that includes an oscillator with a charge pump wherein the oscillator comprises one or more source degenerated transistors, wherein each transistor comprises a degeneration impedance located between a source of the transistor and a ground connection, wherein the degeneration impedance comprises an inductor and a capacitor.

17. The method claim 16, wherein the DC-DC converter is a boost converter.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the oscillator is a low voltage oscillator.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the oscillator is a differential oscillator.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the charge pump comprises a plurality of charge pump stages.