Low power switched-capacitor comparator
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- monitoring an output voltage using a first comparator core and a second comparator core by operating the first comparator core and the second comparator core such that when the first comparator core is monitoring the output voltage, the second comparator core is powered off or the second comparator core is being refreshed and when the second comparator core is monitoring the output voltage the first comparator core is powered off or the second comparator core is being refreshed;
refreshing the first comparator core by causing a first sample capacitor to store a first scaled version of the output voltage and causing a first reference capacitor to store a first voltage; and
refreshing the second comparator core by causing a second sample capacitor to store a second scaled version of the output voltage and causing a second reference capacitor to store a second voltage.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A voltage converter includes a comparator that continuously monitors an output voltage of the voltage converter. The comparator includes a first comparator core utilizing first and second switched capacitors and a second comparator core using third and fourth switched capacitors. The first comparator core is powered down or in a refresh mode while the second comparator core is monitoring the output voltage. The second comparator core is powered down or in the refresh mode while the first comparator core is monitoring the output voltage. The first and second switched capacitors are configured in series with an amplifier stage of the first comparator core while the first comparator core is monitoring the output voltage. The refresh mode charges the first (third) and second (fourth) switched capacitors to a scaled version of the output voltage and a reference voltage less an offset voltage, respectively.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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monitoring an output voltage using a first comparator core and a second comparator core by operating the first comparator core and the second comparator core such that when the first comparator core is monitoring the output voltage, the second comparator core is powered off or the second comparator core is being refreshed and when the second comparator core is monitoring the output voltage the first comparator core is powered off or the second comparator core is being refreshed; refreshing the first comparator core by causing a first sample capacitor to store a first scaled version of the output voltage and causing a first reference capacitor to store a first voltage; and refreshing the second comparator core by causing a second sample capacitor to store a second scaled version of the output voltage and causing a second reference capacitor to store a second voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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monitoring an output voltage using a first comparator core and a second comparator core by operating the first comparator core and the second comparator core such that when the first comparator core is monitoring the output voltage, the second comparator core is powered off or the second comparator core is being refreshed and when the second comparator core is monitoring the output voltage the first comparator core is powered off or the second comparator core is being refreshed; and adjusting a first bias current supplied to an amplifier of the first comparator core while the second comparator core is monitoring the output voltage without affecting a second bias current being supplied to the second comparator core.
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10. A comparator comprising:
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a first comparator core and a second comparator core; control logic configured to maintain the first comparator core powered down or in a refresh mode to refresh the first comparator core while the second comparator core is monitoring an output voltage; and the control logic being further configured to maintain the second comparator core powered down or in the refresh mode while the first comparator core is monitoring the output voltage; wherein the first comparator core further includes, a first sample capacitor to store a first scaled version of the output voltage; a first reference capacitor to store a first voltage difference between a reference voltage and a first offset voltage fed back from an amplifier stage of the first comparator core; a first switch to isolate the first sample capacitor from the first reference capacitor during the refresh mode; wherein the first sample capacitor and the first reference capacitor are coupled in series through the first switch while the first comparator core is monitoring the output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A voltage converter comprising:
a comparator to continuously monitor an output voltage of the voltage converter, the comparator including, a first comparator core utilizing first and second switched capacitors; a second comparator core using third and fourth switched capacitors; wherein the first comparator core is powered down or in a refresh mode to refresh the first comparator core while the second comparator core is monitoring the output voltage; and wherein the second comparator core is powered down or in the refresh mode to refresh the second comparator core while the first comparator core is monitoring the output voltage, the first and second switched capacitors being configured in series with an amplifier stage of the first comparator core while the first comparator core is monitoring the output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification