DYNAMIC START-UP CIRCUIT FOR HYSTERETIC LOOP SWITCHED-CAPACITOR VOLTAGE REGULATOR
First Claim
1. A startup circuit for use with a switched-capacitor voltage regulator circuit, the startup circuit comprising:
- a comparator operative to generate a first control signal as a function of a comparison between an output voltage generated by the switched-capacitor voltage regulator circuit and a reference voltage, the first control signal being used to disable the startup circuit;
a reference generator coupled with the comparator and operative to generate at least first, second and third voltages, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage and the third voltage being greater than the second voltage; and
a controller coupled with the reference generator and operative to dynamically select a given one of the first and third voltages as the reference voltage supplied to the comparator as a function of the first control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A startup circuit for use with a SCVR circuit includes a comparator operative to generate a first control signal as a function of a comparison between an output voltage generated by the SCVR circuit and a reference voltage, the first control signal being used to disable the startup circuit. The startup circuit further includes a reference generator and a controller. The reference generator is coupled with the comparator and operative to generate at least first, second and third voltages, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage, and the third voltage being greater than the second voltage. The controller is coupled with the reference generator and operative to dynamically select a given one of the first and third voltages as the reference voltage supplied to the comparator as a function of the first control signal.
26 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A startup circuit for use with a switched-capacitor voltage regulator circuit, the startup circuit comprising:
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a comparator operative to generate a first control signal as a function of a comparison between an output voltage generated by the switched-capacitor voltage regulator circuit and a reference voltage, the first control signal being used to disable the startup circuit; a reference generator coupled with the comparator and operative to generate at least first, second and third voltages, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage and the third voltage being greater than the second voltage; and a controller coupled with the reference generator and operative to dynamically select a given one of the first and third voltages as the reference voltage supplied to the comparator as a function of the first control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A switched-capacitor voltage regulator circuit, comprising:
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at least a first comparator operative to receive a first input signal indicative of a regulated output signal of the voltage regulator circuit and a second input signal indicative of a first reference signal and to generate an output signal indicative of a comparison result between the first and second input signals; a clock generator operative to receive the output signal generated by the first comparator and to generate a plurality of clock signals; a switched-capacitor circuit operative to receive the plurality of clock signals and to generate, at an output of the switched-capacitor voltage regulator circuit, the regulated output signal as a function of the plurality of clock signals; and a startup circuit coupled with at least one node in the voltage regulator circuit and operative to maintain a flow of current in the voltage regulator circuit, the startup circuit comprising; a second comparator operative to generate a first control signal as a function of a comparison between the regulated output signal and a second reference signal, the first control signal being used to disable the startup circuit; a reference generator coupled with the second comparator and operative to generate at least first, second and third voltages, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage and the third voltage being greater than the second voltage; and a controller coupled with the reference generator and operative to dynamically select a given one of the first and third voltages as the second reference signal supplied to the second comparator as a function of the first control signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electronic system, comprising:
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at least one integrated circuit including at least one switched-capacitor voltage regulator circuit, the at least one switched-capacitor voltage regulator circuit comprising; at least a first comparator operative to receive a first input signal indicative of a regulated output signal of the voltage regulator circuit and a second input signal indicative of a first reference signal and to generate an output signal indicative of a comparison result between the first and second input signals; a clock generator operative to receive the output signal generated by the first comparator and to generate a plurality of clock signals; a switched-capacitor circuit operative to receive the plurality of clock signals and to generate, at an output of the switched-capacitor voltage regulator circuit, the regulated output signal as a function of the plurality of clock signals; and a startup circuit coupled with at least one node in the voltage regulator circuit and operative to maintain a flow of current in the voltage regulator circuit, the startup circuit comprising; a second comparator operative to generate a first control signal as a function of a comparison between the regulated output signal and a second reference signal, the first control signal being used to disable the startup circuit; a reference generator coupled with the second comparator and operative to generate at least first, second and third voltages, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage and the third voltage being greater than the second voltage; and a controller coupled with the reference generator and operative to dynamically select a given one of the first and third voltages as the second reference signal supplied to the second comparator as a function of the first control signal.
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Specification