Apparatus and methods for multi-mode charge pumps

• US 10,680,516 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2019
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Crandall, Jonathan Christian, Fisher, Robert Michael, Mayberry, Curtis Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Talukder, Md K
• Application Number:
  US16/654,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20200119637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 237 Days
• Field of Search: 455 77, 455 87
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for multi-mode charge pumps are disclosed herein. In certain configurations, a multi-mode charge pump includes an output terminal, a mode control circuit that operates the multi-mode charge pump in a selected mode, a first switched capacitor, a capacitor charging circuit, and a plurality of switches. The capacitor charging circuit connects a first end of the first switched capacitor to a charging voltage in a first phase of a clock signal, and connects the first end of the first switched capacitor to a reference voltage in a second phase of the clock signal. The charging voltage has a voltage level that changes based on the selected mode. The plurality of switches connect a second end of the first switched capacitor to the reference voltage in the first phase, and connect the second end of the first switched capacitor to the output terminal in the second phase.

Claims

1. A multi-mode charge pump comprising:

a first switching capacitor;

a first buffer having an input configured to receive a first clock signal and an output configured to control a first end of the first switching capacitor, the first buffer powered by an adjustable power supply voltage and a ground voltage;

a plurality of power supply selection switches including a first power supply selection switch configured to set the adjustable power supply voltage to a first power supply voltage in a first mode of the multi-mode charge pump, and a second power supply selection switch configured to set the adjustable power supply voltage to a second power supply voltage in a second mode of the multi-mode charge pump; and

a plurality of output switches including a first output switch connected between the ground voltage and a second end of the first switching capacitor, and a second output switch connected between a charge pump output terminal and the second end of the first switching capacitor, the charge pump output terminal configured to output a charge pump output voltage less than the ground voltage.

2. The multi-mode charge pump of claim 1 further comprising a charge pump filter connected to the charge pump output terminal and having a filter resistance that is different for the first mode and the second mode.

3. The multi-mode charge pump of claim 2 wherein the charge pump filter includes a capacitor connected between the charge pump output terminal and the ground voltage.

4. The multi-mode charge pump of claim 1 further comprising a clock selection circuit configured to set the first clock signal to a first oscillation frequency in the first mode, and to set the first clock signal to a second oscillation frequency in the second mode.

5. The multi-mode charge pump of claim 1 further comprising a second switching capacitor and a second buffer having an input configured to receive a second clock signal and an output configured to control a first end of the second switching capacitor.

6. The multi-mode charge pump of claim 5 wherein the first output switch is controlled by the first clock signal and the second output switch is controlled by the second clock signal.

7. The multi-mode charge pump of claim 5 wherein the plurality of output switches further includes a third output switch connected between the ground voltage and a second end of the second switching capacitor, and a fourth output switch connected between the charge pump output terminal and the second end of the second switching capacitor.

8. The multi-mode charge pump of claim 7 wherein the first output switch and the fourth output switch are controlled by the first clock signal, and the second output switch and the third output switch are controlled by the second clock signal.

9. A wireless device comprising:

a radio frequency switch;

a switch controller configured to bias the radio frequency switch with a charge pump output voltage less than a ground voltage; and

a multi-mode charge pump configured to generate the charge pump output voltage at a charge pump output terminal and having a first mode and a second mode, the multi-mode charge pump including a first switching capacitor, a first buffer powered by an adjustable power supply voltage and the ground voltage and having an input configured to receive a first clock signal and an output configured to control a first end of the first switching capacitor, a plurality of power supply selection switches including a first power supply selection switch configured to set the adjustable power supply voltage to a first power supply voltage in the first mode, and a second power supply selection switch configured to set the adjustable power supply voltage to a second power supply voltage in the second mode, and a plurality of output switches including a first output switch connected between the ground voltage and a second end of the first switching capacitor, and a second output switch connected between the charge pump output terminal and the second end of the first switching capacitor.

10. The wireless device of claim 9 wherein the multi-mode charge pump further includes a charge pump filter connected to the charge pump output terminal and having a filter resistance that is different for the first mode and the second mode.

11. The wireless device of claim 10 wherein the charge pump filter includes a capacitor connected between the charge pump output terminal and the ground voltage.

12. The wireless device of claim 9 further comprising a clock selection circuit configured to set the first clock signal to a first oscillation frequency in the first mode, and to set the first clock signal to a second oscillation frequency in the second mode.

13. The wireless device of claim 9 further comprising a second switching capacitor and a second buffer having an input configured to receive a second clock signal and an output configured to control a first end of the second switching capacitor.

14. The wireless device of claim 13 wherein the first output switch is controlled by the first clock signal and the second output switch is controlled by the second clock signal.

15. The wireless device of claim 9 further comprising an antenna configured to receive a radio frequency transmit signal from the radio frequency switch.

16. A packaged module comprising:

a package substrate; and

a die attached to the package substrate and including a multi-mode charge pump configured to generate a charge pump output voltage less than a ground voltage at a charge pump output terminal, the multi-mode charge pump including a first switching capacitor, a first buffer powered by an adjustable power supply voltage and the ground voltage and having an input configured to receive a first clock signal and an output configured to control a first end of the first switching capacitor, a plurality of power supply selection switches including a first power supply selection switch configured to set the adjustable power supply voltage to a first power supply voltage in a first mode of the multi-mode charge pump, and a second power supply selection switch configured to set the adjustable power supply voltage to a second power supply voltage in a second mode of the multi-mode charge pump, and a plurality of output switches including a first output switch connected between the ground voltage and a second end of the first switching capacitor, and a second output switch connected between the charge pump output terminal and the second end of the first switching capacitor.

17. The packaged module of claim 16 wherein the multi-mode charge pump further includes a charge pump filter connected to the charge pump output terminal and having a filter resistance that is different for the first mode and the second mode.

18. The packaged module of claim 16 wherein the charge pump filter includes a capacitor connected between the charge pump output terminal and the ground voltage.

19. The packaged module of claim 16 further comprising a clock selection circuit configured to set the first clock signal to a first oscillation frequency in the first mode, and to set the first clock signal to a second oscillation frequency in the second mode.

20. The packaged module of claim 16 further comprising a second switching capacitor and a second buffer having an input configured to receive a second clock signal and an output configured to control a first end of the second switching capacitor, the first output switch controlled by the first clock signal and the second output switch controlled by the second clock signal.