Measuring and controlling current consumption and output current of charge pumps
First Claim
1. A method of measuring current consumption (Icp_in) and output current (load current, Icp_out) of a charge pump (CP) having one or more stages, comprising:
- measuring a first current (I1) coming into the charge pump; and
measuring a second current (I2) coming into a driver for at least one of the one or more stages of the charge pump.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Measuring and controlling current consumption and output current of a charge pump by measuring a first current coming into the charge pump; and measuring a second current coming into a driver for at least one of the one or more stages of the charge pump. A control loop may one or more parameters of the charge pump and/or a load connected to the charge pump, such as by adjusting one or more of: a supply voltage; a stage'"'"'s voltage; the stage'"'"'s frequency and/or duty-cycle; and the number of stages, or by decreasing the current consumption by adjusting a load connected to the output of the charge pump pipe. The first and second currents may be compared with first and second reference currents. A load connected to the charge pump may comprise non-volatile memory cells, and the charge pump may be implemented on a same integrated circuit chip as the memory cells.
112 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of measuring current consumption (Icp_in) and output current (load current, Icp_out) of a charge pump (CP) having one or more stages, comprising:
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measuring a first current (I1) coming into the charge pump; and measuring a second current (I2) coming into a driver for at least one of the one or more stages of the charge pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of controlling operation of a charge pump (CP) pipe having an input receiving a supply voltage (Vsupply), a number of stages, and an output (Vout, Iout), comprising:
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measuring current consumption (Icp_in) in the charge pump pipe; and decreasing the current consumption (Icp_in) by adjusting one or more of; a. a supply voltage (Vsupply); b. a stage'"'"'s voltage (Vφ
);c. the stage'"'"'s frequency and/or duty-cycle; d. the number (N) of stages; and e. adjusting a load connected to the output of the charge pump pipe.
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14. Apparatus for controlling operation of a charge pump (CP) pipe having an input receiving a supply voltage (Vsupply), a number of stages, and an output (Vout, Iout), comprising:
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means for measuring current consumption (Icp_in) in the charge pump pipe; and means for decreasing or increasing the current consumption (Icp_in) by adjusting one or more of; a. a supply voltage (Vsupply); b. a stage'"'"'s voltage (Vφ
);c. the stage'"'"'s frequency and/or duty-cycle; d. the number (N) of stages; and e. adjusting a load connected to the output of the charge pump pipe. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for controlling operation of a charge pump (CP) pipe having an input receiving a supply voltage (Vsupply), a number (N) of stages, each stage having a driver (drv), and an output (Vout, Iout), comprising:
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means for measuring a first current (I1) coming into the charge pump; and means measuring a second current (I2) coming into a driver for at least one of the one or more stages of the charge pump. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification