Charge pump which operates on a low voltage power supply
First Claim
1. A charge pump for increasing the amplitude of a voltage supply signal, the charge pump comprising:
- an auxiliary pump that is connected to receive the voltage supply signal and that responds to a first and a second complementary clock signals by generating a plurality of intermediate voltage signals, each of the intermediate voltage signals having a different amplitude which amplitude is greater than the amplitude of the voltage supply signal;
buffer means for increasing the amplitudes of the first and second complementary clock signals in response to the plurality of intermediate voltage signals; and
a main pump that increases the amplitude of the voltage supply signal in response to the first and second increased amplitude complementary clock signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A charge pump for increasing the amplitude of a voltage supply signal is disclosed. The charge pump includes an auxiliary pump, a buffer stage, and a main pump. The auxiliary pump generates several intermediate voltage signals in response to a pair of complementary clock signals. Each intermediate voltage signal has a different amplitude which is greater than the amplitude of the voltage supply signal. The buffer stage increases the amplitudes of the pair of complementary clock signals in response to the several intermediate voltage signals generated by the auxiliary pump. The main pump increases the amplitude of the voltage supply signal in response to the pair of increased amplitude complementary clock signals generated by the buffer stage.
152 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A charge pump for increasing the amplitude of a voltage supply signal, the charge pump comprising:
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an auxiliary pump that is connected to receive the voltage supply signal and that responds to a first and a second complementary clock signals by generating a plurality of intermediate voltage signals, each of the intermediate voltage signals having a different amplitude which amplitude is greater than the amplitude of the voltage supply signal; buffer means for increasing the amplitudes of the first and second complementary clock signals in response to the plurality of intermediate voltage signals; and a main pump that increases the amplitude of the voltage supply signal in response to the first and second increased amplitude complementary clock signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A charge pump for increasing the amplitude of a voltage supply signal, the charge pump comprising:
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a plurality of auxiliary pump stages for generating a plurality of intermediate voltage signals having different amplitudes which amplitudes are all greater than the amplitude of the voltage supply signal, each of the plurality of auxiliary pump stages being responsive to at least one of a pair of complementary clock signals; a plurality of first buffers for increasing the amplitude of one of the complementary clock signals, each of the first buffers being responsive to a different one of the plurality of intermediate voltage signals; a plurality of second buffers for increasing the amplitude of the other complementary clock signal, each of the second buffers being responsive to a different one of the plurality of intermediate voltage signals; and a plurality of main pump stages for increasing the amplitude of the voltage supply signal, each of the plurality of main pump stages being responsive to at least one of the increased amplitude complementary clock signals generated by the first and second buffer means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A charge pump for increasing the amplitude of a voltage supply signal, the charge pump comprising:
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an auxiliary pump having a plurality of series-connected auxiliary pump stages for generating a plurality of intermediate voltage signals, each of the intermediate voltage signals having a different amplitude which amplitude is greater than the amplitude of the voltage supply signal, each of the auxiliary pump stages being responsive to at least one of a pair of complementary clock signals; a plurality of series-connected first inverters for increasing the amplitude of one of the complementary clock signals, each of the first inverters being powered by a different one of the plurality of intermediate voltage signals; a plurality of series-connected second inverters for increasing the amplitude of the other complementary clock signal, each of the second inverters being powered by a different one of the plurality of intermediate voltage signals; and a main pump having a plurality of series-connected main pump stages for increasing the amplitude of the voltage supply signal, each of the main pump stages being responsive to at least one of the increased amplitude complementary clock signals. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification