Negative voltage genarating circuit

• US 5,614,814 A
• Filed: 12/28/1994
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Higashino, Takayoshi, Nishida, Masao, Harada, Yasoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Krishnan, Aditya
• Application Number:
  US08/365,462
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 363/59-60, 367/110, 320/1, 365/265, 323/311-314, 323/267-269, 323/282, 323/272, 327/530-532
• US Class Current: 323/313
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps

Abstract

A negative voltage generating circuit includes an oscillating unit constructed of a ring oscillator for outputting a pulse signal with a high frequency and a polarity inverting unit in which the pulse signal is inputted to charge negative voltage. This negative voltage generating circuit is miniaturized and outputs a stable negative voltage. Further, the negative voltage to be outputted can be controlled by varying a resistance value through a control of an FET in a voltage controlling unit.

Claims

1. A negative voltage generating circuit supplied with positive voltage for generating negative voltage, comprising:

an oscillating unit including a ring oscillator having a plurality of direct-coupled FET logic inverters, each of said inverters including a capacitor for providing an oscillation frequency; and

a polarity inverting unit which includes a charging pump having an FET, an inverting capacitor and a smoothing capacitor and is electrically directly connected to said oscillating unit so as to receive said pulse signal, thereby charging said smoothing capacitor with negative voltage and outputting the charged negative voltage.

2. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage controlling unit including a control FET which operates in response to a control signal and receiving the negative voltage from said polarity inverting unit and controlling said negative voltage to be outputted in accordance with a resistance value of said voltage controlling unit varied by operating said control FET.

3. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 1, wherein said polarity inverting unit includes a diode electrically connected in parallel with said smoothing capacitor.

4. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 2, wherein said ring oscillator includes a plurality of direct-coupled FET logic inverters, and each of said inverters includes a capacitor for providing an oscillation frequency.

5. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 2, wherein said polarity inverting unit includes a diode electrically connected in parallel to said smoothing capacitor.

6. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 2, wherein said voltage controlling unit includes:

a series circuit of first FET and a first diode connected to a portion between a positive power supply and a positive electrode of said smoothing capacitor;

a series circuit of said control FET, a second diode and a second FET connected to a portion between the positive power supply and a negative electrode of said smoothing capacitor; and

a terminal for outputting the negative voltage provided at a node between said second diode and said second FET.

7. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 6, wherein said first diode and said second diode have substantially equivalent IV characteristics.

8. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 6, wherein said first FET and said second FET have substantially equivalent IV characteristics.

9. A negative voltage generating circuit supplied with a positive voltage for generating a negative voltage, comprising:

an oscillating unit including a ring oscillator having an FET and a capacitor for outputting a pulse signal with a high frequency;

a polarity inverting unit which includes a charging pump having an FET, an inverting capacitor and a smoothing capacitor and receives said pulse signal, thereby charging said smoothing capacitor with negative voltage and outputting the charged negative voltage; and

a voltage controlling unit including a control FET which operates in response to a control signal and receiving the negative voltage from said polarity inverting unit and controlling said negative voltage to be outputted in accordance with a resistance value of said voltage controlling unit varied by operating said control FET.

10. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 9, wherein said ring oscillator includes a plurality of direct-coupled FET logic inverters, and each of said inverters includes a capacitor for providing an oscillation frequency.

11. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 9, wherein said polarity inverting unit includes a diode electrically connected in parallel with said smoothing capacitor.

12. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 9, wherein said voltage controlling unit includes:

a series circuit of first FET and a first diode connected to a portion between a positive power supply and a positive electrode of said smoothing capacitor;

a series circuit of said control FET, a second diode and a second FET connected to a portion between the positive power supply and a negative electrode of said smoothing capacitor; and

a terminal for outputting the negative voltage provided at a node between said second diode and said second FET.

13. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 12, wherein said first diode and said second diode have substantially equivalent IV characteristics.

14. A negative voltage generating circuit according to claim 12, wherein said first FET and said second FET have substantially equivalent IV characteristics.